What Do Sound Engineering Technicians Do (including Their Typical Day At Work)

Job Description

Sound Engineering Technicians operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in sporting arenas, theater productions, recording studios, or movie and video productions. They also confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.

Other tasks include:

• Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
• Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
• Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
• Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
• Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
• Keep logs of recordings.

We asked Sound Engineering Technicians how satisfied they are with their job. Here is what they said.

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76% of them said they were satisfied with their job and 42% said they find that their job makes the world a better place or helps to make someone else’s life better.

Typical Day At Work

On a daily basis, Sound Engineering Technicians tear down equipment after event completion. They regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.

A typical day for a Sound Engineering Technician will also include:

• Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
• Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
• Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
• Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
• Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.

We asked some Sound Engineering Technicians a few questions to find out what else does their work day look like. Here is what we found.

	Do you have telephone conversations everyday in this job?	65% said yes
	How important is it to work in a team in this job?	45% said very important
	Do you have group discussions everyday in this job?	87% said yes
	Do you talk or work with customers everyday in this job?	19% said yes
	Do you have to deal with angry customers everyday in this job?	6% said yes
	Do you have to make decisions everyday in this job?	63% said yes

Other responsibilities

Besides their typical day, Sound Engineering Technicians also convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving. They may also create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction.

On a weekly to monthly basis, Sound Engineering Technicians Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made. They might also Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.

In addition, they Keep logs of recordings.

Although specific duties may vary, many of them Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.

To some Sound Engineering Technicians, it is also their responsibility to Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.

Working life

More than 40 hours per week

Irregular work schedule that changes depending on weather conditions, customer demand or contract duration.

In a typical work week as a Sound Engineering Technician, you can expect to work more than 40 hours per week.

Is this right for me

People who are suitable for this job tends to like work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They like working with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery..

They also like working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

You can read more about these career personality types here.

Explore other careers

http://www.bls.gov/OOH/media-and-communication/broadcast-and-sound-engineering-technicians.htm

http://www.nab.org/

http://www.sbe.org/

http://www.nsca.org/