After all the dialogue has been recorded and the additional sound effects have been created by our exceptional Foley artist, it is time to blend these pieces together to create a finished piece. Enter the sound engineer.
The sound engineer works with mixing boards and audio consoles in order to mesh the sound effects with dialogue and oftentimes a music score to create a finished product. These engineers work with clients to create the perfect project the client is looking for. Sound engineers also pull from libraries of sound effects and ambiances to create the most realistic scene possible. (if that is what the client is looking for!) Sound engineers often have strong backgrounds in music theory as well as in audio manipulation. Most are able to play at least one instrument and have the ability to read sheet music. Of course a sound engineers personal musical preference must be set aside in order to work effectively with different types of music scores. Modern day sound engineers have been able to move away from large and unstandardized standalone D.A.Ws to D.A.W software that can be easily installed on most computers. Therefore many sound engineers must be self taught since the changing technologies of the D.A.Ws require them to keep up with the times. Keeping a hundred tracks organized in a project can cause serious headaches if the sound engineer is working with software he/she has not been exposed to yet.
Sound engineers often keep long hours, may times having to travel great distances and spend very long hours in a studio environment in order to keep clients happy. However with the potential to make big bucks as well as the chance of recognition within the industry, sound engineers are able to survive long hours and nagging clients on a daily basis.
Oftentimes individuals who are looking to enter this industry will volunteer as a runner or errand boy at a audio studio. Since experience and contacts are more important than degrees in this industry, some engineers will teach themselves and enter the field with little academic training. Speaking of audio studio errand boys yours truly is looking for a position. :D
What is a recording engineer?. (09, September 2010). Retrieved from http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-a-recording-engineer.htm
Recording engineer. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.schoolsintheusa.com/careerprofiles_details.cfm?CarID=1078
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