I EXPECT TO WORK LONG (AND ODD HOURS) IN THE STUDIO, ON THE ROAD OR AT A LIVE EVENT

In the recording studio, you probably have already realized that a audio sound engineer is not a 9-5 job. Recording sessions can take place at all hours of the day, and if you also do the mixing, that’s even more time you spend at the mixing board. It’s not uncommon to spend late hours tracking in the studio, go home in the wee hours of the morning, then get up 3-4 hours later to start another tracking session with another artist. This is why I love what I do. It requires me to be passionate about the work to maintain the grueling schedule with a good attitude.

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I EXPECT TO DEAL WITH LOTS OF PERSONALITY TYPES

Life as a audio sound engineer means being able to work under pressure with lots of different people, each with their own different demands. Temperamental artists, demanding corporate clients and taskmaster producers are all par for the course when it comes to this job. Of course, I find people I genuinely enjoy working with, I have learned how to deal with people diplomatically, and I treat everyone with the same professional manner, no matter how easy or difficult they may be to get on with.

 

I EXPECT TO LEARN NEW THINGS ALL THE TIME

In the studio, on the road or at a live event, technology is always changing. As an audio sound professional, I know I will never “arrive” at mastering my craft or toolbox, because there will always be a new piece of gear to learn, a new version of the software, a new plug-in to try, a new microphone placement technique that captures trendy sounds. As a audio engineer, keeping up with gear, technology and trends is part of the fun.

 

I EXPECT TO BE A PROBLEM SOLVER

No projector event is the same as the others: each will come with its own set of challenges. Audio engineering is as much art as it is science, because you’re always dealing with new variables, from phantom “hums” in the gear, to a bad recording due to faulty microphones or placement, to the vocalist who can’t get it right after 30 takes., You’ll always be coming across a problem you’ve never had to deal with before. That’s why you can’t rely on formula in this business. The good news is, these challenges are going to make me an expert problem solver. I have learned to think on your feet, and come up with solutions that maybe others have never even tried. It might seem daunting at first, but great audio engineers actually thrive on the challenge of solving new problems, whether it’s revamping the microphone placement or implementing a creative fix in the mix. For me, this is the most rewarding part of my life as a audio engineer.