Tom said exactly what you need to hear.
That entire first paragraph....probably not so relevant. The second paragraph is what will determine your course in audio engineering.
I can personally relate to this, but perhaps if I elaborate a little on my personal experience, then maybe you'll have just another point of view of what kind of industry this is. Perhaps me being young relates more to your story (or not).
I am a 22 year old audio engineer, and I can say that cause I work at this for a living. The first time I realized how unglamorus and sacrificial this job really is, I almost had a nervous break down. I was working on a level that I didn't think I was cut out for, with people that had a list of credits you wouldn't beleive. I mean I'm talkin everything from Prince, to Little Richard, to Michael Jackson, Fania All Stars to Herbie Hanncock himself. Loads of people. Those are the kina people I get to laugh with and work for these days. Of course, I can't expect to be an Al Schmitt at 22, so I have to wait my time until the opportunity comes.
However, that nervous period lasted a short time. It's your addiction, as tom put it, that'll make you forget that.
I did the school, I did the internships on occasion, I did the bullshit jobs on the side. But I think the real learning came from just talking to people. Networking. I found you have to develope somewhat of a charm to really get the juicy information. To obtain the real secrets of the biz.
Half of the learning is actually doing, but the other half is really just watching people and somehow getting them to trust you with personal information.
It can be very political. So if you feel the internal push to succeed and you don't mind failing a few million times, this job is cut out just for you.
I could tell you that you'd have to know everything there is to know about processors, time based units, acoustics, eletronics...whatever. And yeah, in time you'll know alot about that, but the right attitude is really being a servant for a while.
The money is not the greatest thing you will see. That's just part of this business. You can only hope to see extremely good pay if you're working on high demand projects. An Andy Wallace if you will. He seems to be one of the "it" guys for the moment.
Eventually, some engineers try producing cause thats where the better pay is at. I personally aspire to try that someday myself. I figure I have a great classroom to learn from, so it's only logical.
You'd be surprised about certain facts though, too. You can never take anything for face value in this industry. You learn to *secretly* be sceptical of certain things, but that's the natural process of growing; to question oneself and test theories. I myself have never been satisfied with anything I do, so that's my push. I always want to know more...and more....and more...and more....and more. Again, it's like a compulsion. A twisted obession that can damage ears or cause you to lose sanity if you let it.
But of the shocking things in this biz, if you can bullshit well enough, you can get pretty far. Again, it's political.
For example, (witholding names)
There's a veteran engineer around my area who's done work for capitol, colombia, epic, you name it, he's done it. This guy was one of the monsters of latin jazz recording. He's been at it around 30+ years and beleive me, I never met the guy cause I was afraid to. Honestly I would of eventually, but I was advised not to cause he's a legendary prick.
Anyway, the other day, I find out that he just finished purchasing 30 grand worth of gear for his home studio. A bunch of Pro Tools HD stuff, brand new Trident console, the works. And you know what? He sent it all back. Why?
Cause he could never put it together.
That was shocking to me. That an engineer of his caliber can manage to not have a clue of how to rig up a basic studio. He even called in a good buddy of mine, who happens to be a techincal genius and he concluded that the guy just didn't have a clue on how to purchase the right gear.
But there are many stories just like that happening everyday.Anyway, the stories can go on forever.
The point is, if you are truely willing to learn everyday of your life as engineer and take a few blows every now and then, you'll do fine.
Just always remember to weigh out the situation and follow my very simple motto:
"Know your gear and trust your ear"
Who knows, maybe I'll be shaking your hand in congradulations of a grammy award in a few years from now, I look foward to it.
.
Lee