Needing advice about becoming an audio Engineer

theshaggyfreak

New member
First, some background...

For the past 7 years I've been an IT Support guy. They break and I fix 'em. I trouble shoot networks, all the Microsoft operating systems and PC hardware. The problem with what I do is that I'm burnt out. I'm not really made for the whole Corp America stuff.

So, here I am trying to figure out what he hell I'm going to do with my life. Music was always my first love, but playing gigs doesn't make me feel completely comfortable as a day job. I've been working with my home project studio for a year or so, and I really do enjoy it. I've been talking with a few friends of mine, and they ask me, "Why don't you do that?"

Here's what I want to know: With so many folks, like myself, learning how to do their own recording, is it worth trying to get into the industry? Also, if I were to look for a local facility to get some propper schooling in a pro like setting, what should I look for?

Mostly I'm asking these questions because It's kind of scary to think of changing careers. I don't want to waste my time and money getting into something that will eventually be fruitless. I just want to say that I'm somewhat happy in the work that I do every day.
 
hello! i work at a local studio ( www.tempermillstudios.com )
and i will say that the work is not something i can count on for $$$$ at a steady pace. sometimes i am busy as hell than for 2 or 3 months...nothing. and it dosent pay as good as your it job either i would guess. if paying a morgage and having car payments are not an issue than go for it. but if you have these things than i wouldnt even bother. i use it to suppliment my main full time day job and it is great for that. well thats my 2 penny's worth.
-jay
 
I have a good friend in the industry and the ebb and flow of work really gets him down. Really makes cash flow unpredictable as well as the down time not having anything in sight for work.

Sounds like the 9-5 is an issue with you and you need more flexibility. You might want to get into music gear sales. You could travel around showing other people the latest technology. That would be my play to get out of 9-5 however, if sales is not your thing, then maybe not.

If you’re really good at MS technology, look for a startup company in IT, that's always a fun ride. Another option, if you’re talented in IT, is to get on as a field engineer for a company. This allows you to make your own schedule and keep out of the politics.

Where I work, field engineers are king, rebels, highly paid and nobody messes with them because their talents are needed.
 
I think it all really depends on your location and what competition. Dont depend only on getting your work locally, reach farther than that. This will help keep a steady income.

It can be a difficult business for some people, but honestly its not much different than any other kind of business.

Danny
 
Most Studios in my area do not rely on bands, but on commercial and radio work. I enjoy working with bands because I like music more than I like AE side of things. My day job is also in the IT field, so my AE work is just extra income.
 
The only way to support yourself as a starting audio engineer is to take every type of job available and learn a lot of different skills like lighting and video. You might be able to get enough work to pay your bills and you'll probably make around $8-10/hr to start. You will have to do a lot of live production work and expect to work 12-16 hour days if you can find a gig. Depending on where you work it will probably be seasonal so you need to find a way to support yourself during the lean months.

After 10yrs of that if you are lucky you can make around $30-40k/year. The only way to make any real money is to start your own company and that has it's own risks and heavy up front investment. The entire industry is all about networking so if you can get in with a group of people then you can help keep eachother informed of paying gigs. Sometimes you can get on with a venue or facility but until you have a lot of experience you will just be called for part time work. You will be a glorified truck loader/unloader.

The best money is in video and corporate AV but even then it's not all that great. You can make more providing a video projector and screen for a corp meeting then you can providing an entire PA system with monitors and lighting for a rock show.

I was a production whore for around 10yrs and once I got out of the business my income quadrupled. Now I can actually afford to have a decent little studio. When I was an engineer I couldn't even afford a car.

The industry is very tough right now and I doubt you will find any type of paying studio gig unless you can really bring a lot of skills or preferably clients to the table. If you have some money to invest you can go in as a partner with a studio but that can be very risky unless you know the person well.

If you want to be an audio engineer than just be one. Buy some gear and record stuff. The cool thing about the entertainment industry is you don't need an official education. It's all about what YOU make happen. There are no rules. Find somebody willing to pay for a recording and give them that product whether it's with gear you own, rent or someone else's studio that you hire.

The only good job in the business is the one you create.
 
First, here's my background so you can understand my conclusion:

I have a full time position as a documentation specialist and 3-D drafter. This is my steady income with benefits. I have been playing music professionally on weekends since 1984. I have been recoded on several albums during that time. About 5 years ago I was bitten by the bug to build my own home studio and have been recording local bands here ever since. I have some formal training in studio fundamentals from a local reputable studio.

Knowing that neither playing gigs with bands or making recordings for people can provide benefits for my family or is a steady & reliable source of income, I have chosen to keep my day job and continue to play music and record as a supplement income. I also know that recording and mixing bands takes up HUGE amounts of time into the wee hours more times than not. Owning a studio is a major money hog with the relentless quest to stay current with the latest gear...not to mention the gear lust.

To become an audio "Engineer", you will need to eat, sleep, dream & study the fundamentals as well as go to school for that specific profession. You will need to have a huge appetite and determination to succeede. After all of that, chances are that you will have to spend a considerable amount of time honing your skills and building your reputation. Oh, let's not forget that running a session is very much like being a psychologist...
 
First, here's my background so you can understand my conclusion:

I have a full time position as a documentation specialist and 3-D drafter. This is my steady income with benefits. I have been playing music professionally on weekends since 1984. I have been recoded on several albums during that time. About 5 years ago I was bitten by the bug to build my own home studio and have been recording local bands here ever since. I have some formal training in studio fundamentals from a local reputable studio.

Knowing that neither playing gigs with bands or making recordings for people can provide benefits for my family or is a steady & reliable source of income, I have chosen to keep my day job and continue to play music and record as a supplement income. I also know that recording and mixing bands takes up HUGE amounts of time into the wee hours more times than not. Owning a studio is a major money hog with the relentless quest to stay current with the latest gear...not to mention the gear lust.

To become an audio "Engineer", you will need to eat, sleep, dream & study the fundamentals as well as go to school for that specific profession. You will need to have a huge appetite and determination to succeede. After all of that, chances are that you will have to spend a considerable amount of time honing your skills and building your reputation. Oh, let's not forget that running a session is very much like being a psychologist...
 
Maybe look further afield than recording bands. I work at a radio station producing commercials for a living and although I'm not well off I do alright, with a regular wage, monthly bonuses, holiday pay etc.

Although I have no particular interest in advertising it does allow me access to and time to experiment with pro-studio kit that I would never be able to afford to buy myself. It's also now giving me an opportunity to sell some of my music for advertising.

Even this job was pretty hard to get in to originally though. I had to do 7 months getting work experience, 2 years getting paid crap money before changing company's and only then beginning to earn a livable wage. As well as learning the skills, one of the main things is to become friends with people already in the industry (I don't mean that in a mercenary way, more just show that you're a decent guy who's good to work around).

On the other hand, I don't see myself doing this job in 10 years time but hopefully it'll have served as a spring board to bigger and better things.
 
Shagg,

Dude, I would only pursue it if you were totally, a bazillion percent hellbent on it, such that you would sacrifice all else (like food, shelter, health insurance, money). If you're thinking about it through a process of what-do-I-wanna-do-when-I-grow-up thinking, you probably won't last long.

The actual craft of doing it is cool as hell. It's everything else about it that sucks...
 
Bro, you have a good hobby... why fuck it up? You're enjoying recording... because: You can kinda pick and choose your gigs... which you can't do when you go full time commercial until you're like at the 'Ed Cherney' level of the game.

At the moment, you don't have to work at it 14 hours a day, 300 days a year [if you're lucky/good enough to get that much work]... it's fun for you. If you do it for a living, it turns into a job. You'll learn to hate this gig as you've learned to hate your present gig. In other words, the grass may indeed look greener on the other side of the fence... but it still sucks to mow.

If you can't imagine yourself doing anything else... then by all means go for it... but don't walk in thinking it's going to be a piece of cake because it ain't.

Best of luck with whatever you decide.
 
Fletcher said:
Bro, you have a good hobby... why fuck it up? You're enjoying recording...

Words of Wisdom.

I worked a day job and interned at night, 2 to 4 hours of sleep max, when your young its not too bad. When I did recording full time it got alot harder, the emotional strain was not alot of fun. Money was too unstable to maintain a decent living for my family. I went to work as a design engineer and kept recording as a hobby. Happy Happy Joy Joy :) Alzeimers hit me because Im doing it again, but this time Im keeping the recording limited to one weekend a month basically. The big thing for me is transitioning from pro gear I used in the early 90's to the atypical homerecording gear. Its hard to flush your brain of how an API work verses my Ramsa or a MXL V67G instead of a U67, like learning to walk again after having your legs torn from your body :) Your walking...but youll never be the same. All jobs suck, only your family and hobbies make it worth doing. Just the transition from hobby to day job should be horrifiying enough.

Peace,
SoMm
 
Hrm..Maybe I'll see about taking a class or two just to further my own knowledge. I think I just need to look for a new job. I've been at the same one for 3 years, and I'm just not happy. It's just very frustrating for me. I don't want to end up being 50 and hating the aspect of going to work every day.
 
hi, my name is Jeff, I'm a producer, and own a couple of big studios. I dont want to discourage you, but you should know how it is, From my point of view, I recieve AT LEAST 20 calls a month of people that have gone through recording collage, and want to do a 6 month inturnship! I will probibelly pick 2 a year. So looking at this objectivelly I've got over 240 people that have all paid over 20 K to learn about recording wanting to work for free each year,,, and I only take a couple of them! Welcome to the world of recording,,,, NOW If you still feel like you want to do it,,,, maybee you should! I was the same way,,,, went to school,,,, worked like hell to get an inturnship and fortunatelly my career took off!
Once again I dont want to discourage you, however this is what I see every day!

Thanks
Jeff
www.lafayettestudio.com
 
Interesting conversation.

I *love* recording and have been considering doing some low pay gigs for the bands of friends while maintaining my "job" as an audio editor, video, and post guy, along with a hefty dose of IT support for the company.

I really enjoy working on those demos, but I can pick the level of involvement and commitment project by project. Man, it helps to be dealing with mature people and have at least one friend or decent acquaintance on the project! I've worked with others who are not so easy to communicate with, or don't even attempt to communicate whatever oddball expectations they may have until you have failed to meet them...

Then I think about how much I spend on gear, how little anyone wants to pay for recording time, and how much *I* need hourly above and beyond just paying for the gear...

I don't have any illusions that I could sustain myself as a recording engineer. There are MANY people who do it way better than I, but I did pick a job where I could use my recording skills and hone them a bit every now and then.

The way I see it is that during a time when the industry of music seems to be scrambling a bit to find its footing, its not a great time to try and get into the business using the established routes. Those routes are already thick with people.

Besides, I DO love my hobby and it keeps me very happy, indeed.

Take care.
Chris
 
good point Chris,,, Here's something to think about,,,, Big studios have over a million $ worth of gear,,,, thousands of $ in training, rent of at least 2000 per month, etc. normal rates are around $80.00 per hour!

A plumber has a wrench and a pair of plyers,,, no overhead,,, and I just paid one $100 to fix my toilet!
 
Well I'm enrolled at the Recording Institute of Detroit right now, actually just wrapping it up, I have one more class before I do my internship. I have no illusions as to my future. There won't be any Bentlys in my driveway or anything like that. I can only hope that since I got into the game fairly early (I'm 19) that I can pay my dues so that maybe I can get a decent gig before I go old and deaf. I'll do anything it takes to make some sort of living at engineering, I'm extremely determined to make it because I really have much else to fall back on (I don't understand computers or networks enough to find an IT job, I took some MCSE classes back in highschool, but they were pretty tough, and I'm terrible at math so that takes alot of jobs out of the mix.) I don't know, I guess we'll see how things turn out in the end for me. Maybe I'll be a plumber.
 
Well, you sound like a bright egg. Just remember, if your a genius at technology the world will beat a path to your door. If your not, you need to network with a whole lot of people.
 
Hey Shaggy, why not do both?

A few years ago I was in a job that was killing me. I worked really hard and got promoted, but the pay rises barely covered the substance abuse. I needed to get out to completely to save my sanity. I handed in my resignation, found somewhere else to work on reduced hours at the bottom of the food chain (no responsibilities..ahhhhhhhh bliss) and promptly set off on a journey of spiritual regeneration. Probably.

In the end I just needed a break and a bit of perspective. There's a lot of story I can't be arsed to go into, but what I've ended up doing is keeping the day job in a part - time capacity, and building up the studio on evenings and weekends. Three years ago I'd never heard of phantom power. Then someone lent me a Fostex 4 track to plug my SM 58 into and I've never looked back. Armed with credit cards and an internet connection my spiritual journey has indeed taken me to strange places.

My knowledge has grown thanks to so many decent people who give their advice to newbies. So it's my turn to offer some - For fuck's sake don't drop everything to set up a studio. Keep some sort of day job, take things slowly, keep your overheads to an absolute minimum, and enjoy yourself. The kind of clients you will attract at the moment don't pay very well and don't pay very often. At least that's my experience, but I'm truly loving it. It's a good feeling getting paid every now and then to experiment on people. You can't beat it.
 
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