What is Sound Engineering? Scope and Career Opportunities

Sound engineering is slightly a less travelled path by students who pursue engineering courses after completing 10+2. It is the branch of engineering where engineers work on the technicality of sound. Technicality of sound means working with the technical aspects like Recording, Editing, Mixing and Mastering of sound. Sound engineers are the heart and soul of the music industry. They provide the clarity of sound and add quality to it. Many of the sound engineers work for designing and controlling sound at places like theatres, conferences and many other programmes. Sectors that hire sound engineers are Film and Radio, Television, Music Recording Studios, Gaming Companies, Event Management Firms and Music Concert Productions.

Branches of Sound Engineering

There are various branches across sound engineering, which are:

1. Audio Engineers for Research and Development – The work of an audio engineer in the research and development sector involves enhancing the process of audio engineering by developing new equipment, technologies and techniques. The branch of sound engineering is highly dependent on Audio Engineers for Research and Development to add artistic value to music.

2. Monitor Sound Engineers – Monitor Sound Engineers helps live performers by assisting them on audio and sound enhancement. A musical concert is never complete without a perfect monitor sound engineer. Performers perform and monitor sound engineers help in their performance.

3. Systems Engineers – Systems engineers assist the monitor sound engineers by taking care of AMPS, complex PA systems, speakers and other equipment. They receive instructions from the monitor sound engineers and operate accordingly.

4. Recording Engineers – Recording Engineers are the tune setters of an album. They perform duties of recording, editing and mixing sound using microphones, setting levels and sound manipulation techniques. They acquire skills in technologies from analog tapes to digital multi track recording programs to assist musicians and vocalists.

Scope of Sound Engineering

A sound engineer can work as a broadcast engineer, sound editor, and mixer, sound effect editor, music editor, re-recording mixer, studio engineer, dialogue editor, location sound engineer etc. As the television industry is growing rapidly, the chances of a sound engineer to get jobs are also increasing. Sound engineers can also work in the advertising, multimedia, and animation industries. Sometimes sound engineers start their own recording studios too!

The starting salary of a sound engineer is around 15k per month. With experience, the salary of a sound engineer increases and it can go up to a level of 50k per month.