HOW TO BECOME A SOUND ENGINEER [audio recording]

http://www.musicaltales.com You would like to be, you are, a sound engineer.
Why will I hire you instead of somebody else?

By Stephane Meer, Head manager of Studio Capitale, Audio Post-Production company in Paris France.

For fifteen years now have I seen and interviewed young sound engineers, mostly out of school looking for a job.
Some of them can have their evaluation made in minutes, some take a few days, in all cases after a week we know if the challenger is a possible recruit or not.

What are the things to know?

First, what you learn in a school will at max be 50% of what you need to know.

Second, knowledge is important but the key is attitude.

Attitude toward a technical difficulty
Attitude toward the questions you should ask yourself
Attitude toward the company team
Attitude toward the customers.
Stephane Meer is Head Manager of Studio Capitale Audio Post Production in Paris France.
He is a professional composer and author of the musical fantasy audio book Helena and the orchestra of the world of mist.http://www.musicaltales.com/helena
http://www.musicaltales.com
http://www.musicaltales.com/fr/
http://www.musicaltales.com/de/
http://www.musicaltales.com/es/
http://www.musicaltales.com/ru/
http://www.musicaltales.com/cn/

Category:

Education

Tags:

• sound engineer
• sound engineer jobs
• sound engineer career
• audio engineering
• audio engineering jobs
• sound engineering
• audio engineer
• recording engineers
• music engineer
• studio engineer
• mixing engineer
• audio studio recording

[stephanemeer]

Hello,

I knew a few long term sound engineers in music recording studios, but I think this time is over. Now, all young engineers are free lances only. It's different in the TV world, because you can find long term employment for a TV studio that runs long term TV shows, like news, series, documentaries, etc. It's just a complete different job from mixing music. You will never see a musician or an orchestra. But it's a much more durable profession, and better for a family guy.

[sk8tsdd]

Is being a Audio Engineer Hard?

Cause im thinkin about what i should go to College for and this is One thing i want to do

[stephanemeer]

Well, difficult question.

It is a job that requires passion. This is not a secure job, it is something that you have to prove on a daily basis, exactly like an artist needs to convince stage after stage, cd after cd.

This means Yes, this is hard and unsure, BUT on the other hand we need a lot of them in the industry. Hence this is a possible job, even if not all candidates are successful, like not every one can be a doctor ,a surgeon or a successful politician.

[stephanemeer]

Life sucks! I know.

My purpose here is to say things like they are, for I believe that if you are prepared, you have a better chance of reaching your goal. I believe that it's about a glass being either half empty or half full depending on your perspective.

I just wish this video helps some young professional from being discarded without understanding what the real game is about.

I'm sorry that it's so hard ball, I just try to say the truth. Good luck to you all. Stef

[haynesmachine]

ever heard the term 'right place at the right time' or 'its not what you know, its who you know', the reality is that lots and lots of people have talent, skills, knowledge etc, more than there are jobs to go around, so its the lucky ones that get the good jobs. you might think your beats rule, but the truth is that there's thousands like you and only a fraction will make a living from it, these days wanting to be an engineer/producer in a top studio is the same as wanting to be a rock star.

[bluecafe69]

1) What do you do for a living? 2) Do you think Audio Engineers are limited to working in music production? ... Music is only one kind of audio. 3) Do you think Audio Engineers must be hired by a recording studio to make money? 4) Audio Engineers can work from home. They can set up their own studios and become entrepreneurs. 5)They can work in television, movies and radio. Anywhere that requires an audio expert.

I don't think you get it.

[iceecreamy]

@stephanemeer I enjoyed your video...I am currently in a well paying job working for a car brand and am finding out that my love of the brand and the product is fading away...my other passion off work has always been music and the love of the studio...i currently live in la near Pasadena and am humbly asking for any advice or information that you would have to offer someone who wants to involve them self in too the world of sound engeneering

[theflipking]

@stephanemeer Thanks for a very helpful video!

[theflipking]

@stephanemeer Well I know this video might be a little out dated, but that's al right.

Well, I just want to share my opinion with you. Sure, life is hard. And from conversations I had with sound-Engineers I realise it is a tough field in employment. But that exactly is what I am looking forward to.

Not wanting to talk about myself but, if I can show my employers that I can cope with a situation and still illuminate a professional image, then they would be impressed right?

[1062venturesfan]

@stephanemeer Right you are! One thing I think alot of people miss in the audio engineering field is that we are the servant of the client. They are the boss, they hired us or the company we work for. There are alot of proud arogant know it alls out there. Above we should seek to meet the needs of the client in the studio or onstage. If they are happy we should be.

[mattg082]

@stephanemeer I agree completely, I'm self taught over 14 years and have a nice freelance studio at home with api,neve,apogee gear ect. I make money doing it at home and it's not something that always works. However, I found this out early and got my degree in mass communications and worked at a tv studio for 4 years while in college and made connections. Mass media production is where it at for a real job! You have to do a bit of everything, but you will have the occasional cool audio job.

[MisterMotion]

Kinda layman, but certainly taken to heart..

[ASTROALL]

Before you hire a S.E. give them a detailed hearing test .

You wouldn't hire a color blind person for editing pictures  would you ?

Vitally

[DrUmSensitive]

Why don't you learn english and cut that french bullshit short. I've never heard about good french sound engineers, so cool down and stop being so cocky, it might help you land a job now and then.

[wwwShadow7]

@trainsforever8

Some of us grew up with fairy tale teachers that painted to us an ideal world. We were taught that many of the things listed are ILLEGAL in some countries. And yet common place. In my country, it's always been about getting the job done in the quickest means possible. Never about being liked, or pretty, or submissive. And yet in the real world, you must be all of those things or have a life of menail labor / homelessness. It's hard not to be mean, when all are mean back.

[GondolaOfDeath]

@odenlaura Don't slam people when your grammar and spelling are just as bad.