Home |
Search |
Today's Posts |
#1
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
Hello there,
I have decided to pursue a career in audio engineering. There are two things I aspire to do: 1. Be the guy who mixes and masters everything and/or 2. Be the guy who deals with the tools (pre-amps, microphones, compressors), mic placement, signal chains, etc. What are the technical names of these professions? Do they overlap? And second... Are there any widely accredited schools that would be worth pursuing? |
#2
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
On Jan 10, 4:20 am, wrote:
Hello there, I have decided to pursue a career in audio engineering. There are two things I aspire to do: 1. Be the guy who mixes and masters everything and/or 2. Be the guy who deals with the tools (pre-amps, microphones, compressors), mic placement, signal chains, etc. What are the technical names of these professions? Do they overlap? And second... Are there any widely accredited schools that would be worth pursuing? I guess I should even ask... "Is it even possible to make a career in audio engineering these days?" |
#3
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
|
#4
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
wrote:
I guess I should even ask... "Is it even possible to make a career in audio engineering these days?" I think there still is, but not in music recording and not through the traditional routes. If the industry were like this thirty years ago, I wouldn't be here today. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#5
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
On Jan 10, 6:20 am, wrote:
I have decided to pursue a career in audio engineering. Bad decision, unless you have another source of income that will last for many years until you get famous. There isn't much in the way of a career path in the "fun" parts of audio engineering any more. things I aspire to do: 1. Be the guy who mixes and masters everything and/or 2. Be the guy who deals with the tools (pre-amps, microphones, compressors), mic placement, signal chains, etc. What are the technical names of these professions? Do they overlap? #1 is usually what's called an engineer or mastering engineer. There are few who do both, though many mastering engineers have started out as general studio engineers and moved to specializing in mastering when they decide that they can't stand to listen to one more guitar overdub. #2 is often called the second engineer or tape operator (even though there isn't much tape operation any more). But it could also be a maintenance technician. The job of ProTools operator has grown out of this. There is quite a bit of overlap since few studios are large enough to have both an engineering and technician staff. The greatest number of studios today are either a one-man operation where you need to be at least somewhat competent at all the tasks, or there's no staff other than management and individuals are brought in as their specialties are needed. A kind of in-between operation is one where someone with a lot of enthusiasm, some management and communications skills, and way too much money sets up a studio and hires a "support" person (like your #2) to keep things running and then brings in (or has the clients bring in their own) engineers for sessions. Are there any widely accredited schools that would be worth pursuing? Schools that have a full college level program will teach you a lot and give you enough hands-on time so that you'll know what you're doing when you get out. But there's no guarantee that you'll be able to find a job when you graduate. The larger studios often look to graduates of those schools for entry level positions. If you can score one of those positions and stick it out for a while, a well managed studio will find your niche and put you into a job that you can do best. Or you may find that you never move up from making copies, keeping the coffee fresh, and sweeping up after a session. |
#6
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
Why not be both and start out in Sound reinforcement/live concert
production? It's all related these days and overlaps more than you might think. Yeah, schooling is well regarded, but make sure they teach you more carpentry than how to wield a hammer. that kind of schooling will get your foot more firmly in any door that opens...as Scott Dorsey said, not through the traditional routes does one make a career in audio of late. Make a name for yourself as someone who can mix and understands the theory behind the tools, and other avenues of opportunity will open up for you. |
#7
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
|
#8
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
On Jan 10, 1:53*pm, wrote:
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:20:49 -0800 (PST), wrote: Hello there, I have decided to pursue a career in audio engineering. *There are two things I aspire to do: 1. Be the guy who mixes and masters everything and/or 2. Be the guy who deals with the tools (pre-amps, microphones, compressors), mic placement, signal chains, etc. Hello there (and a special hello to Messers Dorsey and Rivers). I'm a pretty fortunate engineer who gets to do it all and, as has been pointed out, I agree with the others: you have chosen a tough profession for now. But maybe not. I'd like to tell you how I went about establishing my career. I joined the Navy and made a deal with them to train me as an electronic technician with a specialty in radar. I was trained to repair that equipment working by myself out at sea. The entire time I was doing this I also knew that my major interest was broadcasting. Once out of the service I moved to NYC and landed a job at NBC based upon not what I knew about audio but, rather, my ability to repair equipment. Once in the door I offered myself up for every assignment. Because of tight scheduling I found myself only doing maintenance for brief periods and spent most of my time engineering in the studios and out in the field. After a period I left NYC to return home to WV. I once again used my Navy training to land a job building and interconnecting the stations of WV Public Radio. And, I once again spent more and more time in the studios mixing sound for broadcast. Along the way we began a radio broadcast called Mountain Stage and I've worked every production (now in its 25th year). I've got my name on approximately 30 CDs and I've been mixing (and mastering) to two-track all these years. It's approximately 1000 songs a year. And I spent the earlier part of this day calling on my Navy training as I laid out the next round of equipment for the show. I'm changing it all out for new. If you get yourself into a heavy duty maintenance program you will find yourself with skills and training and experience that will prove invaluable to any employer and I have to wonder if you couldn't have a fine career even today. Francis Fisher Hey, Francis... Love your work! I listen to Mountain Stage on a local MPR station (Minnesota Public Radio). One of the best-recorded/broadcasted shows on the air today. Corey |
#9
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
In article
, coreybenson wrote: On Jan 10, 1:53*pm, wrote: On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 03:20:49 -0800 (PST), wrote: Hello there, I have decided to pursue a career in audio engineering. *There are two things I aspire to do: 1. Be the guy who mixes and masters everything and/or 2. Be the guy who deals with the tools (pre-amps, microphones, compressors), mic placement, signal chains, etc. Hello there (and a special hello to Messers Dorsey and Rivers). I'm a pretty fortunate engineer who gets to do it all and, as has been pointed out, I agree with the others: you have chosen a tough profession for now. But maybe not. I'd like to tell you how I went about establishing my career. I joined the Navy and made a deal with them to train me as an electronic technician with a specialty in radar. I was trained to repair that equipment working by myself out at sea. The entire time I was doing this I also knew that my major interest was broadcasting. Once out of the service I moved to NYC and landed a job at NBC based upon not what I knew about audio but, rather, my ability to repair equipment. Once in the door I offered myself up for every assignment. Because of tight scheduling I found myself only doing maintenance for brief periods and spent most of my time engineering in the studios and out in the field. After a period I left NYC to return home to WV. I once again used my Navy training to land a job building and interconnecting the stations of WV Public Radio. And, I once again spent more and more time in the studios mixing sound for broadcast. Along the way we began a radio broadcast called Mountain Stage and I've worked every production (now in its 25th year). I've got my name on approximately 30 CDs and I've been mixing (and mastering) to two-track all these years. It's approximately 1000 songs a year. And I spent the earlier part of this day calling on my Navy training as I laid out the next round of equipment for the show. I'm changing it all out for new. If you get yourself into a heavy duty maintenance program you will find yourself with skills and training and experience that will prove invaluable to any employer and I have to wonder if you couldn't have a fine career even today. Francis Fisher Hey, Francis... Love your work! I listen to Mountain Stage on a local MPR station (Minnesota Public Radio). One of the best-recorded/broadcasted shows on the air today. Corey Ditto... I love that show. Jenn |
#10
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
On Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:32:15 -0800 (PST), coreybenson
wrote: Hey, Francis... Love your work! I listen to Mountain Stage on a local MPR station (Minnesota Public Radio). One of the best-recorded/broadcasted shows on the air today. Corey Well now, words like that will make you smile! Thanks! Francis |
#11
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
On Jan 10, 2:53 pm, wrote:
If you get yourself into a heavy duty maintenance program you will find yourself with skills and training and experience that will prove invaluable to any employer and I have to wonder if you couldn't have a fine career even today. Well, Francis, you've been in the business about as long as anyone I know, and this is what it takes to build a career. Stan Jacox and I spent some time and too much beer one night talking about establishing a studio maintenance course back when he ran Studio Maintenance Center. We drew up a curriculum, worked up a budget, and managed to find about three people interested in that aspect of studio work. Today there isn't much call for a traditional maintenance engineer because there's so much throw-away gear being used in what passes for studios now. Not to say that there isn't a NEED, there just aren't very many jobs available. |
#12
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
A friend of mine just graduated from Middle Tennesee State with top honors
etc. He's now waiting tables at O'Charley's! Good luck. Max Arwood wrote in message ... Hello there, I have decided to pursue a career in audio engineering. There are two things I aspire to do: 1. Be the guy who mixes and masters everything and/or 2. Be the guy who deals with the tools (pre-amps, microphones, compressors), mic placement, signal chains, etc. What are the technical names of these professions? Do they overlap? And second... Are there any widely accredited schools that would be worth pursuing? |
#13
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
"Mike Rivers" wrote in message
... Today there isn't much call for a traditional maintenance engineer because there's so much throw-away gear being used in what passes for studios now. Not to say that there isn't a NEED, there just aren't very many jobs available. I have to say though, that if you're clever at solving problems and dedicated enough to keep at them till they're done, it seems there's always an opportunity somewhere. Not just in audio, but in any field. Sean |
#14
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
wrote:
If you get yourself into a heavy duty maintenance program you will find yourself with skills and training and experience that will prove invaluable to any employer and I have to wonder if you couldn't have a fine career even today. Amen, brother! I get phone calls and faxes constantly from kids looking for interships. None of them know how to solder and none of them know how to read a score. Learn to solder and read a score and you've got a huge step up. Learn to actually do maintenance work and the world is your oyster; there is a huge shortage of competent repair techs even if there is a huge surplus of production engineer types. --scott -- "C'est un Nagra. C'est suisse, et tres, tres precis." |
#15
Posted to rec.audio.pro
|
|||
|
|||
Questions on Audio Engineering
On Jan 11, 8:49 am, (Scott Dorsey) wrote:
wrote: If you get yourself into a heavy duty maintenance program you will find yourself with skills and training and experience that will prove invaluable to any employer Amen, brother! The trick is to find any employer. The gist of this conversation is that there really aren't a lot of studios where you can get hired. I certainly don't have any full time or career ladder positions available, and probably neither do you. |
Reply |
Thread Tools | |
Display Modes | |
|
|
Similar Threads | ||||
Thread | Forum | |||
audio engineering question | Pro Audio | |||
Sound Engineering school Questions | Pro Audio | |||
A few questions about sound engineering schools. | Pro Audio | |||
Questions about sound production/engineering schools? | Pro Audio | |||
Resonant Engineering HC15 questions | Car Audio |