An audio recording engineer records, edits, mixes, and masters sound using tools such as mixing boards, microphones, and computers. They work in recording studios, post-production for various industries, and live events. Most new engineers have formal education and experience in music production and digital technology. The Audio Engineering Society provides a professional community and standardizes best practices.
An audio recording engineer, professionally speaking, is an individual who works in the field of audio science related to the analog or digital recording of sound or music. Generally unrelated to classical engineering, an audio recording engineer is most closely associated with creative processes related to music and other audio. However, technical skills ranging from reel-to-reel analog recording and digital recording to soundboard and computer post-processing are essential.
In the more common recording studio environment, an audio recording engineer is tasked with recording, editing, cleaning, adjusting, mixing, and ultimately mastering sound. The quality of a particular engineer is typically judged by his ability to tailor the final product to the wishes of the producer or recording musicians. The audio recording engineer’s tools include mixing boards or sound cards, preamplifiers and amplifiers, sequencers, signal processors, microphones, and computers. Computer software is becoming increasingly capable of emulating the characteristics of a traditional mixer, simplifying post-production and reducing studio costs.
Less common, though not unusual, work environments for an audio recording engineer may include post-production for television, film, marketing, advertising, and computer games. Additionally, live recording for concerts and other events requires special training. Similar credentials are required for each industry, although specialization is common. Specialization among the four main aspects of commercial recording – recording, editing, mixing and mastering – is typical, as individual engineers gravitate to the aspect of audio engineering they are most comfortable with.
While many older audio recording engineers are self-taught or otherwise informally trained, most new engineers are specifically educated in audio recording and can contain anything from a degree in electrical or general engineering to music production and audio. Additionally, recording engineers often have experience creating music on their own and are familiar with the creation and technical aspects of recording. In recent years, as digital technology has become increasingly prevalent, the demand for audio recording engineers with experience working in the digital medium and analog-to-digital transfer has similarly exploded. The number of accredited schools dedicated to science registration has also grown substantially.
Audio recording engineers enjoy a strong professional fraternity in the form of the Audio Engineering Society, founded in 1948. It serves to develop, review, and standardize audio engineering techniques and best practices. The company holds annual conferences in Europe and the United States and publishes a peer-reviewed journal.
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