What they do:
Recording, or audio engineering, is a part of audio science dealing with the recording and reproduction of sound. Operate audio equipment to record and edit music, dialog and sound effects for films, videos, radio and television programs and recordings. The mixing board is a recording engineer’s best friend, as they operate equipment to record, mix and edit sound, music and videotape for motion pictures, television and radio programs, videos, music recordings and live events. This field draws on many disciplines — electrical engineering, acoustics, as well as music. A recording engineer is close to the creative and technical aspects of audio and they need to be good at different types of recording media, such as analog tape, digital multi-track recorders and workstations.

Today’s digital era requires computer skills such as understanding of software and hardware integration for synchronization and analog to digital transfers. They alter the sound and clarity of voice and instruments to create polished recorded sound. Recording engineers control audio consoles to mix sound and dubbing machines to play back edited dialog, music and sound effect tracks. They may operate equipment designed to produce special effects, such as the illusions of a bolt of lightning or a police siren. Accordingly, they can add echoes, delays, speed up or slow down tempos and fine-tune voices. In so many words, it is the recording engineer who manipulates sound to appease their client’s desires. In a television show, laugh tracks are sometimes added in to create a more humorous effect. The goal is to both enhance sound and direct listener’s focus on specific areas of dialog.

Why this job is great:
If you love music and entertainment, celebrities and bands, and are detail oriented, you will love this job. Recording engineers get to create, shape, control, and enjoy the sound quality of audio sound and music. Recording engineers get to work with producers, directors, and performers to achieve the desired sound for audio and musical recording media. Recording engineers work for recording firms, film and video production and post-production houses, concert production companies, live sound recording companies, television and radio stations, advertising agencies, clubs, bands and musicians, theater and dance companies, recording studios, multi-media companies, and on film sets.

Job Drawbacks:
Long hours are common because recording engineers may be required to meet project deadlines, and there may be a great deal of traveling. They generally work indoors in soundproof studios without windows. Since studio time is expensive, bands will play and play until they get the perfect recording. Entry-level recording engineers usually start out as a gofer or assistant engineer, and have to work their way up. Another drawback – when there is a technical difficulty, it is the recording engineer who has to fix the problem, which can be stressful.

Pre-requisites:
There are no formal education requirements, although a related postsecondary degree or a certificate is an asset when seeking employment as a recording engineer. It is helpful to have a good understanding of music theory and harmony. Most recording engineers acquire a working knowledge of today’s computer-based recording technologies, such as digital mixing and random access editing, and adapt quickly to many different recording formats and devices by learning on the job. Recording engineers use a variety of electronic equipment and techniques to record, mix, process, manipulate and edit sound, so they must keep up-to-date with these new technological and digital advances, moving away from the mixing boards to new digital and software sound recording programs. In recording studios, radio stations and some post-production studios, traditional analog recording is still used, but most recordings nowadays use SMPTE or MIDI time codes for synchronization. You’ll need the ability to use multi-track recording systems or Musical Instrument Digital Interface (MIDI) systems which tape the voices and instruments separately. It can be extremely difficult to break into the recording engineering business. Experience working at a co-op placement through a school training program or as a volunteer at a cable television station is an asset. Beginning in radio commercial production is another option.

Recording engineers should keep updated on technological advances within their field. Formal training is very specialized and relatively few schools offer such programs. Colleges, technical institutes and electronic music stores offer evening courses or short seminars in sound recording. It is important for anyone who is an aspiring recording engineer to work with a mentor or discuss their career with people in the industry.

A great way to prepare yourself for a career as a recording engineer is with a mentor apprentice audio engineering program.

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