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Post by diddums100 on Apr 26, 2005 18:54:05 GMT 1
I'm currently studying Broadcast Media and Popular Culture and the University of Wales Institute Cardiff. At present I'm undertaking a research document regarding the roles of individuals within the industry. I play the guitar and have a passion for music, for this reason I have chosen to explore the role of a sound engineer. Would it be possible for somebody here to detail the finer points of what it's like to be a sound engineer?
What is the organisational structure of your company?
What are common working practises?
Are there any other related media products?
Is there any piece of technology which your job would be impossible to do without?
Have there been any recent innovations in sound engineering?
What sort of funding/budgets are made available to you?
Do you have a specific decision making process?
What is your personal ethos?
What is the current state of the sound engineer market? Is it difficult to break into?
What skills are required in order to be a successful sound engineer?
Are there good training opportunities/apprenticeships available?
I would be very grateful for any time you can spare as i have a personal interest in the field.
Yours sincerely
David Newton
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Post by mic mk on Apr 27, 2005 1:35:45 GMT 1
yes
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Post by Larry McJammy on Apr 27, 2005 22:44:02 GMT 1
useful :/
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Post by mic mk on Apr 28, 2005 1:27:18 GMT 1
your'e welcome
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Post by Brian111280 on Jan 20, 2006 12:25:39 GMT 1
Use SoundonSound.com excellent for information about production and sound engineering techniques.
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Post by soundmanjim on Jan 21, 2006 4:01:11 GMT 1
bless you brian!
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Post by mic mk on Jan 21, 2006 21:46:30 GMT 1
Well I started a reply but somehow got lost on the funding/budget question as I can only count to six.
The question about which piece of gear we couldn't do without-obviously a mobile phone , a computer and an empty flightcase to put the bottles of wine/beer into after a corporate event[relevant to "what skills" question also].
I love the idea of a sound engineer market-imagine all those dirty black t-shirts,large bunch of keys/tools,ponytails,three days of stubble,conversations about ipods,smelly armpits and beerguts under one roof.My T-shirt would have emblazoned on the front- "what f****n monitors ?"
Maybe Jim can enlighten us on his "personal ethos"
Mine is to stop band members and groupies from doing lines of coke on the top of my wedges in the dressing room[last night].In future they will have a carpet finish[not the groupies].
Organisational structure?If I answer this one I could well be assimilated into the borg.
"Common working practices"-if the drummer's dad asks you to "turn up the drums"[last night] tell him that the dude should hit the snare harder.
Lets turn everything up to eleven.Smell the glove.
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Post by soundmanjim on Jan 22, 2006 6:15:49 GMT 1
ROFL!!
Ok then, here goes.
What is the organisational structure of your company?
I do the sound. Clare books the bands. Stuart moans at everyone on stage. Russ moans about the fact that stuart is still moaning. Kaine does as he is told and fetches 'breakfast' otherwise known as newquay brown. None off us get paid as its a registered non profit making organisation. (allegedly).
What are common working practises?
SAFETY.
Are there any other related media products?
PASS
Is there any piece of technology which your job would be impossible to do without?
The MIXING DESK
Have there been any recent innovations in sound engineering?
Im told theres some very interesting headway into wireless technology for multiplexing signals from the stage to the mixer - without the 24/8 anaconda.
What sort of funding/budgets are made available to you?
We charge people on the door, then we pay the bands and the security out of it. the rest goes to pay back loans on new equipment. One day, we will pay ourselves!
Do you have a specific decision making process?
Yes. Steve or i have the final say. if people have a problem, we call a meeting and the problems are aired, discussed and then steve and i make the final descision. Also, i decide when the bands go on stage after finding out their set lengths.
What is your personal ethos?
Imagine you are the musician, and how you would like it all to sound. I am a musician, so that makes life a lot easier. I can tell if its guitar feedback not intrusive feedback; the feedback destroyer cant do that. As long as the musicians are happy then i am happy. happy musicians make for a good atmosphere. We take care of the bands and we make sure that everyone knows what they are doing before we open the doors. Lastly; have really loud monitors. I love hearing 'turn these monitors down please mate i cant hear my amp'. fantastic.
What is the current state of the sound engineer market? Is it difficult to break into?
Unbeliveably difficult. Its who you know not what you know, defo. I only got this far becuase i created my own position! Once you start getting good reviews and feedback from bands, the jobs start coming in.
What skills are required in order to be a successful sound engineer?
A very good ear, and a thick skin. (also the ability to eat whilst working, sit in between amps in the back of vans, the ability to stomach warm beer, to have an unlimited supply of f*gs for people that always seem to forget theirs, good tea making skills, being able to wok in total darkness, upside down, under a stage with a multicore slung over your shoulder...hang on thats a roadie isnt it?.) A good engineer also doesnt get blind drunk before the second band take the stage. every beer you drink, dulls your hearing.
Are there good training opportunities/apprenticeships available?
im njot too sure about that. i always say get in with a good engineer and help him out; one day he'll let you push the faders!
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Post by John Bell on Jan 25, 2006 10:35:14 GMT 1
Nice one Jim.
It's good to know, that at this level in the music business, we all seem to have the same motivation. Lots of hard graft for little reward, other than making it all possible and enjoying every second, in spite of the moans.
I must get some louder monitors. John
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Post by soundmanjim on Jan 25, 2006 15:18:52 GMT 1
woo hoo yes loud monitors. or really good in-ear stuff. but for our little place, the six wedges we have is more than loud enough.
Good luck!!
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Post by M Taylor on Feb 6, 2006 15:42:35 GMT 1
My son is enrolling at the Rhondda campus to do the BTEC music technology course in September 2006. Will this help him get into recording etc? Or is it a two year break for him!!
Any feedback would be good.
Thanks
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Post by kiddelegance on Feb 17, 2006 12:15:20 GMT 1
Yes it will help him gain extensive experience although its never a easy job to get even if you are skilled in the trade. Just tell him to stick in well and not to give up his goal.
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Post by fethahed on Mar 24, 2006 18:23:30 GMT 1
I'll try to answer some of your questions
Organisational structures:
I'm not in such a company at the moment, but I've worked within a few venues, and I've only worked live shows.
I try to put the show first, best represented by the performer, shoehorn that into 'my' space, within the limits of the building and the other venue staff.
In the first I was responsible to the Director and partially to his assistant, if there was ever a problem the three of us would meet and discuss, my opinion and advice were always listened to, but sometimes over-ruled.
In a larger venue my line manager was the Operations manager who would again listen to my advice. op's man' answered to overall director
In a pub venue the landlord was the director, again my opinion was heeded.
Junior techs would be given instructions by me, their views should be taken account, I usually did.
Out on tour I have to work with the band, the tour manager and venue crew, again a team.
Basically these people didn't fully understand what I was doing or why, part of the job is explaining to the best of our capabilities. we all have to work together, rather than a line of command.
Is there any piece of technology which your job would be impossible to do without?
obvious stuff like mics, cables desks, etc.
stuff that is so usefull that they are almost essential, slender torches you can hold in your teeth, gaffa tape, marker pens, insulating/masking tape, soldering iron, multi meter, black clothing, tough boots(they are meant to have steel toe caps, but not every where insists on this), I've noticed that most sound engineers smoke camel cigarettes so a lighter or matches are important
What is your personal ethos?
To be an open window, occaisionally rose tinted glass is required.
To make loud whatever I am presented with is usually the way to go, but the performers first gig may need alot of help, their mums appreciate it. sometimes its obvious its their last show too, this I call 'turd polishing', but to their mums and dads I'd adapt the rose tinted sound system comment.
What skills are required in order to be a successful sound engineer?
Listening, alot of listening, and being able to make your own mind up, fast.
not dwelling on mistakes, live mixing anyways, its always too late to correct a mistake, move on and dont do it again, chances are you are the only one who noticed. Diplomacy, as in the above answer.
What is the current state of the sound engineer market? Is it difficult to break into?
Depends how expensive you are. all my former trainees are cheaper than me so they get the work. hence I have all but fallen out of the industry.
hope some of that helps.
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