Turn Up the Volume: Live Sound Engineering |
 |
October 3, 2005
By Emily Kerr
emily.kerr@technician-programs.com
Technician Programs Columnist
Imagine going on the road with Metallica– thousands of screaming fans, and it's all up to you as the live sound engineer to deliver the music.
The life of a live sound engineer can encompass anything from days to weeks to years spent on the road working with sound technology equipment for major bands to staying at home in a small town and working convention centers, lecture halls and churches. There's a wide variety of avenues available to a trained live sound engineer.
What is a live sound engineer?
Live sound engineers manage sound – from music to speech to special effects – in venues from theaters to sports arenas, concerts to huge churches and other live events. Also known as audio or sound technicians or mastering engineers, they operate sound systems and the people the bands depend on to sound good in concert and in the studio.
There's no typical job description for a live sound engineer. Sound engineer jobs can range from managing sound for a band on the road to working in Hollywood, putting the finishing touches on movies by providing sound effects and dubbing.
Skills needed to be a live sound engineer include
- Creativity
- Electronics training
- Lifting and carrying
- Trouble shooting
- An excellent ear for sound
Specific tasks carried out in a sound engineer job include
- Designing, obtaining, installing, setting up, operating and maintaining sound equipment
- Working with stage managers
- Operating master sound control panels
- Controlling the sound system during live events
- Coordinating with lighting, staging and other facets of production
Some live sound engineers start at the bottom and work their way up, but it's a competitive business and the best way to get ahead is to look for specialized sound engineer training through schools and colleges. According the U.S. Bureau of Labor statistics, there were 13,000 sound engineering technicians in 2002, with a median income of $37,000 and high end income of $82,500. Competition for the best sound engineer jobs is fierce, so sound engineer training just makes sense in trying to get ahead in this career.
Sources:
www3.ccps.virginia.edu/career_prospects/briefs/Print/K-O/LiveSound.shtml
www.careeroverview.com/broadcast-engineering-careers.html
www.bls.gov/oco/ocos109.htm
About the Author
Emily Kerr is a freelance writer with over 350 articles in print. She writes about topics from technology to education and everything in between.
|
| |
