question to all audio engineers

[angel12]

what's up recording review, this is my first post on this site..

i want to be an audio engineer, i'm going to school for it in september. i was wondering what its like as far as the genre of artists you end up working with. is it usually like you end up with completely random people or is it more based on the kind of musicians you associate yourself with? also how difficult is it to find work?

thanks

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by angel12

what's up recording review, this is my first post on this site..

i want to be an audio engineer, i'm going to school for it in september. i was wondering what its like as far as the genre of artists you end up working with. is it usually like you end up with completely random people or is it more based on the kind of musicians you associate yourself with? also how difficult is it to find work?

thanks

You end up working with the artists and producers who know you'll do a good job for them. It all comes down to the hands-on what you can do for them.

Once you get a bagful of engineering credits under your belt, potential artists and producers will come to you for your services. In most cases, it will probably be the same genre. In other cases, someone from another genre that you never worked in may come to you based on your good work in your primary genre.


Rick Rubin may be a good example of that...produced heavy metal, rap, and country throughout his story-book career!

[angel12]

yeah that makes sense, thank you for the insight. there's a lot of things im curious about dealing with audio engineering just because its not really a common job. what would you say, if you dont mind me asking, are the pros and cons of being an engineer?

[TonyB]

Originally Posted by angel12

yeah that makes sense, thank you for the insight. there's a lot of things im curious about dealing with audio engineering just because its not really a common job. what would you say, if you dont mind me asking, are the pros and cons of being an engineer?

I don't know where to start or where to end.

PROs
- Every job (song) has a beginning and end
- You get to be creative
- It's a lot of fun
- Clients/artists/musicians

CONs
- Clients/artists/musicians
- There are no paying entry level AE positions; need to start off as an unpaid intern, literally taking out the trash...but you're listening and learning
- It's a tough, slow ladder to climb
- A very small percentage "make it to the big time" (not a big CON if that's not your objective)
- After graduating you'll probably need to take a full-time job that's not in the AE line of work while you're interning and apprenticing

[Bigduggieface]

Once you finish your schooling, you will be given a diploma. Do not expect to get a job in music because you have a diploma. Music is an artform and a recording engineer is a slightly more scientifically schooled version of being a recording artist. Experience is the greatest teacher and successful music is the ultimate goal.

Expect to do a lot of recording for no money at the start. In fact, I encourage this! Try finding a local independent band that you dig, and offer to record them for the cost of any rentals you might need (no broke band would refuse a 12-song CD recorded for a few hundred bucks!). They'll be happy, and you'll be all the wiser. Trust me.

The reality is that no reputable recording studio will hire you (or frankly trust you) until you can provide a portfolio of your work. Understandably so. You need to establish a portfolio of fantastic sounding demos that you recorded yourself in order to prove your worth. And that's the bottom line.

We learn from our mistakes. We don't emerge as fully-hatched perfect recording engineers or songwriters the first try. Record every band from every genre and make every recording better than the last. What you learn from recording a death metal band will help in the future when you record that bluegrass band.

TonyB's comments have been honest and accurate. Wise words.

My 2 cents is to say that the more hours of experience in the studio the better. We need to try 100 microphones on 100 snare drums recorded through 100 preamps on 100 different bands. Rick Rubin might agree...

[angel12]

thank you both so much for the insight, its really a big help.

[jagcmos]

I'm just a home project studio engineer (hah!) and have no plans to take it any further,
but am assuming that some people will never get good at it regardless of the number of hours spent in the studio.
Am I wrong, and all it takes is time ? Do you have to have a good ear to start with, or can it all be learned ?

[TonyB]

Good questions, and my 2 cents (and no, I don't want any change back!)

Originally Posted by jagcmos

....some people will never get good at it regardless of the number of hours spent in the studio.

That's probably true and each individual needs to conduct an honest self assessment. Some people, like me, will never be a good singer, so I don't try to sing (I can sing some backup stuff; but never a lead singer).

Originally Posted by jagcmos

Am I wrong, and all it takes is time ?

But I think AE is something that can be learned for some people. The closer a person is to the actual environment (hanging out in studios, watching, learning, etc) the more likely he/she is going to pick it up.

Originally Posted by jagcmos

Do you have to have a good ear to start with, or can it all be learned ?

I think having a good ear is a great starting point, but it must be joined with the desire and motivation to be successful in the business of AE. Even someone with a good ear is always going to learn. You should never stop learning. In fact most famed AE's will tell you that.

I think it all requires a good combination of a good ear, motivation, willing to listen, willing to learn, committment, etc, etc, etc. Some may need to focus on certain areas.