Audio engineering is the process of recording, editing, and mixing audio, and it deals mostly with the technical aspects of those processes.

If you want to have a career as an audio engineer, there are multiple audio-related fields you can get into.

Here are a few options you can explore…

In a recording studio, the audio engineer (or their assistant) is the one who sets up the recording space, makes sure all necessary cables are plugged in, positions microphones, manages recording levels, and then edits and mixes the audio to make sure it sounds professional.

They work from the soundboard in the control room of the studio.

This role can involve helping artists and bands record their music as well as recording and editing audiobooks and podcasts.

Audio engineers working in live performance settings are responsible for running sound checks before the event to ensure the audio sounds good from all parts of the space.

They also edit the audio during the event in real time to make sure it continues to sound clear to everyone in attendance. They may also be asked to record the audio for people to listen to after the event.

This is all done from a soundboard, usually in the back of the space.

A mixing engineer specializes in the process of blending the parts of a recording together to make it sound professional. This is a process done after all the recording has finished, and it involves adjusting volume levels, panning audio elements left and right, and applying effects.

A mastering engineer takes a mixed piece of audio and prepares it for commercial release. This involves increasing the volume of the audio file, applying effects to enhance the audio, and making sure the audio sounds good on every kind of playback system.

Broadcast engineers (AKA broadcast technicians) record and produce audio for live broadcasts on TV and the radio. They’re also in charge of maintaining the audio equipment and fixing it when needed.

A field recording engineer typically works on the set of a TV show, film, documentary, or any other situation that needs audio to be recorded outside of the studio or a live event.

It’s very common for audio engineers to work long hours and be on the road for weeks at a time.

A recording engineer may work 10-14 hour days working with an artist.

Live sound engineers go on tour with artists and bands and can be gone for weeks or even months at a time.

Even mixing and mastering engineers may work long days because they’re on a tight deadline.

This is the reality of working as an audio engineer, so keep this in mind before you jump into this career head-first.

To succeed as an audio engineer, you have to be both technically skilled and creatively in tune.

Here’s a rundown of the skills you’ll need:

• Know the ins and outs of your chosen DAW (Pro Tools is the industry standard)
• Understand how microphones capture sound and how to position them for certain sounds
• Knowledge of sound and room acoustics
• Audio editing, mixing, and mastering
• Critical listening (having a “good ear”)
• Good communication and people skills
• Understanding how to fix equipment
• Musical knowledge (not necessary but helps)
• Sound design (not necessary but helps)

There are two main ways to become an audio engineer: hands-on experience or by earning a degree or certificate.

Many audio engineers have gotten their start as an unpaid intern in a recording studio (AKA a “runner” or “gofer”).

In this entry-level position, you would do things like get coffee and food for the head engineer, artists, producer(s), and anyone else present. You may also move or help set up equipment.

After two to three years, you may be able to advance to the role of Assistant Engineer, if you’ve gone above and beyond as an intern.

Another option is to go to school for audio engineering or earn an audio-related certificate. Typically, a degree in audio engineering would take 2-4 years to complete.

The degree or certificate is not the thing that will get you a job, it’s the knowledge you will gain through higher education as well as the connections you make with others.

The average salary for an audio engineer in the United States is about $74,100 per year, or about $35 per hour.

Your annual income as an audio engineer can, of course, vary widely, depending on how experienced you are, where you live, where you work, and the network of connections you’ve curated.

The expert audio engineers are not experts, at least according to them. Why? Because the best are always learning, always trying to improve, and never fully satisfied with their work.

Audio engineer and producer Warren Huart (Korn, James Blunt, Aerosmith, Grey’s Anatomy) says most of them learned on the job, and they just never stopped working on their craft.

“All of the best producers and engineers and mixers…none of those guys and girls would ever say that they are experts or professionals or at the top of their game,” he said.

You don’t need to stress about trying to become an expert. You just need to start engineering and never stop learning.