Most of us think that music is just a way
of whiling away spare time, but did you know that it could be money making as a
career? Maybe not, Read on further to know how.
The music industry is growing at a rapid
pace and more and more job opportunities are opening up for freshers who have a
keen interest in taking up Audio engineering as a career. Conventional career
options can be boring, so why not to think about a career which has less
competition and requires only skills at its core.
What
is Audio or sound Engineering?
Audio engineering is a branch of
engineering which teaches students recording, mixing and reproduction of music
for movies, theatre and other avenues, wherever it might be required. An audio
engineer spends most of his time in the recording studio where he fiddles with
music. An Audio engineer is required to produce speech, music and sound effects
in his studio. Modern and hi-tech instruments are used for producing
unbelievable sounds which can sweep you off your feet. Many new avenues have
sprung up which now demand professionally produced music. Music was always
required for movies, television and radio but now even game developers need
music and sound effects for their products.
What
are the qualifications required to be an Audio engineer?
To become an Audio engineer you must have a
high school degree in subjects like physics, chemistry and mathematics. After
you have attained a Bachelors degree in Audio engineering, you can enrol for
the Masters degree at any foreign university.
The
top colleges and universities which offer Audio engineering courses are
·
American university
·
Lawrence Technological
University
·
Belmont University
·
Georgia Institute of Technology
·
Carnegie Mellon university
What are the roles of an Audio engineer in the industry?
·
Sound engineer
·
Audio engineer
·
Production assistant
·
Acoustic consultant
·
Studio manager
·
Assistant engineer
·
Digital remastering engineer
·
Live sound engineer
·
Studio designer
·
Multimedia developer
·
Studio technician
What is the scope and what are the career options for Audio engineers?
Audio engineers are required to record
sounds for Television, Radio, Movies, Advertisements, websites, computer and
mobile games and many more like fields. Since the applications of Audio
engineering are more in the entertainment industry, it is a very rewarding
career. A popular and in-demand Audio engineer is well paid. Going by the
visible trends the demand for Audio engineers will see a definite hike.
With regards to a career, an Audio engineer
can seek job opportunities in places like Radio stations, Television channels, recording
studios, Animation studios, Advertising agencies and the Movie industry. If an
Audio engineer wants then he can also opt for specialization courses like
editing, recording, mastering and sequencing. After gaining a decent amount of
experience, an Audio engineer can also become a studio manager.
What do the statistics say?
Going by the stats, an Audio engineer is
paid well. In the United States alone Audio engineers are being paid
approximately US$ 30 per hour. An Audio engineer is able to accumulate almost
US$ 60,000 annually. It is by no means
an exorbitant amount, but still a decent enough. The hourly wages paid to Audio
engineers are just a fraction short of what engineers and architects are being
paid. Figures indicate that there would be a rise in demand for audio engineers
@10% by 2020. It is a little low in comparison to other sectors, but the
reasons for the same are quite understandable. Modern technology is enabling
and ensuring that lesser Audio engineers are required for more work. Machines
have taken over a lot of manual work in the entertainment industry.
What are the personal qualities required for becoming an Audio engineer?
An Audio engineer’s job is all about
networking. Be it with artists or musicians. Communication skills play a vital
role in making the job of an Audio engineer easier. Fellow technician,
supervisors and clients all have their own point of views, which an Audio
engineer must try and understand. Sharp computer skills are also required for
an Audio engineer to use the digital equipments for sound processing. Problem
solving skills also come in handy for a sound engineer.
