Studio sound engineer
Sound engineers work in studios and make recordings of music, speech and sound effects.
Typical Salary
£17,000 – £40,000
per year
Working Hours
39–41
hours per week
Day-to-day tasks
In your day-to-day duties you could:
- plan recording sessions with producers and artists
- set up microphones and equipment in the studio
- make sure the volume and recording levels are set correctly
- operate recording equipment and add effects
- record each instrument or vocal onto a separate track
- mix tracks to produce a final 'master' track
- log recordings and other details of the session in the studio archive
Skills needed
- to be thorough and pay attention to detail
- knowledge of computer operating systems, hardware and software
- the ability to work well with others
- the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
- to be flexible and open to change
- persistence and determination
- customer service skills
- knowledge of media production and communication
- to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently
How to get into this role
You can get into this job through:
- a university course
- a college course
- an apprenticeship
- working towards this role
- specialist courses run by private training providers
Career progression
With experience, many studio sound engineers go freelance. You could specialise in a particular technical skill, become a music producer, studio manager, or even start your own recording studio.