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wikiHow to Become a Sound Engineer
Three Methods:Acquiring Hands-On ExperienceGetting an EducationDeveloping the Tr
aits of a Sound EngineerCommunity Q&A
Sound engineers may be known as recording or audio engineers. The specific respo
nsibilities of these different titles may vary. Sound engineers run live shows l
ike concerts and plays, record and produce in the studio, and work sound systems
for radio, TV, and film crews. To become a sound engineer, find a sound enginee
r to watch, help out, and take any chance to work with sound equipment you can g
et. Earning a degree may help you get a job as a sound engineer. You should be f
lexible, have strong people skills, and persevere through setbacks.

Method
1
Acquiring Hands-On Experience
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 11
Watch sound engineers work. Go to a local bar or club that has live music, or th
e booth at a theater during a play, and watch what the sound person does. Pay at
tention to the set up of cords and sound boards. Watch how they interact with pe
ople. Take note of when they adjust levels and what the result is.[1]
Lots of churches have high quality sound systems and people who run them, so thi
s is also a great place to go for an opportunity to watch.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 22
Ask sound engineers if you can help in any way. The music industry involves a lo
t of making connections and getting your foot in the door. Once you find a sound
engineer, ask if there is anything you can do, even if it just means taping cab
les down. You can start to build these connections, which may eventually lead to
more involvement.[2]
Some people may tell you no. Maybe they don t want you in the way. You can be pers
istent and tell them you ll do anything and won t bother them. Still, there s a time t
o give up and find someone else to ask.
If you are at a venue and you see people setting things up, ask if you can help.
They will most likely welcome another set of hands.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 33
Take any opportunity you can get. This is an industry that takes a while to work
up the ranks into top professional jobs. If you have the opportunity to carry i
n sound equipment, do it. Maybe sometime you will get to help set everything up.
Then you may get to run a sound check. Every chance you get to learn a little m
ore is a building block for your career.[3]
Even though it can be hard, don t think you are too good for anything. Just swallo
w your pride and take the chance to help out and get some experience.
If you consistently show up at the same places and you are always willing to hel
p in any way you are asked, people will start to notice and may trust you to do
more important tasks.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 44
Intern at a recording and production company. More than helping out at gigs, an
internship will help you get more consistent experience. You may have to go unpa
id for a while, but if you can afford to do this, you will learn enough to make
up for the lack of pay. Find out if there is a studio near you and see what type
s of opportunities they have available.
Since there are so many different jobs that sound engineers can have, the range
of internships may vary a lot. Any production company that has internships avail
able is worth checking out, even if what they do is not exactly what you are int
erested in.
Method
2
Getting an Education
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 51
Learn about sound equipment. Research speakers and see when to use different typ
es. Find out which cords plug into mics and which ones go between soundboards an
d amps. You need to know how to set up all kinds of sound equipment. You can lea
rn these things online through tutorial videos and also in person when you can w
ork with sound people.[4]
Some sound equipment is the same as it was years ago, but many other technologie
s are continuing to evolve. Staying current on your knowledge is vital.

Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 62

Master music software. You need to know how mix and edit in music software like
Pro Tools and Cubase. If you can, purchase one of these programs and begin explo
ring what they can do and practice editing songs. Pick a song you like and impor
t it into the software. Practice splitting the song into parts and changing pitc
hes and volumes.
Not all sound engineers mix new music tracks, but being able to do it will make
you more versatile.
It will take time to learn all of the things you can do, but it s important to sta
rt building a foundation.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 73
Research safety protocols. Because sound engineers work with so many types of el
ectrical equipment, you will need to learn some basic electrical safety. Learn a
bout basic electricity, such as the difference between voltage and current. You
will need to know how many pieces of equipment can be plugged into a specific po
wer strip so you don t blow a fuse or ruin the equipment.
Taking classes in physics, for example, is a good place to start. If classes are
not an option, consider an electrical safety training seminar.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 84
Get experience in high school. If you are still in school, you have access to so
me opportunities that others don t. Try to get involved with the theater program,
which most likely uses a sound system during plays. Productions are often mostly
run by students anyway, so this is an easy way to get hands on experience in a
low key setting.[5]
In college, you also have some opportunities to get involved in running sound, e
ven if you aren t studying it. Check in with your campus theater and see what they
require for their sound people. Find out if you could start working with someon
e who already does it and learn from them.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 95
Earn a degree. While you can learn on the job and get lots of experience, earnin
g a degree shows your commitment to learning. It shows that you can work hard on
something until it is complete. A degree also shows that you have been properly
trained in the field. While it may not be mandatory for some jobs, it s going to
make you look better to those looking to hire quality engineers.[6]
A typical degree might be an Associate s or Bachelor s of Science in Audio Engineeri
ng. The degree might also be called Sound Engineering.
These degrees will tend to be a mix of music, business, and technical classes wh
ich serve to give you a well-rounded education in the field.
Method
3
Developing the Traits of a Sound Engineer
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 101
Hone your communication skills. Being a sound engineer entails working with peop
le of different personalities on a consistent basis, so you need to be an effect
ive communicator. Learn to listen well to the responses you get from people. Ans
wer questions as clearly as possible.[7]
Learn to understand what people mean even when they don t make much sense.
Get used to as much of the technical music lingo as possible. Things like lead gu
itar, feedback, and normalize. In music jargon, some words and phrases may have diffe
rent meanings than you are used to.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 112
Be flexible and committed to getting the job done. Sound engineers often have to
work long, odd hours that may revolve around someone else s schedule. If you can
only get into the studio starting at 9pm, then you need to be cool with that. If
you have to redo equipment checks 5 times before a live show, don t get frustrate
d. You ll likely work long hours on some projects to get them done within a certai
n time.[8]
Sound engineers often work nights and weekends, because these tend to be the tim
es that live performance events happen. Although, in some cases you may find wor
k in radio or TV, which might afford the chance for daytime work.
At least when you are first starting out, being as available as possible will be
a strong asset you can offer someone looking to hire you.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 123
Develop humility and perseverance. Sound engineers are often overlooked and are
not likely to get a lot of praise for the work they do. If you are passionate ab
out the work, it makes it easier to be okay with never being noticed. Don t give u
p when the job starts getting really tough and you don t want to keep going. Perse
vere through the hardship.[9]
Sound engineers rarely get the credit for an amazing concert or great mix on a h
it song, so don t expect to gain fame through this career. You should find fulfill
ment through the work itself and not through any accolades you might receive.
Image titled Become a Sound Engineer Step 134
Be easy to work with. You ll be working with lots of people, from artists in the s
tudio, to venue owners, to tour managers. When they are demanding, do your best
to go with the flow and do what they ask. Don t get angry easily and fight with pe
ople. Keeping a level head is important in this business.[10]
If you are likeable and easy to get along with, people will want to keep working
with you. If you cause drama, you are likely to be replaced.
While you can actively work on this, in some ways it is more of a personality tr
ait than an issue of effort. If you don t like people and have a hard time working
with others, this may not be the profession for you.
Community Q&A
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Do I need special schooling to be an audio technician?
wikiHow Contributor
In most cases, really need a specific education for this job. Some sound & image
schools provide certificates for your introduction to this industry.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 6
Are electronics involved in sound engineering?
wikiHow Contributor
Yes. The way sound is processed is based on principles found in electronics (ex.
equalization, synthesis, etc.), however, sound engineering mainly involves appl
ying the knowledge you have about sound equipment and music and the skills you h
ave in manipulating audio.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 5
What is the importance of being a sound engineer?
wikiHow Contributor
It's based upon how you control the sound of a music production or track, as wel
l as regulating the acoustics of a room.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 1 Helpful 8
How do I pursue a sound engineer career?
wikiHow Contributor
Seek a program at an accredited university or college in sound engineering and o
btain an internship to learn on-the-job skills.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 1 Helpful 5
Is it possible for me to produce my own music?
wikiHow Contributor
Yes. It usually takes purchasing special software.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 1
Can I become a sound engineer after completing b.com?
wikiHow Contributor
This course of study may be helpful, but you will need more music training as we
ll.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
What subjects do I need to study in order to get into a sound engineering univer
sity?
wikiHow Contributor
Music technology, physics, math are all helpful for pursuing a sound engineer de
gree.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 0 Helpful 0
Where could I get a list of schools that offer sound engineering?
wikiHow Contributor
You may want to do some further searching, but here is a place to start:http://s
tudy.com/articles/Best_Audio_Engineering_and_Production_Colleges_List_of_Top_Sch
ools.html.
Thanks!
Yes No
Not Helpful 1 Helpful 0
Unanswered Questions
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Tips
Be able to problem solve and work quickly because sound engineers tend to work o
n tight schedules.
Sound engineers tend to be in somewhat higher supply than demand calls for, so c
onsider how passionate you are in pursuing this as a career.
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Sources and Citations
? http://www.music-production-guide.com/audio-engineer.html
? https://www.careersinmusic.com/sound-technician/
? http://sounddesignlive.com/how-to-become-a-sound-engineer/
Show more... (7)
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