Sound Engineering Technician

Overview and Key Facts

What Do They Do?

A sound engineering technician could...

Overview Listen to this section

Any time you hear music at a concert, a live speech, the police sirens in a TV show, or the six o'clock news you're hearing the work of a sound engineering technician. Sound engineering technicians operate machines and equipment to record, synchronize, mix, or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects in recording studios, sporting arenas, theater productions, or movie and video productions.

Do You Have the Skills and Characteristics of a Sound Engineering Technician?

1. Active Listening: ? Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
2. Speaking: ? Talking to others to convey information effectively.
3. Reading Comprehension: ? Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work related documents.
4. Writing: ? Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
5. Complex Problem Solving: ? Identifying complex problems and reviewing related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.

6. Critical Thinking: ? Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
7. Judgment and Decision Making: ? Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
8. Monitoring: ? Monitoring/Assessing performance of yourself, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
9. Active Learning: ? Understanding the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making.
10. Operation Monitoring: ? Watching gauges, dials, or other indicators to make sure a machine is working properly.

Core Tasks

Think about if you'd like the typical tasks a Sound Engineering Technician might do:

• Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
• Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
• Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
• Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
• Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
• Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
• Keep logs of recordings.
• Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
• Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
• Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.
• Report equipment problems and ensure that required repairs are made.
• Tear down equipment after event completion.
• Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving.