In 2017 the job of a ‘Sound Engineer’ can mean multiple different things. With technology constantly changing the way that music is made and mixed, the occupation of the studio engineer is one that is ever-changing. With contemporary music production taking a decisively DIY approach to making, mixing and mastering your own music, the roles of a: Arranger, Producer, Mixer and Mastering engineer are often all encompassed in the one mind.
One of the most exciting aspects about engineering, is similar to that of any creative embodiment, whether that be playing an instrument or compressing a pair of over-heads every individual will do it differently and in their own unique way. With this in mind there are certain aspects that the modern engineer should consider.
Often due to a smaller budget of making music, the studio engineer will often have to act as the Producer and arranger of the session. This means that the engineer will have to approach a project from an artistic point of view. Meaning they will need to have an understanding of; the instruments they are recording; song structure; melody and harmony and most importantly how to communicate effectively with the artist they are working with.
The role of the engineer has changed dramatically in the last fifty-years, going from someone who is there to simply capture the best recording and performance of an artist, to someone who can define a composition by the specific recording and creative technology they use. This being said it is important to have a proficient understanding in all major DAWs (Pro Tools, Ableton, Logic) and how they could be used in this creative sense. This is also important as working with different artists, it is likely their soundscape will be ever changing. Having the knowledge of where different DAWs work best is essential in being able to create the most ideal sound.
It is important to have the knowledge of; using DAWs; specific mic-ing techniques and being able to mix and master tracks, one of the most important traits that the modern engineer should possess is being able to think like an artist and the ability to communicate effectively to whoever they are working with. These traits after all are the ones that are most in-line with the end goal of making music.