The Audio Engineer as Creative Mediator
Jesse Kendal
ID: 203392
Introduction to the Audio Industry (AUD201)
Assessment Task 1: Essay
The Engineer as Creative Mediator
Page (1 of 8)
Jesse Kendal
ID: 203392
In the last 30 years, recording, editing and mixing techniques have changed dramatically due to new technology. This allows today’s Audio Engineers to engineer much greater sound vastly improving the outcome of a final mix. Whether it’s the sound you hear on radio, film, television, or of live bands, or whether it’s the final outcome of recording artists in a studio, it’s the Audio Engineers job to fine tune, edit and master the sound to deliver the best quality sound to an audience. In order for an Audio Engineer to do this, he/she needs certain skill sets such as excellent hearing and excellent knowledge of today’s audio production, editing and mixing technology. It is essential that Audio Engineers be able to work with different clients and have a good understanding of what sound they are trying to create. Being able to step into any recording studio or live performance situation, and know how everything works, is crucial.
Before any recording, editing and mixing takes place there is Pre-Production. Pre-Production is simply the planning process for the album. This includes various meetings with the client to discuss the style of music they want to create. Reference tracks with similar style and sound are analysed to give the engineer a good idea of what the client is after (JMC Academy, 2011). This is arguably the most important part of the recording chain, as this is where all the planning gets done. It’s not ideal if the artist wants a different sound from different instruments or wants to change the arrangement after everything has been recorded. The Engineer needs to discuss in depth all the creative, technical and artistic concerns with the client (Care R, 2011), such as what kind of sound they are after, what instruments they will be using including digital
ID: 203392
Introduction to the Audio Industry (AUD201)
Assessment Task 1: Essay
The Engineer as Creative Mediator
Page (1 of 8)
Jesse Kendal
ID: 203392
In the last 30 years, recording, editing and mixing techniques have changed dramatically due to new technology. This allows today’s Audio Engineers to engineer much greater sound vastly improving the outcome of a final mix. Whether it’s the sound you hear on radio, film, television, or of live bands, or whether it’s the final outcome of recording artists in a studio, it’s the Audio Engineers job to fine tune, edit and master the sound to deliver the best quality sound to an audience. In order for an Audio Engineer to do this, he/she needs certain skill sets such as excellent hearing and excellent knowledge of today’s audio production, editing and mixing technology. It is essential that Audio Engineers be able to work with different clients and have a good understanding of what sound they are trying to create. Being able to step into any recording studio or live performance situation, and know how everything works, is crucial.
Before any recording, editing and mixing takes place there is Pre-Production. Pre-Production is simply the planning process for the album. This includes various meetings with the client to discuss the style of music they want to create. Reference tracks with similar style and sound are analysed to give the engineer a good idea of what the client is after (JMC Academy, 2011). This is arguably the most important part of the recording chain, as this is where all the planning gets done. It’s not ideal if the artist wants a different sound from different instruments or wants to change the arrangement after everything has been recorded. The Engineer needs to discuss in depth all the creative, technical and artistic concerns with the client (Care R, 2011), such as what kind of sound they are after, what instruments they will be using including digital
References: JMC Academy, 2011, Introduction to the Audio Industry AUD201, Production Considerations, Melbourne, Accessed 10 April 2011, from <http://myjmc.edu.au/mod/resource/view.php?id=5043> Page (8 of 8)