Audio Engineering Explained: 5 Audio Engineer Roles

Audio engineering is the craft of handling technical aspects of sound reinforcement, audio recording, post-production mixing, and mastering. Professionals who work in audio engineering are called audio engineers, recording engineers, studio engineers, and sound engineers. Some do specialized work; for example, live sound engineers focus on sound reinforcement at live events while others are generalists, providing their audio engineering skills to all aspects of the music industry.

An audio engineer's role differs somewhat from that of a music producer, whose primary role is to provide artistic direction for a recording session. Audio engineers can also be producers, but their role foremost requires a mastery of audio production fundamentals.

1. 1. Mastery of audio technology: Audio engineering requires technical knowledge of analog recording consoles, digital audio workstations (DAW) like Pro Tools and Logic, MIDI, and other forms of recording technology.
2. 2. Audio and acoustics: High-quality sound recordings require a working knowledge of acoustics, including sound reinforcement (microphones and speakers), soundproofing rooms, and signal processing.
3. 3. Knowledge of musical instruments: Audio engineering goes beyond music technology. It also requires understanding the sonic characteristics of specific musical instruments including their core frequencies, timbral characteristics, and the best ways to mic them.
4. 4. Live sound: Live sound engineers handle sound reinforcement at live events. Capturing live sound requires different skills than tracking instruments for studio recordings, but the goal of creating a sonic palette that accurately represents the music ensemble is the same.

There are five specialized roles within the world of audio engineering: recording engineer, mixing engineer, mastering engineer, live sound engineer, and multimedia sound engineer. Each plays a specific role within the music industry, and the path to each career has its own unique characteristics.

1. 1. Recording engineer: There are three main paths to becoming a recording engineer. One is apprenticing at a recording studio and learning skills like monitoring sound levels, audio equalization, and navigating mixing boards. This path may also involve serving as an assistant engineer. You can also enroll in an audio engineering program—either at a fine arts college or at a trade school—which can help you get a full-time job upon graduation. You can also build up your credentials at home, working with your own audio equipment and advertising your services directly to musicians.
2. 2. Mixing engineer: Mixing engineers enter the music production process after the initial recordings are over. They work to create a balanced audio mix using a digital audio workstation like Pro Tools, Logic, or Ableton. The path to becoming a specialized mixing engineer is quite similar to that of becoming a general recording engineer. You can apprentice in a studio, get a bachelor's degree or certificate, or start at home and build your own business organically. It can also help to network with professional record producers, who may need help navigating new technologies like auto-tune and drum machines.
3. 3. Mastering engineer: The career path of a mastering engineer is similar to that of a mixing engineer. The difference is that mastering engineers focus on the very tail end of the recording process. Mastering involves the final level of volume balancing, EQ, and compression required to make a recording sound finished. If the idea of being the final check on a record's sound quality appeals to you, consider an audio engineer job in the world of mastering.
4. 4. Live sound engineer: To break into the music business as a live sound engineer, you will need to work at live venues and learn how their sound systems function. It may make sense to start as an assistant sound technician setting microphone stands, mic-ing amps, and connecting monitor speakers. As you learn the tricks of the trade from industry professionals, you'll gain the confidence to become the lead engineer on live performances ranging from concerts to sporting events.
5. 5. Multimedia sound engineer: Multimedia sound engineers incorporate many forms of sound—from music to dialogue to diegetic sound design and sound effects—into an overall audio mix. They work on movies, TV, live theater, and video games, where all of these sounds merge into a cohesive audio landscape. To make it as a multimedia sound designer, it helps to network with directors and designers. They are the kind of people who will need to hire sound engineers and sound designers but may not have a robust network of people to hire from.

Many colleges, universities, and trade schools offer degrees related to professional audio engineering. Some institutions offer audio engineering degrees that focus directly on studio work and live sound. Others offer degree programs in music production and engineering that require students to study music theory, ear training, harmony, and composition.

Many audio engineering schools are trade schools that offer certificates rather than college degrees. While these certificates only have value within the music industry (and not for other lines of work), the education at audio engineering schools focuses on practical knowledge and firsthand experience. It’s possible to become a Grammy-winning audio engineer without a bachelor's degree. If you're determined to make it as an audio engineer, you can dive into a certificate program or explore internships with experienced industry professionals.

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