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Sound Engineer

Introduction

In commercial films, radio, television, films, advertisements, videos, websites, computers, mobile games, music video recordings, and others more, there are engineers to record the soundtrack. The importance of this work is very high and it is also a major field of revenue production. In India, the scope of the sound engineer sector is small and limited nonetheless the potential for growth is huge in the Entertainment industry in India. As there is progress and growth in the entertainment sector and the demand for sound engineersis just increasing by the day.

Are you interested in building a career as a sound engineer?

To become a Sound Engineer you will need to fully understand the scope, job profile, and responsibilities of the career.

This blog gives you a detailed idea of the working life of a sound engineer

Job Description

The Music Engineer is a person who uses machinery and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects. Usually, the sound engineers work for the production of movies, music recordings, video games, or TV shows. Sound engineers are also known as Sound technicians, music engineers, or audio equipment technicians.

Sound engineers manipulate acoustics to achieve the desired result. They are responsible for setting up and testing the sound equipment.

Job Responsibilities and Duties

Eligibility

There is not really a compulsory rule to have formal education training to be a sound engineer. However, it gives you an edge to have some training.

Sound engineer qualification includes attending post-secondary vocational programs, having hands-on knowledge about the equipment that is used.

Stream

Graduation

Post-graduation

P.hD.

The candidate must have appeared in 10+2 from any educational board.

The candidate should have a bachelor’s degree to pursue a career in this field. 

The candidates can also pursue a master’s degree if they want to. Although it is not necessary to go for this.

If the candidates desire, they can additionally pursue a Ph.D. It is not, however, necessary to do so.

The core subjects should include Physics, Chemistry, and Mathematics (PCM).

They can pursue B.Tech, B.E. in sound engineering. Try to maintain at least 50-60% to get admission in post-graduation.

They can pursue M.Tech, M.E., M.Phil in sound engineering. 

They can pursue PhD. in the relevant field.

The candidate should try to gain at least a minimum of 50-60% marks. Then, only they will become eligible for bachelor’s course

The candidate needs to pass the entrance exams like JEE, JEE advanced, IIFA and others to get enrolled in a bachelor’s degree.

The candidate needs to pass the entrance exams like GATE and others to get enrolled in a master’s degree.

Sound engineering courses-

Undergraduate

Diploma

Postgraduate

Ph.D.

B.A. in mass communication 7 Media college

Diploma in sound engineering

M.Tech. in sound engineering

Ph.D. in sound engineering

B.Tech. in sound engineering

M.A. in sound engineering

B.Sc. in sound engineering

M.Sc. in sound engineering

Certification

1.SBE- Society of Broadcast Engineers certificate

The society of Broadcast engineers provides an exam to become a certified audio engineer. To take this exam you should have at least five years of experience in the field.

2. Avid Certified Operator: Pro Tools | Music

This course is perfect for beginners as it explains the art of cinematography from the ground up. You will learn the camera settings and various lighting techniques used while taking cinematic shots

3. Avid Certified Mixer: ICON Mixer

Avid’s ICON digital console has become the top-level choice of selective professionals and opens new doors of efficiency and creativity. This certification course explores its full scope of highlights, and how you can utilize them to make better sound mixes.

Skills Required

There are many soft skills and personality traits required by a sound engineer in this industry to become the best. Here are some of those skills

1. IT Skills

Sound engineers are most likely required to work with different audio equipment such as a digital audio workstation.

Sound engineers are most likely required to work with different audio equipment such as a digital audio workstation.

2. Problem-solving Skills

The sound engineer works with a lot of electronic equipment and when one of them malfunctions, it is the job of the sound engineer to be able to identify the problem and make quick repairs and necessary adjustments.

3. Critical Thinking Skills

The Audio engineers are supposed to fix the problems with the sound equipment, to fix problems they must come up with alternative solutions and then figure out which solution will have the better results.

4. Manual Dexterity Skills

A sound engineer must know how to set up equipment, connect wires, use knobs and buttons to make adjustments, etc. This all requires manual dexterity

5. Monitoring Skills

As a sound engineer, you must continuously monitor volume levels and sound quality. They must have a keen eye for details and find mistakes at once.

6. Communication Skills

As a sound engineer, you must continuously monitor volume levels and sound quality. They must have a keen eye for details and find mistakes at once.

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Entrance Exam

To get admitted to universities or colleges, candidates must pass an entrance examination.

National level exams-

Exam Name

Conducting Body

Duration

Frequency

JEE Mains – Joint Entrance Exam Mains

National testing agency (NTA)

3 hours

Twice a year

JEE Advanced- Joint Entrance Exam Advanced

Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)  

3 hours

Once a year

IIMCEE (Indian Institute of Mass Communication Entrance Exam)

Indian Institute of Mass Communication

2 hours

Once a year

GATE- Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering

Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)

3 hours

Once a year

State-level exams-

Exam Name

Conducting Body

Duration

Frequency

WBJEE (West Bengal Joint Entrance Examination)

West Bengal Joint Entrance Examinations Board

2 hours

Once a year

UPCET (Uttar Pradesh Combined Entrance Test)

National Testing Agency (NTA)

3 hours

Once a year

KCET (Karnataka Common Entrance Test)

Karnataka Examinations Authority

1 hour 30 minutes

Once a year

AUCET (Andhra University Common Entrance Test )

Directorate of Admission Andhra University

1 hour 30 minutes

Once a year

TS EAMCET (Telangana State Engineering, Agriculture and Medical Common Entrance Test)

JNTU Hyderabad

3 hours

Once a year

MHT CET(Maharashtra Common Entrance Test)

Maharashtra Common Entrance Test Cell

2 hours 30 minutes

Once a year

University-level exam-

Exam Name

Conducting Body

Duration

Frequency

BITSAT (Birla Institute of Technology and Science Admission)

BITS Pilani

3 Hours

Once a year

VITEEE (Vellore Institute of Technology Engineering Entrance Examination)

VIT University, Vellore

1 hour 30 minutes

Once a year

SRMJEEE (SRM Joint Engineering Entrance Exam)

SRM Institute of Science and Technology

2 hour 30 minutes

Once a year

JMI EE (Jamia Millia Islamia Entrance Exam)

Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) University 

3 hours

Once a year

FTII JET (Film and Television Institute of India Joint Entrance exam)

Film and Television Institute of India

3 hours

Once a year

Job Prospects

Job name

Job description

Sound engineer

They collaborate with the producer to obtain the desired result by modifying acoustics. They are in charge of setting up, operating and maintaining the technical equipment needed to capture, amplify, and enhance sound.

Acoustic consultant

They assist in designing, assessing, management, and control of sound and vibrations in the environment.

Production assistant

They assist in the setup of the set with the necessary equipment. They assist sound recordists in ensuring that the entire sound recording process runs effectively and provides general sound crew support.

Studio Technician

In the film, TV, and music industries, you’ll need to work with audio, visual, and other technical equipment. Their responsibilities include working in both live and recorded scenarios.

Studio Manager

They work in a creative agency, where they supervise, support, and manage the projects that have been assigned to them. A project manager’s profile is pretty similar to this one.

Promo producer

A promo producer is in charge of advertising television shows on the air to entice viewers to watch them. They give recommendations for the program’s promotion plan.

Multimedia developer

They create an integrated multimedia program by designing, creating, manipulating, and tailoring visuals, sound, animation, and text. They collaborate closely with the customer.

Audio engineer

To record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, vocals, or sound effects, audio engineers use apparatus and equipment. They work on the film, music records, live concerts, and video games development.

Work Description

The field of sound engineering course comprises several positions. The work of all the professionals is related to audio and sound only. They are experts in the field of sound. Although the work description of all the professions is different. But still, there is some routine work which is performed by all the professionals. The following are day-to-day work descriptions of sound engineers-

  1. They follow the directions and details given by the directors, producers, and others.
  2. For events, broadcasts, or recordings, set up and test sound equipment.
  3. The track, record, edit and mix audio tracks (instruments, vocals, etc.).
  4. They also enhance the sound quality of recordings by adding sound effects.
  5. They work with video editors to ensure that video and audio tracks are in sync.
  6. During live events, use backup tracks and other effects.
  7. Collaborate with others on lighting, camera, and other aspects of the project.
  8. Sound libraries should be created and maintained.
  9. When technical issues develop, resolve them as soon as possible.

Top Colleges

College name

Location

Indian Institute of Technology (IITs)

Different Locations in India

Birla Institute of Technology (BITS)

Pilani

National Institute of Technology (NITs)

Different Locations in India

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT)

Vellore

SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST)

Chennai

Delhi Technological University (DTU)

Delhi

Indian Institute of Mass Communication (IIMC)

Delhi

IIFA Multimedia

Banglore

National Institute of Film and Fine Arts

Kolkata

Anna University

Chennai

Manipal Institue of Technology(MIT)

Karnataka

Film and Television Institute of India (FTII)

Pune

Sardar Patel College of Engineering

Mumbai

Conclusion

To have a Sound Engineer Career you must really know and work well with technology, sound machinery and have a piece of knowledge of music. To have better chances of finding a job, try having more experience working as a junior audio engineer.

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