How to Become an

Audio Engineer

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How to become an

Audio Engineer
Written by Jamie D.

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Table of Contents
The Legal Notice ............................................................................................................................ 4 How Do I Become An Audio Engineer? ................................................................................ 5 Not Your Typical Job Description ........................................................................................... 5 The Technical Stuff ....................................................................................................................... 6 What Are Hertz?............................................................................................................................. 6 Sounds and Sine Waves............................................................................................................... 7 Phase In, Phase Out ...................................................................................................................... 8 The Science of Sound ................................................................................................................ 10 Do I Really Need To Know All This Stuff? ......................................................................... 11 Finding an Audio Engineering School ............................................................................... 11 Online Audio Resources........................................................................................................... 12 What Does it to Become a Successful Audio Engineer? ............................................. 12 Audio Job Opportunities .......................................................................................................... 13 Building Your Own Studio........................................................................................................ 13 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 13 Good Luck ...................................................................................................................................... 13

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The Legal Notice

While attempts have been made to verify information contained in this publication, in view of human errors or changes in technology in the future, neither the author nor the publisher assumes any responsibility for errors, omissions, interpretations or usage of the subject matter herein. This publication contains the opinions and ideas of its author and is intended for informational purposes only. The author and publisher shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages incurred from the usage of this publication. Every effort will be made to correct any incorrect or inaccurate information and corrections can be emailed to Jamie@audioengineeringschool.net Limit of Liability and Disclaimer of Warranty The authors and publishers of this book and the accompanying materials have used their best efforts in preparing this document. The authors and publisher make no representation or warranties with respect to the accuracy, applicability, fitness, or completeness of the contents of this document. They disclaim any warranties (expressed or implied), merchantability, or fitness for any particular purpose. The authors and publisher shall in no event be held liable for any loss or other damages, including but not limited to special, incidental, consequential, or other damages. As always, the advice of a doctor or other professional should be sought. All links are for information purposes only and are not warranted for content, accuracy or any other implied or explicit purpose. This manual contains material protected under International and Federal Copyright Laws and Treaties. Any unauthorized use of this material is prohibited. Adobe, Adobe Acrobat and related names are the property of Adobe Systems Incorporated. Compensation Disclaimer Please be aware that we may be promoting products or services in our emails, website or books where we may get paid a commission if you decide to purchase any of these products or services. Rights This book is for Personal Use only and may NOT be sold, distributed, offered as a bonus in any way whatsoever.

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How Do I Become An Audio Engineer?

If you've ever dreamt about being a part of the creative process behind any hit single that you've heard on the radio or online via YouTube, or wondered what it would be like to work with an artist or group that you've grown up listening to, then you're likely to have come across ads or schools offering courses covering just about everything you'd need to know about audio engineering and music production. However, no matter if you choose to go to school or not, becoming an audio engineer is something that you have to work at on a regular basis in order to reach a respectable skill level that you can market or use to collaborate with artists, producers, other audio engineers, or anyone in search of audio engineering services. This walkthrough guide will help you to navigate the difficult terrain that comprises the music and audio industries as well as identify the key skills and assets that will help you to land that first gig or job!

Not Your Typical Job Description

What exactly is an audio engineer? What are the criteria that you have to meet before you can actually call yourself an audio engineer? Time and time again, from the most highly paid professionals in the industry down to the lowliest intern patching cables and setting up mics, the one thing that every single aspiring (or established) audio engineer has in common is an undying passion for the art and a desire to constantly experiment, collaborate, learn, and invest time, energy, and money into honing one's craftsmanship and skill in this remarkably dynamic field. More importantly, understanding what sound really is, how to capture it, and how to shape it into something that is aesthetically pleasing and memorable is a time-honored ability that has been continually refined and adapted to incorporate new technological developments and trends ever since the introduction of the phonograph record player in 1877. Of course, before jumping headfirst into the deep end of the pool and whipping out that almighty plastic debt-maker just so you can get your dirty, sweaty paws on all the best and latest gear, software, and tools that money can buy, it's certainly in your best interest to learn and understand a few basic things about acoustics and how sound really works!

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The Technical Stuff

First of all, what is sound? What is it that makes that guitar solo sound so interesting and pristine or that synth lead so fat and warm? Sound is simply nothing more than a series of vibrations that our ears register within a certain range of frequencies, although the way these vibrations can be manipulated and synthesized is virtually boundless. Sound travels through the air by way of two physical processes known as compression and rarefaction. When sound is generated, air molecules are displaced, causing them to squeeze in together (compression) and then expand (rarefaction) with varying degrees of intensity (amplitude) and at varying rates (pitch).

What Are Hertz?

In summary, the complete process of compression and rarefaction, as it is measured within the timespan of a second, is known as a cycle, and the measurement of a certain cycle or series of cycles is referred to as Hertz (Hz). The more cycles that are generated within a second, the higher (in terms of pitch) a sound is perceived to be, though most sounds that we hear (such as our own voices, for example) are a combination of a very complex series of harmonic and partial overtones that cover a very wide range of frequencies (cycles) at varying amplitudes, which are measured and expressed in decibels (dB). Below is a picture of a pure sine tone measured at 60 Hz. Figure 01 - Sine Wave @ 60 Hz

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So, lets quickly review what we just learned using the picture above:

In the image displayed above, you see a sine wave thats oscillating at 60 Hz (60 cycles per second). One cycle represents a complete process of both compression (air molecules being squeezed together) and rarefaction (air molecules expanding), which is similar to stretching a rubber band and letting it go. In both instances, energy is being created and transferred through a medium. In the picture of the sine wave, the process of compression is represented by the positive cycle as it curves upwards and gives way to rarefaction, which is represented by the downward slope. The arrows in the picture denote the different degrees that the sine wave crosses as it completes a single cycle.

Sounds and Sine Waves

Mathematically speaking, the most basic form of sound that can be generated is the sine wave, and according to the Fourier Theorem, every sound that you hear is essentially made up of sine waves of varying pitches and amplitudes. Once combined together, these sine waves produce what are called overtones, which can either be classified as harmonic (musical) or partial (non-musical) depending on where exactly they fall within the harmonic series. For example, the reference (or fundamental) tone that we use in Western music is 440 Hz, or the key of A (which is a relative minor of C), and the second harmonic of that frequency would be 880 Hz, an octave higher than the fundamental. From there, we get the third harmonic (a.k.a. the perfect fifth), which is three times the fundamental (1.32 kHz) and bears the strongest relationship to the fundamental aside from the octave as well as the fourth harmonic, which is a perfect fourth up from the third and two octaves higher than the fundamental (1.76 kHz). However, in the real world, youll rarely find instruments that sound that precise aside from a synthesizer that generates pure sine waves. Furthermore, as a corollary to the interaction that occurs between that overtones present in any sound as well as the acoustic relationship between sounds themselves, there is another aspect to sound that plays a significant role, which is phase.

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Phase In, Phase Out

Oftentimes, when you hear audio engineers talk about problems regarding the quality of a signal being recorded, if there are multiple microphones involved or if the source is placed next a reflective surface, then its most likely related to phase. So, what is phase exactly? Well, in order to demonstrate this principle, I combined the sine wave displayed above in the first example with an exact duplicate sine wave at the same exact starting point, in which they would be in a state referred to as in phase, like so: Figure 02 - Sine Waves 1 And 2 In Phase

When I played the first sine wave tone all by itself, it was measured at the following dB level:

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When combined with an exact duplicate, the signal rises by 6 dB, like so:

Of course, the opposite of two waveforms being in-phase would be out-of-phase, which would result in whats called complete phase cancellation, like so: Figure 3 - Sine Wave 2 Being Phase-Inverted With Sine Wave 1

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Figure 4 - Sine Wave 2 Being Phase-Inverted With Sine Wave 1

As you will have noticed in the first example, there is signal coming out of each of the two channels labeled Sine Wave 1 and Sine Wave 2, respectively, but theres no signal coming out of the master channel. Why is this?

The Science of Sound

Well, if you skip back to the paragraph above Figure 01, youll note that I mentioned that there were two physical processes that occur whenever molecules in the air are displaced; compression and rarefaction. If a sound source induces compression on a set of air molecules while an equal and opposite force induces rarefaction on the same set at exactly the same time, then what happens to the molecules? You guessed it; they dont move! Think of it in terms of someone trying to open a door, and somebody else trying to keep it shut. If both individuals are equal in terms of strength, the door wont move until one of them gives up. Of course, being that we dont live in a world where perfect sine waves are generated aside from being deliberately synthesized using a synth or tone generator, there is never really a

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moment where in which a sound will be naturally canceled out completely because of poor microphone placement, for example. This is because not every sound is naturally created in the exact same way and whenever two signals are combined in any form or fashion, there will always be phasing of some sort. Audio engineer Ben Lindell wrote an excellent and informative article that plainly explains how you can make phase work to your advantage during any recording session as well as avoid common problems presented by phasing.

Do I Really Need To Know All This Stuff?

At this point, youre probably wondering whether you need to know all these things to be an excellent audio engineer. Granted, unless youre looking to get into building guitars, tuning pianos, or making synthesizers, you dont exactly need to have a firm grasp on all the mathematical underpinnings to understand the concepts as theyre related to audio engineering. However, whats important is that you understand the concepts in relation to practical concerns and scenarios that you will face on a regular basis as an audio engineer so that youll have a good idea about how to troubleshoot them.

Getting Schooled In The Art of Audio Engineering

If you made it this far in the article, chances are youve got the wherewithal necessary to learn the tricks and tools of the trade. However, dont be mistaken; this is not a profession for the faint of heart or people who cant stay motivated and committed for the long haul. If you only have a passing interest in audio and nothing more, I highly recommend that you consider another career path because developing the skill sets needed to work successfully in this industry takes years of constant practice. Of course, you can shorten those years of practice by attending audio engineering schools such as: Dark Horse Institute SAE Full Sail University Dubspot Pyramind Berklee College of Music
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Each school carries a broad range of programs besides just audio engineering that you can enroll in as well as a massive and diverse team of instructors who have had years of practical experience in the industry. For students who are strictly interested in audio engineering, Dark Horse Institute would be a great place to attend, but for those who would like to learn about audio engineering while majoring in guitar or music theory, then attending Berklee College of Music or Full Sail University would be an excellent start.

Online Audio Resources

Alternatively, if youre more of the do-it-yourself type, then I would highly recommend starting off by visiting the following sites: The Guide by Rich The Tweakmeister AudioTuts, an outstanding blog that features various articles that get into the nitty-gritty when it comes to recording, music theory, music production, tips & tricks for specific DAWs such as Ableton Live or Logic Future Music, an excellent publication that features a smorgasbord of tutorials and walkthroughs that will teach you about how the pros approach mixing, mastering, remixing, music production, and more!

What Does it Take to Become a Successful Audio Engineer?

At the end of the day, audio engineering is a profession that requires passion, determination, persistence, lots of patience, and the desire to constantly learn and improve upon your knowledge and skill set. You have to be able to think on your feet and learn quickly when it comes down to troubleshooting, meeting deadlines, keeping yourself abreast of all the constant updates and developments taking place within the audio and music industries, and constantly expanding and nurturing your network of contacts as much as possible. However, without passion, your best work wont come through as well as another engineer whos that much more dedicated and determined than you are!

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Audio Job Opportunities

As far as job opportunities are concerned, the audio industry is known for being extremely competitive, and acquiring an internship at a quality studio is a great way to start, as it is one of the most traditional roles that aspiring audio engineers can use to kick-start their careers.

Building Your Own Studio

However, with the advent of advanced recording technology and software that have steadily become more affordable to the general public, the best way to ensure your future success right now is having constant, uninterrupted access to your own equipment and developing your network early on with like-minded. Sometimes reality can take a big bite out of your plans as well, and youll end up having to work at a 9-to-5 on the side (or whatever else you can do to make a decent living) in the meantime to pay rent and all, but dont give up! The key lies in getting your own setup so you dont have to rely on someone elses facility to get the job done when an opportunity presents itself.

Conclusion
This guide was meant to demonstrate all that is involved with becoming an audio engineer. The process: Learn the technical side of music Find a professional education opportunity Get your foot in the door (Intern, volunteer, run cables) Audio production isnt an easy profession to get into, but the ones that do, get to make music all day. And I think thats worth fighting for.

Good Luck
I wish you the best of luck on your journey, and dont forget to stop by our blog for tutorials, guides, and product info.

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Copyright 2013

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