Getting into Sound Engineering?

If you are looking to get a formal education before working in a studio, I must warn against going to a technical school. Many will leave you with more debt, less knowledge, and less hands-on experience than if you went to an actual music school with a sound engineering program. At a music school, after all, there are actual students performing all the time, and the engineers can experiment recording and mixing the performances they do. Plus, you leave with a working knowledge of actual musicianship as well as the technical studio skills.

If you’ve already gone to school, or don’t plan on doing so, then you’ll either have to work your way up through an established studio or be willing to make virtually no money for a few years while starting up an independent studio and scrounging for customers. I don’t really know how these options would work. All my music buddies are from college, and they took the first route.

@SavoirFaire I already have formal education on the software I got for free while in high school. Would approaching various studio’s about interning/jobs be a good way to get into the studio’s/buisness?

Interning is how the engineers I know got started. Since I assume the tags you chose for this topic mean you know Pro Tools, you are in a good position for internships. But it couldn’t hurt to ask about open jobs at the same time you are looking at interning opportunities. It lets people know right up front that you are open to long-term work.

@SavoirFaire Thanks for the direction!

You’re quite welcome. Nice job on the tracks you linked to, by the way. I’m liking them all, so far!

Thank you. I got a band together for the final project, and we’re still together and recording.

Becoming a sound engineer is like being a recording star, the field is mainly closed. not to burst your bubble, but sound engineer jobs are few and far between. i am not saying you cannot make it in that field, rather you must really have something on the ball, in order to be noticed. i have lived in Nashville all my life and have recorded at many of the studios here.

Again, it’s a tough field to get into. you may have to join a union.

Get to know the various music recording softwares like ableton live, steinberg cubase, mackie tracktion, cakewalk sonar, acoustica mixcraft, etc.

Then work your way on MIDI, recording midi, editing midi, automation

Finally get the hardware part under control, microphones(cardiod, hyper cardiod, dynamic, condenser, ribbon, etc.), mixing boards (both analog and digital), instruments (guitar, drums, vocals, bass, etc.)

And don’t forget using your heart instead of your brain. Music always comes from the heart…