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Lead Audio Technician

admin — Sun, 20 Dec 2009 00:21:18 +0000

A lead audio technician has to be able to make transfers to and from various types of audio recording and playback equipment and that includes digital storage devices. The industry is characterized by a large number of seasonal and part-time jobs and relatively young workers. There is competition for this job in major metropolitan areas, because the pay generally is better. Overall, earnings are relatively low, but better in small cities.

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What they do:
The lead audio technician usually manages, sets up and operates audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, videos, projectors, monitors, and recording equipment. They set up and connect wires and cables and operate sound and mixing boards along with other electronic equipment for concerts, business meetings, meetings, conventions, presentations, and sometimes news conferences and sporting events. The routing of systems is required in the audio technician job, because this person must be able to make transfers to and from various types of audio recording and playback equipment. This would include digital storage devices. Audio technicians must have demonstrated knowledge and personal operating ability to utilize computers and keyboards. Working on evenings, weekends, and holidays is common.

Why this job is great:
If you are a visionary person who sees endless opportunities in audio and sound, you will love this job. Detail-oriented people with an ear for perfection will also love to work in this position, and there is teamwork, pressure, flexibility of hours and excitement. This job will allow you to be creative and think outside the box well as to explore innovative sound solutions to drive listeners.

Pre-requisites:
Community college, technical school or college training in broadcast technology, electronics, or computer networking provides the best preparation.The skills require the ability and a demonstrated knowledge of using computers and keyboards. The lead audio technician needs to know Nuendo and Pro Tools in an audio post environment. At least three years of experience in audio post and mixing to picture is typically required. The job also requires experience in location audio recording, a basic understanding of audio signal flow. The audio technician’s personality must be engaged and self-motivated, plus able to work well in a team environment, and feel perfectly at ease and comfortable asking questions.

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

Sound Technician

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:47:21 +0000

What they do:
A sound technician is usually responsible for making sure the sound coming from a live or taped source is processed as clearly as possible. Sound technicians operate control panels and direct the operation of equipment to regulate the clarity of the sound range and signal strength. Typically the sound is being recorded or edited. The sounds that are processed can include music, voices, and special effects. Sound technicians work for a variety of commercial and entertainment purposes. Technicians also maintain and take care of their equipment. They also often are in charge of a crew of technicians who perform other sound engineering chores, such as setting up microphones and running cables.

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Sound technicians, among other venues, work at radio stations, production studios, concert halls, sporting arenas, and also theaters. Live sound engineering requires electronic equipment including amplifiers, microphones, monitors and a mixing board to control various sounds emitted by the performers. Each of these items has specific functions enabling the sound engineer to control the overall audio experience and capture the sounds made for the audience.

Why this job is great:
Sound technicians get to work in the entertainment or broadcasting, and motion picture industry which is expected to grow rapidly. Because instruments and voices are different – either louder or softer than others – a live sound engineer’s job is to deal with these factors to get the best overall sound possible, and this job is probably one of the most important jobs that there is to a live performance or a band.
Employment of broadcast and sound technicians in the cable and pay television area specifically is expected to grow as the range of products and services expands, including cable Internet access and video-on-demand. Turnover is good for positions as job openings result from the need to replace experienced technicians who leave for other jobs that require knowledge of electronics. Jobs in television and radio are located in virtually all cities; jobs in radio also are found in many small towns. The highest paying and most specialized jobs are concentrated in New York City, Los Angeles Washington, DC, and Chicago, where most network or news programs are produced, while the motion picture production jobs are based in New York and Los Angeles.

Job drawbacks: The sound technician can put in long hours, and sometimes they have to work for creative and often temperamental artists.

This job market is expected to remain competitive because of the large number of people who are attracted by the glamour of working in motion pictures. Those seeking entry-level jobs face touch competition major metro areas, where pay generally is higher and the number of qualified jobseekers exceeds the number of openings. It is easier to get a starting sound technician job in small cities and towns.

Pre-requisites:
There are no formal education requirements to become a sound technician, although a related postsecondary degree or a certificate is an asset when seeking employment as a recording engineer. The sound technician needs a very good understanding of digital sound. Live sound engineering requires solid knowledge of sound engineering equipment, such as microphones, amplifiers, monitors and audio lines. But that’s only part of the job. Engineering live audio also requires strong people and communication skills. It takes a team to stage live concerts, and live sound technicians are part of the team, requiring being well-spoken and good written communications. A great cooperative attitude is important as well. Sound technicians often find that it is important to work with a mentor when starting out in this field.

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

Recording Engineer

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:43:09 +0000

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.

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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.

Music Director and Composer

admin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 15:39:02 +0000

What they do:
A musical producer conducts, plans, directs and or leads either vocal or instrumental performances by musical groups, such as choirs, orchestras, glee clubs, etc. and this include composers, arrangers, orchestrators and choral directors. The industries that use a musical producer or composer include: independent artists, writers, and performers, social advocacy organizations, elementary and secondary schools, promoters of performing arts, sports, and similar events, performing arts companies, and religious organizations.

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Music directors collaborate with librarians to ensure availability of scores, work with composers and hire them to write scores, discuss interpretations of a composer’s work, apply for grants, develop budgets, negotiate contracts, and design promotional materials. Music directors are also in charge of transcribing musical compositions, adapting them to various musical styles. They can also be in charge of coordinating and organizing tours, hiring touring companies and or arranging concert venues, accommodations, and transportation. They often plan and implement fund-raising and promotional activities and must audition and select performers for musical presentations. Sometimes a music director conduct guest soloists and ensemble members. They have also been known to direct groups at rehearsals and live or recorded performances in order to achieve desired effects such as tonal and harmonic balance, tempo and rhythm. Music directors also often meet with soloists and concertmasters to discuss and prepare for performances, plan and schedule rehearsals and arrange details such as locations, accompanists, and instrumentalists. They must always be worried about ensemble size and abilities, availability of scores, and the need for musical variety, in order to select music to be performed.

Position members within groups to obtain balance among instrumental or vocal sections. They must study scores to learn the music in detail, and to develop interpretations, and often shape the music being played, communicating desired tempo, phrasing, tone, color, pitch, volume, and other performance aspects, and assign and review staff work in such areas as scoring, arranging, and copying music, and vocal coaching.

Why this job is great:
For anyone who is musically inclined, this job can bring great joy as it provides the opportunity to work with many different types of people in a variety of areas to bring music to others.

Drawbacks: Music directors often have part-time schedules at night and on weekends, so their employment can be intermittent. Also rejection is common when auditioning for work are common. Competition for jobs is tough.

Pre-requisites:
A fine arts background assist music directors who must have a knowledge of the theory and techniques required to compose, produce, and perform works of music, but also dance, and other arts. It is also useful to have experience on the procedures for personnel, knowledge of business and management principles involved in strategic planning, resource allocation, human resources modeling, leadership technique, production methods, resources, and coordination of people. Talented individuals who can play several instruments and perform a wide range of musical styles should enjoy and be successful in this career.