Overview

Sound Engineer

Qualification: 10th / 12th Arts / 12th Arts + Maths / 12th Commerce / 12th Commerce + Maths / 12th PCM + B / 12th PCM / 12th PCB
salary: Rs 3,99,280/year

What is a Sound Engineer?

A sound engineer handles the technical side of a recording or live performance. The sound engineer designs and manages sound levels and outputs. They are responsible for maintaining physical sound equipment such as amplifiers and microphones.
The sound engineer may be responsible for mixing, editing, and mastering tracks. They present the artist's greatest achievement. Sound engineers are an integral part of the commercial production process.

If you have ever seen an amazing concert, attended a large community event, or watched a film in the theatre

If the show is recorded, the sound engineer may later touch up the sound quality or add special effects. Sound engineers work in a studio.
They record musicians and other performers or spend time perfecting before creating sounds. Their job also can involve work at specific venues, such as at a theatre or a sporting arena.

What does a Sound Engineer do?

The sound engineer programs and operates the sound system during all technical rehearsals.
Speaker check and input check should be performed before every technical rehearsal. The engineer should make sure that every loudspeaker works and is in its correct position and focus.
Before technical rehearsals, the engineer installs all systems required by the production. All communications and video should be working before the first technical rehearsal.
Communications and video must be tested before every technical rehearsal and performance. Issues must be dealt with.
All personnel utilizing a wireless or wired communications should be trained.
For a live concert to be a hit, miles, and miles of audio cables must be run.
Then, these cables are connected to loads and loads of audio equipment. After this, the work of the sound engineer actually begins.
Another thing the engineer is good for is knowing what it takes to get the job done quick and simple.

How to become a sound engineer?

The minimum qualification for sound engineers is a high school diploma or equivalent certificate for basic positions. However, many employers prefer employees with post-secondary training offered at technical colleges and universities to operate more complex equipment.

A freelance Sound Engineer works for many different studios. For more information, check out the link to the videos below.

Best institutes for Sound Engineering course are

IIT Kharagpur
Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute
National Institute of Film and Fine Arts NIFFA, Kolkata
Government Film & Television Institute in Bangalore
Film and Television Institute of India, Pune

Popular Colleges for Sound Engineering course are

Rayat Bahra University
Crypto Cipher Academy
ZIMA - Zee Institute of Media Arts
Garden City University
Vishwakarma University

What are the skills required?

Most of the useful skills you learn during the job, however, there are a few behavioural skills one must have

Sound knowledge of mathematics
Analytical thinking skills
Paying attention to details
Passion for music

What are the Top Job Profiles after Sound Engineering?

Sound Engineer
Studio Manager
Acoustic Consultant
Digital Remastering Engineer

What is the cost associated?

The cost of the engineering program depends on the type of university you choose. Government engineering colleges cost less than private because they are subsidized. Costs also vary from institute to institute. To get the idea, we have mentioned some fee options.

Rayat Bahra University: BSc in Sound Engineering

Cost: Rs 200,000 (Annual)

Government Film & Television Institute in Bangalore
- Government Polytechnic: Rs 4,270
- Aided Polytechnic: Rs 6,948
- Private Polytechnic

a) Karnataka students - Rs 13,405

b) Non-karnataka - Rs 20,755

How to prepare and what are the study material and books available?

Mock tests available online
NCERT syllabus of class 11th and 12th
Study material available by prestigious institutes
Consult your seniors (who have already given such exams) for guidance
Previous year question papers

Some popular books are O.P. Tandon for Physical Chemistry, P.Bahadur (G.R.Bathla & Sons) for Numerical chemistry. Concept of Physics by HC Verma (Vol 1, Vol 2); Problems In General Physics by IE Irodov. IIT Mathematics, M.L. Khanna; Trigonometry, S L Loney; Calculus & Analytic Geometry, Thomas & Finney, JET 2020: Entrance test for FTII and SRFTI by NARESH SHARMA

What is the Scope of Sound Engineering?

Sound engineers can also work in the advertising, multimedia and animation industries
Various companies in the entertainment field hire sound engineers who can work as a transmission engineer, sound editor, sound effects editor, music editor, sound recording mixer, studio technician, dialogue editor, sound engineer, etc.
With the rapid development of the television industry, the chances of getting a job by a sound engineer are also increasing. Sometimes sound engineers also set up their own recording studios!
After completing post-graduation, you can opt for NET (National Eligibility Test) to pursue teaching at colleges and universities.
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering) is also available for postgraduates to get jobs in the PSUs.
Further, you can also do a PhD after post-graduation