Audio & Video Recording Technicians

Description

Picture yourself controlling a huge sound board in a control booth. You're helping create a best-selling CD for the hippest band in Canada. Afterward, the wrap party rocks. Such is the life of an audio recording technician. It's a tough job, but hey, someone's got to do it! (Note heavy sarcasm.)

Audio recording is all about capturing sound and video recording is all about capturing images. Both have production and post-production tasks. The production part may be everything from set-up to the actual recording. Post-production (after recording) is when the raw recorded material gets polished or "morphed" into what you want it to sound or look like.

Recording engineers do work for the Internet, live concerts (or other performances or events), original music or videos, theatre, radio and TV ads, and movies.

Specific duties

Here's a general idea of what recording engineers, or technicians, do:

• operate equipment to record and edit audio or video - live or in a studio (High or low tech, you've got to know the equipment really well. You have to know when–and why–something's not working right.)
  
• work with creative artists to get the recording they want (That might mean having lots of patience and being okay with doing things over and over until the artist is happy with the result.)
  
• run dubbing machines to match edited dialogue, music and sound effects to a video or movie recording, and
  
• supervise, advise and coordinate other recording technicians.
  

Related careers

You might be also be interested in these careers that have similar educational and/or training requirements, or that share similar duties.

• Arts Managers
• Editors
• Film & Video Camera Operators
• Producers, Directors & Choreographers
• Technical Workers in the Arts

High school path

A CareerMATTERS consultant suggests these high school courses would be helpful. They are not pre-requisites to post secondary programs, nor are they necessary to obtain employment. You should consult with your school counsellor to make the best choices for your own career path.

Recommended Courses
Grade 9	Grade 10	Grade 11	Grade 12
English
ENG1D English, Grade 9, Academic or ENG1P English, Grade 9, Applied	ENG2D English, Grade 10, Academic or ENG2P English, Grade 10, Applied	ENG3C English, Grade 11, College Preparation or ENG3E English, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation	ENG4C English, Grade 12, College Preparation or ENG4E English, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
Math
MFM1P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 9, Applied or MPM1D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 9, Academic	MFM2P Foundations of Mathematics, Grade 10, Applied or MPM2D Principles of Mathematics, Grade 10, Academic	MBF3C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 11, College Preparation or MCF3M Functions and Applications, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or MEL3E Mathematics for Work and Everyday Life, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation	MAP4C Foundations for College Mathematics, Grade 12, College Preparation or MCT4C Mathematics for College Technology, Grade 12, College Preparation or MEL4E Mathematics for Work and Everyday Life, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation
Science
SNC1D Science, Grade 9, Academic or SNC1P Science, Grade 9, Applied	SNC2D Science, Grade 10, Academic or SNC2P Science, Grade 10, Applied	SNC3E Science, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or SNC3M Science, Grade 11, University/College Preparation	SNC4E Science, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or SNC4M Science, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or SPH4C Physics, Grade 12, College Preparation
Optional
TTI1O Integrated Technologies, Grade 9, Open	TEE2O Computer Engineering Technology, Grade 10, Open or TGJ2O Communications Technology, Grade 10, Open or TIK2O Computer and Information Science, Grade 10, Open	ASM3O Media Arts, Grade 11, Open or ICE3E Computer Engineering, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or ICE3M Computer Engineering, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or ICS3M Computer and Information Science, Grade 11, University/College Preparation or TGJ3E Communications Technology, Grade 11, Workplace Preparation or TGJ3M Communications Technology, Grade 11, University/College Preparation	ASM4O Media Arts, Grade 12, Open or ICE4E Computer Engineering, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or ICE4M Computer Engineering, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or ICS4M Computer and Information Science, Grade 12, University/College Preparation or TGJ4E Communications Technology, Grade 12, Workplace Preparation or TGJ4M Communications Technology, Grade 12, University/College Preparation

* students planning technical school/college training might consider college-level courses

* students should consult their counsellors as to appropriate maths in Grades 11 and 12 for university and college admission

* a job shadowing/co-op experience is recommended

Post-secondary options

• Anyone can make video and audio recordings. But doing it well requires a combo of creativity and technical know-how. A professional recording engineer described it as needing to know the tech stuff so well that you never have to think about it. Then you can focus on creativity and making great, not just good, recordings. Just "messing around" with equipment will help develop your abilities and ideas.
  
  
• It's important to have a diploma or certificate in recording engineering, audiovisual technology, or something similar to break into this career. Once you're in, focus on two things: maxing out all opportunities to learn on-the-job, and showing the right people you have the tech and creative talent to stick around.
  
  Practical training will affect your future. That training could be as an unpaid apprentice (volunteer work for someone in exchange for observing and learning from that person, or using their equipment). You can take courses or do self-study to improve your skills with the latest technology.
  

There may be several different paths to a career. Post-secondary education or training programs will help, but they are not a guarantee. You should research your options carefully before deciding on any program of study. Click here for a comparison chart of institutions or accreditations.

The following programs offered at Ontario post-secondary institutions may be helpful in pursuing a career in this field. In addition to the institutions listed here, please refer to "For more information" (at left) for a list of organizations and associations that may also offer programs of study.

Institution	Programs offered
University
Laurentian University	Arts (with Georgian College, Barrie Campus) - 3 Year
York University	Digital Media Certificate (Cross-Disciplinary) (York-Sheridan Joint Program)
College
Conestoga College - Waterloo Campus	Digital Media
Fanshawe College	Recording Industry - Digital Applications
George Brown College	Electronics Technician (Distance Education)
Humber College	Media Foundation Post-Production
Lambton College	Media Fundamentals
Seneca College	Digital Media Arts Digital Media Technical Productions Independent Music Production Visual Effects for Film and Television
Seneca at York	Digital Media Arts Digital Media Technical Productions
Sheridan College	Computer Animation - Digital Visual Effects

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Career path

Wondering how you could prepare for a career in this field? Or what else you might do once you have some experience?

Many sound and video recording engineers start out wanting to be musicians or videomakers. Sometimes they become engineers because they don't make enough money as performers or video artists, and sometimes it's just because they love the technical side of the work.

Employers

These are examples of the places, businesses and industries that employ people in this field:

business service firms
television and radio broadcasting companies
motion picture, audio, and video production companies
theatrical and staged entertainment services
elementary and secondary schools

Work environment

Most of the work is in studios, but video and audio recording techs can work outside,too. There can be long, late hours in this business, but you may meet some cool people and work with really cool technology.

But it's fast-paced, so keep learning–on-the-job and on your own time.

Common job titles

Also Known As....

Audio technician
Audiovisual technician
Post-production technician
Radio technician
Recording engineer
Recording studio technician
Sound effects editor
Sound engineer
Sound mixer
Sound technician
Video and sound recorder
Video recording technician

For more information

Links to associations, organizations, unions and other places that may be able to provide more information.

• Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television
  The Academy of Canadian Cinema & Television is a national non-profit professional association designed to promote, recognize and celebrate exceptional achievements in the Canadian film and television industries. 

• Audio Engineering Society

• Canadian Film Centre
  This institution offers practical training and education for aspiring Canadian directors, producers, technical crew, writers and others in film, television and new media.

• Canadian Independent Record Production Association (CIRPA)
  All the buzz about the music business in Canada.

• Canadian Recording Industry Association

• Canadian Technology Human Resources Board
  Be sure to check out their Look Ahead, Get Ahead (under Career Choices on left nav.) for terrific info about wide-open choices available.

• Cultural Human Resources Council

• Ontario Job Futures
  Information on occupations common to Ontario. Includes job descriptions, employment outlook, salaries, etc. (Government of Ontario)

• Orchestras Canada
  This site has some very good information, including links to other arts organizations in Canada and worldwide.

• Work in Culture (Cultural Careers Council Ontario)
  A wonderful site all about culture in Canada and especially Ontario. A great Learn section with info on mentoring, online learning, training institutions, etc. Be sure to check out the Library, which has more than 200 links of interest.