Audio Engineering
Are you a music lover?
Do you love to play with music?
Then Audio Engineering will be the right choice for you. It is one of the disciplines of Engineering courses.
This field is best for those individuals who want to work in the sound industry and love doing experiments with the sound and mixing different sounds together to make a new music.
Mostly peoples get puzzled with the definition of Audio Engineering. Firstly, Audio engineers are not same as sound producers, performers or writers.
Audio Engineering means to work with sounds like work with recording, mixing, equalization and electronic effects, reproduction of sound.
Audio Engineering is basically the reproduction or recording of sound through various means. An audio engineer makes the use of various equipments to record the sound.
Recording studio is the place where most of recordings take place. The venue is decided by the acoustic technicians. A studio has recording booth and a control room where recording instruments are installed.
The aim of this profession is to ensure that recording has high-quality and crystal-clear sound.
Audio Engineer (Sound Engineer) can also set up and do live music mixing for music concerts using the sound reinforcement system and audio console. Thomas Edison was the first person who record sound using a machine called “Phonograph”.
Want to know more about it??
Eligibility & Courses
Academic qualification is must for gaining success in any field. Of course, technical knowledge and skills are essential along with qualification.
Most of the Audio Engineers comes from the field of acoustics, computer science engineering, physics, acoustical engineering, broadcast engineering, electrical engineering, etc. Students can pursue various bachelors and master courses to become an Audio Engineer.
To become an Audio Engineer it mostly requires some form of certification or vocational training. Good knowledge of electronic systems and electrical safety training is also required.
The best courses for Audio Engineers are listed here:
- Certificate courses: Certificate in Creative Media Arts-Digital Sound (CCMA) is a maximum two year duration course with the eligibility of 10+2 (Courses after 12th).
- Certificate in Recording and Audio Engineering
- Certificate in Audio Technology
- Certificate in Audio Production Technology
- Diploma course: Diploma in Recording Arts (Audio Engineering) is a one year full time course.
- Diploma in Audio Engineering is a one year diploma with the eligibility of 10th or equivalent exam.
- Bachelor course: Students can pursue bachelor degree in Sound Engineering with the eligibility of 10+2 with PCM subjects (Courses after 12th science).
- Master Course: After bachelor’s degree in Sound Engineering, students can pursue master or doctoral level courses at various universities.
In the field of audio engineering, specialized courses in are available such as recording, editing, mixing, and mastering.
“To become an Audio Engineer does not require any certification but certification may be helpful in finding a good job.”
Entrance Exams:
Top universities in India offer Sound Engineering programmes:
- IIT Kharagpur
- National Institute of Film and Fine Arts, Kolkata
- Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
- Grotek Institute of Film Technology, Kasargode
- Asian Academy of Film and Television, Delhi
- Ramoji Academy of Film and Television, Hyderabad
- Biju Patnaik Film And Television Institute, Cuttack
- Neo Film and Broadcasting School, Kochi
Skills Required:
Candidates who want to make their career in the field of audio engineering should have following skills:
- Must be familiar with the sound equipments and must know how each equipment affects the sound of the recording
- Excellent communication skills
- Time Management
- Knowledge of Information Technology and Electronics is required
Career Opportunity
Audio Engineering field is challenging as well as demanding. There is a huge growth of audio engineers in entertainment industry.
Because of development of modern civilization and entertainment field, there are many job opportunities are available for Audio Engineers. The scope of Audio Engineering is best in the entertainment industry.
Professionals of Audio Engineering may work in with musical artists, movie directors, television news stations and radio stations. Radio engineering is a highly technical job. It is the rewarding field and after gaining experience, a person can make a good career in it.
Job opportunities for Audio Engineer are available in various fields such as radio stations, studios, tv channels, advertising firms, multimedia design, animation, movies, with band crews, play houses, theatres, conference centres, etc. One can also open his/her recording studio.
Duties of Audio Engineer:
- Operate, maintain, repair and set up the audio recording systems.
- Work in coordination with editors, directors, video operators, etc.
- Develop high quality recording of music and other sound effects in the Studio.
- Stay connected with new technologies in Audio Engineering.
Mostly the question arise that…. “What will be my job profile?”
So here are the answers.
Top Job Profiles:
- Studio sound recordist
- Audio Engineer
- Studio Manager
- Location recordist
- Digital media entrepreneur
- Production Assistant
- Promo Producer
- Radio Sound Engineer
- Acoustic Consultant
- Live Sound Engineer
- Studio Designer
Some major recruiters for Audio Engineers are listed here:
- Amazon Lab126
- Auro Technologies NV
- Harman International
- Interfacio Ltd.
- Meyer Sound Laboratories, Inc.
- THX Ltd.
- Apogee Electronics Corporation
- Ryman Hospitality Properties
- Worldlink
- Corporate Sound, Inc.
- Electronic Arts – Entertainment and Media Industry
Salary Packages
How much an Audio Engineer earns?
In this field, earning depends upon your creativity…
In the USA, the average salary of an Audio Engineer is $58,670 per annum.
In India, an Audio Engineer earns the starting salary of 20,000/- to 30,000/- per month. After gaining the good experience in this field, an Audio Engineer can open their own recording studio or can easily grab six figure salary.
“Once you have made a name for yourself in this field, then salary will be beyond the limits”
Books & Study Materials
Some of the best highly recommended books for Audio Engineering are listed here:
Perfecting Sound Forever: The Story of Recorded Music – Greg Milner
Dance Music Manual: Tools, Toys, and Techniques – Rick Snorman
Mixing Secrets for the Small Studio – Mike Senior
Modern Recording Techniques – David Miles Huber
Instrument and Vocal Recording – Bill Gibson
The Mixing Engineer’s Handbook – Bobby Owsinski
The Art of Mixing: A Visual Guide Recording, Engineering, and Production – David Gibson
Recording & Mixing Strategies – Björgvin Benediktsson
Audio Engineering 101 – Tim Dittmar
Mastering Audio: The Art and the Science – Bob Katz
Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen – Michel Chion
Behind the Glass: Top Record Producers Tell How They Craft the Hits – Howard Massey
While filling up IPU form in the column for region or state from which qualifyimg exam passed what option do I give Delhi or putside Delhi as I have done my schooling from Noida (NCR)