Recording Engineers

What do recording engineers do? What kind of qualifications do they have? Where do they work from? We will answer all of these questions in this article, brought to you by Kip Allen, Drum Workshop Artist, music producer, songwriter, and session drummer. Call Kip at 817-995-8093 for more information about his recording experience and to arrange for a face-to-face discussion about your recording needs.

What are recording engineers?

A recording engineer is someone who arranges and operates recording equipment and is responsible for the creation, modification and production of music. He or she is an expert in everything related to audio production and modification.

This type of work, to mix music, draws on many disciplines like acoustics, psychoacoustics, electrical engineering and music. The equipment a recording engineer typically uses includes digital recorders, listening equipment, mixing boards and sophisticated computer programs and software. The recording engineer carefully balances the disciplines of art and science, and is able to communicate as a music producer, and understand the artist’s needs, see their vision, in order to make their musical dreams a reality.

It is all done using various techniques. A recording engineer will perform a wide range of tasks including noise control, acoustical design, and sound level setting. Depending on their role on a particular project, a recording engineer will be called upon to perform tasks on any level, from the basics of microphone placement to the more advanced aspects of sound waves and sound wave integration, tasks usually reserved for only the best recording engineers in the industry.

Translating analog to digital sound and synchronizing sounds to visual media are also important aspects of the work of a recording engineer. In the studio, he or she is responsible for not only recording but also editing, mixing and mastering the sound recording. They must also be familiar with design, installation and operation of equipment for sound recording, reinforcement and broadcasting.

This is not work for amateurs!

Who are the recording engineers?

Recording engineers have distinct personalities. They tend to be artistic individuals, which means they’re creative, intuitive, sensitive, articulate, and expressive. They are unstructured, original, nonconforming, and innovative. Some of them are also enterprising, meaning they’re adventurous, ambitious, assertive, extroverted, energetic, enthusiastic, confident, and optimistic. They are not afraid to make suggestions based on their experience, but they are also able to perform duties as instructed when called upon to do so.

What is a recording engineer studio like?

Recording engineers can work in a variety of settings, depending upon whether they work for a large studio or are self-employed. Oftentimes, they work with other creative individuals in a collaborative work environment. Flexibility, a positive attitude, reliability and a willingness to learn are essential when working on a recording or tape mix.

With the increased use of computers and software designed to manipulate audio feeds, sound recording is becoming more and more mobile from a remote studio, and large amounts of time are not required in a studio; however, a thorough knowledge of the trade is.