In a country that takes its music seriously, the field of sound engineering offers a plethora of career opportunities. Sound engineering is a branch of engineering that deals with the perception and presentation of sound.
From film productions, music recordings and live shows to video games, sound engineers work in a variety of fields. They use machinery and equipment to record, synchronise, mix or reproduce music, voices, or sound effects.
Role
Sound engineers help producers and musicians achieve the right sounds for their projects. For instance, they would check with the lyricist if the words fit the meter. Then organise recording sessions, choose the equipment and microphones, depending upon the song.
They also act as a bridge between the music composers and the singers, and ensure that the final product sounds right. Some sound engineers also specialise in handling live or outdoor events such as music concerts or award ceremonies.
Scope
There are engineers to record the sound for commercial music, radio, television, films, advertisements, videos, websites, computer, mobile games and many more. It is one of the major revenue producing fields and so the importance is also higher. The scope of sound engineering in India is limited, but it has huge potential for growth in entertainment industry. The demand for sound engineers is increasing.
Options
Career opportunities for sound engineers and technicians are available in various fields such as radio stations, television channels, studios, multimedia design, animation, advertising firms, movies and more.
One can opt for specialised courses in technical skills such as sequencing, mastering, editing and recording. And with sufficient experience under the belt, one can become a studio manager. Many students also opt for courses in universities abroad. There is strong competition for work in this field. Jobs are not often advertised, so you will have to be persistent and show initiative.
Challenges
Sound engineering is not a 9-to-5 job. Recording sessions can take place at all hours of the day, and if you also do the mixing, you end up spending time at the mixing board after the recording sessions are over. It’s not uncommon to spend late hours in the studio and go home in the wee hours of the morning.
Sound engineers are constantly under pressure to meet the demands of different people - from singers and composers to audience.
Qualifications
Many engineering colleges and film schools offer degree courses in sound engineering. The Pune-based Film and Television Institute of India as well as Chennai’s MGR Government Film and Television Training Institute offer a diploma programme in this field. One needs to be a science student to pursue an undergraduate course in sound engineering.
But diploma courses are usually open to aspirants from all streams. So, how does it sound?
