Role and plan

The role of a studio engineer can vary, the main role is to manage the recording session and they need to process the audio capturing the best quality of sound. Their role could include various other tasks including mixing the track before it is sent to be mastered depends on the size of the studios and the amount of staff employed. A love of music and working with technology is a must for this role. Some skills required would be having the ability to work on your own or collab if required. To have good organisation skills and time management to meet deadlines. Have the skills required to record and process audio to the highest standard. Be flexible and experimental whilst learning new skills and ways to record tracks and developing your abilities. Initially you would start as a trainee studio engineer, shadowing seniors while they work and gaining more skills and confidence. Once you are ready to take a lead role in projects, you will get the chance to gain experience in the role. Once you become more established and build up an expanding portfolio to display your projects, opportunities for a studio engineer job could open up either within the company or at another studio.

Some of the other topics I have covered which has helped with my portfolio have been audio for multimedia, which explored sound design which helped with editing and also finding ways of creating your own sounds. Sounds for live events showing how to set up for an event and use both an analogue and digital mixing desk. Skills for business which covered copyright laws, setting budgets for events, creating a CV and doing spreadsheets for business purposes. I learned about acoustic recordings in various rooms either treated or untreated. Recording and mixing a real hands on time which give me a great knowledge of skills, problem solving and learning how to record and mix tracks. 

 

Artefact One - Dakota / Stereophonics

My first artefact I have included is a recording of Stereophonics - Dakota which I produced in NQ last year. I chose this song to try and show my progress since this initial project. This track was recorded in a group with just one other classmate. I helped to create a Gantt chart to show a recording plan and made a diary of how the studio time was used and any problem solving we that occurred. I was involved in the set-up of mics for recording and helped to organise performers that we asked to play for us in the recording. I worked the studio desk in a professional manner to both record and communicate with performers, I also recorded my vocals on the track. I had a very big input when it came to mixing and mastering the track even with very little experience.

Learning how to use Ableton as our DAW helped us to navigate and produce the final track. The more time I spent in the studio using the desk I become more comfortable and familiar in the studio setting. Which also let me gain confidence and experience in all aspects of a studio engineer role. I gained a lot of experience working with live performers, learning in which order is the most effective way to record and different techniques available. I learned about acoustic recording in various rooms either treated or untreated. Recording and mixing a real hands on time gaining skills, problem solving and learning how to record and mix tracks.

 

 

 

Artefact Two - This is the life / Amy Macdonald

The second artefact I will include will be a recording we have been doing in HNC. This song was chosen and recorded in a group of 3. This year we learnt to use a second DAW which is pro tools having the ability to use more than one DAW is a massive advantage in studio work. This year’s plan had a lot more detail to it with us explaining which equipment we would be using to record the track including mics and how they would be set up and placed. This was not our original song after week one we had to change our track as the track we chose was too complex and we wouldn’t have been able to reproduce the track to quality needed. We got some of our classmates to lay down instrument tracks, I had a friend come into record lead vocals and I recorded backing vocals. I was involved in organising a plan, set up of mics, communicating and arranging performers and working the desk during recording. I then had a copy of the track but before I started mixing I added an electric rhythm and lead guitar over it for a more thicker and rock inspired track.

Artefact Three - Radiohead / Creep

The third artefact that will be added will be a recording I have worked on out of college hours. Whilst using Ableton as my DAW as I know this track wasn’t recorded with a metronome therefore the guide track will need to be warped to keep the tempo and Ableton is good for this. The plan for this includes me organising performers, equipment, set up and working to a timeline. I ran the desk while drums, bass, guitars and piano were recorded. I recorded the vocals and any editing or mixing was left to me as a solo project. I just wanted to have a piece that was mine from start to finish also mixing it myself to create the sound I have visioned.