Reply posted by Chris McDonald on August 23, 2002

As a sound tech studing electrical engineering in college, I think the title "sound engineer" is way over used. Most amateurs should be called sound guys and work their way up to sound tech and that’s as far as it should go without formal education.

This industry is based on experience more than formal education, but I still don't think this earns guys the name of engineer.

The other thing is what makes a good sound tech, a knowledge of electronics, the physics of sound and of music. What you hear at a concert has mostly to do with the tech's knowledge of sound and music. My boss who is really good at mixing classic rock and stuff can't do anything with my friends’ new metal bands and hardcore bands.

At the same time my boss knows to walk around the venue and see what his mix sounds like around the room. A friend of mine can work wonders at the board mixing metal and hardcore, but dosn't understand a thing about sound physics, and dosn't undersstand why he should walk around the room and so on.

The other factor that is often out of the control of the tech is the room, areans usually sound bad! And sound different everywhere, your best bet is to sit near FOH or down front, if thats what the tech is mixing for. (At our off season house gig the low end builds right up at FOH so the boss mixes for the rest of the room (walking around a lot.)


Posted by Mai Lon B. on August 23, 2002

So far people have mentioned a BSEE as an appropriate degree. But what about the other aspect of the job, the music? I have a BA in Music. Would you agree that this counts?


Reply posted by Teri Hogan on August 24, 2002

Sorry Mai Lon but I can't agree. I have two degrees in music and aside from the course in "Physics of Sound and Light", which I've forgotten most of, nothing I studied had anything to do with what I'm doing now. The 34 years I spent performing on stage, on the other hand, make me a model monitor engineer.

I know what various styles of music are supposed to sound like and I know what the musicians want to hear before they tell me (in most cases). But Counterpoint and Music Theory and Music History and Composition did nothing to prepare me for what I'm doing now. Playing has. And not just playing one style of music.

I've played almost every style of western music out there, which is also a plus. I just wish I had some electronics courses under my belt.

Teri

Reply posted by Tim McCulloch on August 24, 2002

“The 34 years I spent performing on stage, on the other hand, make me a model monitor engineer. I know what various styles of music are supposed to sound like and I know what the musicians want to hear before they tell me (in most cases). But Counterpoint and Music Theory and Music History and Composition did nothing to prepare me for what I'm doing now. Playing has.”

And how then, did your musical training short-change you, Teri? It didn't. It helped make you a well rounded musician with LOTS of critical listening and interpretive experiences. You then went the next step by actually practicing and performing music.

“And not just playing one style of music. I've played almost every style of western music out there, which is also a plus.”