A studio recording engineer is generally someone who participates in one or more of the many different parts of the audio recording process. This can include working in the mastering, mixing, or recording stages. Studio recording engineers may also work in different forms of media, such as television, film, video games, or music. To become a studio recording engineer you may want to consider studying at an accredited institution that offers a degree or diploma in the field. This could help you gain experience and knowledge of studio recording, while also providing you with the necessary qualifications that can help you land a job in the future.
Commercial sound recordings are usually compiled by a team of studio recording engineers. Each studio recording engineer normally specializes in one aspect of the process. Recording engineers try to optimally record the sound of the performance; mixing engineers mix these sounds into a quality sounding mix; and mastering engineers complete the finished product. To become a studio recording engineer, it can be a good idea to familiarize yourself with all the different steps of the process in order to help determine which part best suits you.
Many studio recording engineers have studied and completed programs in the fine arts or in electrical engineering. Either of these educations could be considered useful, as the sound recording engineer usually has both good aesthetic sense and technical know-how. The studio recording engineer may be required to make an aesthetic judgment about the quality of the sound recording and how it is presented. Different ways of recording will often be tried in order to best capture the specific vision of the intended project. A technical familiarity with the different types of equipment and how to use them can be very important in production.
To become a studio recording engineer, you may also serve as an apprentice to a professional studio recording engineer. This can provide you with some valuable experience and help in learning some of the tricks of the trade. It may also be possible to work in a recording studio as a volunteer. This should give you a good background in the field, while maybe demonstrating to any future employers your passion for sound recording.
Much audio recording is done with digital technology. As digital recordings often employ software that is readily available to home computer users, you may be able to learn how to use this software in the comfort of your own home. This could turn out to be a great way to familiarize yourself with the technology and help develop some new ideas about how to use recording equipment. In this regard, the self-teaching process could help you become a studio recording engineer.