For audio engineers, new or veteran, it’s an ever-changing space within the music industry.
Typically, those who get into audio mixing and mastering do this by chance, finding a passion for perfecting songs, EPs, and albums.
However, what does being an audio engineer entail? Do audio engineers get royalties from the music they work on? Is there an audio engineering school or degree you’ll need?
How do people become audio engineers? Is there an affordable way to learn how to mix and master?
Luckily, we have taken courses, mixed/mastered hundreds of songs, and have some insight plus tips for aspiring sound engineers reading!
What Is An Audio Engineer? How Do You Become One?
An audio engineer is a person who sits in during a recording studio session, instrumental or vocal, punching artists in and recording them.
The audio engineer also works to balance a song, EP, or album once recorded, mixing it and sending it through mastering software or doing it by ear in the recording studio.
Your sound engineer will essentially be the glue that holds a musical project together.
The role of an audio engineer is to record a musician and prepare a song to be radio and stream-worthy.
This process is tedious, often requiring hours, if not days, in the studio to finish a single song. We’ve spent 12+ hours mixing and mastering songs, so this job is not for the faint-hearted.
Moreover, an audio engineer or ‘sound engineer’ will typically be included in a recording studio booking, which will pay out a percentage to them.
In higher-volume studios, audio engineers may be booked through the week with zero days off. This is a commitment. You have to love music.
Being an audio engineer also can mean schooling or a degree, depending on where you apply.
Every recording studio is different, with some hiring people right off the street and others being a bit more snooty. (nose wiggle)
Regardless, you want some knowledge and work to show when you head into your interview: or don’t expect a contract.
Artists will pay hundreds to be in the studio with the audio engineer, which puts pressure on them. The audio engineer usually deals with edits, complaints, and non-stop texts.
Can you tell we’ve done this before?
Again, it takes years to master the art of pleasing musicians from all genres of the industry, so this is an acquired skill.
This PreSonus studio set is perfect for at-home audio engineering.
Related: How Much Money Do Audio Engineers Make?
Do Audio Engineers Get Royalties?
No, audio engineers will not typically receive royalties from the music they work on with a given artist. They are paid per hour by the studio.
This will vary by location, studio owner, artist, and project. For example, if you have a project booked for six weeks, you’re likely not getting paid hourly but instead a lump sum.
If an A-list celebrity likes you and contracts you regularly, you could be getting paid $10,000, $20,000, if not $30,000+ for an EP or album.
With those numbers, who cares about a royalty…
We recommend working out a payment structure with the artist or studio you collaborate with.
You should make half of what the studio charges per hour. Period.
Do not allow a studio owner to profit more than 50% of the hourly rate with the artist, as this could cause issues down the line.
That said, you can expect a lower rate off the bat. Unfortunately, this type of gig is superiority-based, with those who have many years under their belt having the most negotiating power.
Regardless, royalties are out of the picture for audio engineers. If they made royalties, we wouldn’t have anymore (they’d be on a yacht somewhere).
But seriously, audio engineers make plenty of money the more skin they have in the game. You have to work hard to play hard.
Luckily, with a couple of years and successful clients, you might be able to launch your own studio and be the boss. We’ve certainly considered it.
Selling your engineering services via Fiverr may also be lucrative.
Related: Can Artists Sell Their Beats Online? [How Much Money Can You Make?]
What Skills Do You Need To Be An Audio Engineer?
To be a successful audio engineer, you have to be patient, understanding, precise, on time, and professional.
There will always be clients who make you want to rip your hair out. A true professional in the music business can separate business from personal feelings.
After all, the sound engineer is *technically* responsible for the final sound of a song. That is an immense amount of pressure on your shoulders.
Over the years, it will become easier to manage high-maintenance clientele. As you move up the ladder, bigger-name celebrities will likely want to work with you.
And the best part: they’re usually the worst behaved.
But, by the time you make it to the big leagues, you will have developed the above skills and can put them into action.
Being professional and keeping calm (even when the other musician isn’t) can make THE biggest difference in the recording studio.
When you look like you have a plan, people will believe you. Music artists often forget you know what you are doing, even if the first few edits aren’t perfect.
Try to learn the various mixing and mastering software, seeing which performs best in the studio.
For at-home practicing and for those who work in the studio, we recommend these TWO services:
- LANDR (fantastic for beginners)
- CloudBounce (tons of customization)
With both, you can mess around with different settings, seeing what sounds better to you.
We are a LANDR partner (spoiler), so we have an amazing $50 discount, which is automatically applied if you follow THIS LINK.
Especially if you are audio engineering from home or on the road, AI-based mastering can be the cherry on top of a strong, clean mix.
It’s okay to pass the torch for mastering, letting the computer create a base sound and you tweaking it to your liking.
Again, these are just two of the many online mastering services out there, although, to us, they are supreme. LANDR is about as easy as it gets.
Mixing comes down to the program the studio or your laptop offers, which could range from FL Studio, Logic Pro, GarageBand, Pro Tools, and beyond.
We use Logic Pro because it’s best for Apple products, but any of these will be good. GarageBand is another Apple-specific option, although it’s better for beginners.
These are all details you can smooth out once you’re IN the studio.
Related: LANDR vs. eMastered: Which Is Better? [Pricing, Features, Reviews]
Can Audio Engineers Work From Home?
Yes, audio engineers can work from home, full or part-time, as long as they have a home studio set up.
Generally, sound mixers will work in a studio part of the time, mastering from their home computer.
You want a “home base” for your clients to come record and hear their music, whether a professional studio or a makeshift one at your house/apartment, etc.
The main thing to worry about is the software access you have at home and whether your laptop or desktop can handle the mixing and mastering process.
Luckily, with most online mastering websites, audio engineers can upload final mixes in seconds, perfecting them through AI.
That takes that physical studio requirement out of the picture. Again, it is still good to train in a professional recording studio at one point in your sound engineering career: you can learn from others.
We studied at a recording studio in Hollywood, CA, with an amazing audio professional, Jeff. Ah, Jeffrey. Good times.
*Mental montage sets in*
Try to study under someone (apprentice) or attend a school online or in person. Audio engineering takes a lot of practice, regardless of how music-savvy you are.
Learning what affects a song’s mid-range, lower-range, and higher frequencies can feel like an alien language, so having a teacher nearby will make this process more understandable.
And for the love of God, please chill with the reverb.
We know it will be life-changing once you learn how to add it (correctly) to a song, but too much can wash out a lead vocal. You’re welcome.
Related: What Is The Longest Running Number 1 Song On The Billboard Hot 100?
How Many Hours A Day Do Audio Engineers Work?
Most audio engineers work between 10 and 14 hours daily during pre and post-production of a song.
Again, you can accept or deny client reservations at a studio or home, so you can cap things off at 6-8 hours.
This won’t be a “normal” job in the way you get to clock in and clock out scott-free when 5 p.m. hits.
Your clients will text you all day and night, asking to tweak levels, audio elements, vocals, and everything under the sun, so be ready for that.
We know MANY sound engineers who head in to work around 9 a.m. and leave at 1 or 2 a.m. the next day.
Depending on the musicians you work with, they might be quick and easy or require many hours on each layer of their vocals.
Thankfully, if they are not also the producer for the song, you can email back and forth with that person to get the instrumental worked out.
That will be your favorite scenario.
Too many chefs in the kitchen can become frustrating, especially when everyone’s ear is different.
Some people are okay with one sound and not the other, and vice versa.
On top of these things, audio engineers travel quite a bit as they book more accredited gigs. For instance, you might need to fly to Los Angeles to mix for someone and then onto New York the following week.
Atlanta is another hot spot for fly-in audio engineers, as everyone there is in the entertainment industry (we use that phrase lightly).
You will need to start small, work with teenagers who think they can sing or rap, and climb up the seniority totem pole. It’s the circle of life.
Related: Record Labels Accepting Demos In 2023 [Our Top 15 Picks]
Is There An Audio Engineer School? Do Audio Engineers Need A Degree?
There are many accredited music schools focusing on audio engineering and production across the United States to consider. Per educational experts, a few to consider are:
- Berklee College of Music
- Drexel University
- Middle Tennessee State University
- Belmont University
- SAE Institute
- Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C)
- NYU/Steinhardt
- Frost School at the University of Miami
- Thornton at the University of Southern California (USC)
- University of Massachusetts (UMass) Lowell
These are ten of the best audio engineer schools and programs in the country, with many musicians heading there this fall.
Of course, regarding ‘if’ you need a degree to be an audio engineer, this depends on you and your plan.
Learning the shots from various experts in a school-like setting might be best for some people. The same goes for at-home learning or one-on-one instruction at a recording studio.
We all learn and absorb information and skills differently.
For instance, we did not attend an audio mixing or mastering school. Through friends and online resources, we did it ourselves.
Different strokes for different folks.
Related: CloudBounce Mastering Review: Is It Any Good?
Are Audio Engineers In High Demand?
Yes! The audio engineer career forecast for 2021 to 2031 is expected to grow 10% faster than most other occupations. On average, roughly 13,200 jobs for broadcast, sound, and video technicians will open each year.
There are also currently an estimated 17,000 audio engineers in the United States today, with this number rising over the next decade.
With music becoming more accessible worldwide, aspiring stars need someone to make their dream possible: YOU.
Sound engineers are a dime a dozen in major cities but somehow manage to keep the lights on and a roof above their heads.
That’s because there is such a demand for freelance audio engineers online and in the studios popping up across the US, giving plenty of work to all who can do it.
Of course, you will make more money by building relationships with your artists/clients and, in turn, being able to charge them for money per track.
It is possible to make six figures as an audio engineer if you have a few years of hit-making under your belt.
The more clients you have, the more they will recommend your services to others.
Just like you can recommend a studio to an incoming sound engineer and we can recommend mastering services like LANDR or CloudBounce, the entertainment industry is heavily word of mouth.
The more people hear your name and see your face, the more inclined they will be to work with you in the recording studio.
Don’t give up, and keep pushing forward. You got this.
We believe in every single one of you. Truly. <3
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