SKILLS AND ABILITIES
Sound Engineers must be electronically adept and able to fix equipment when it malfunctions during a performance or recording. Working as part of a production team, Sound Engineering Technicians have strong interpersonal skills and take instructions from directors, producers and other members of the recording or performance crew. A love for music and excellent listening skills are also important. They use mixing boards to control the amount of input from different performers. For example, while recording a band, they may increase or decrease the volume of the drums or guitar, depending on the song. Mixing boards are electronic or computer consoles. They often have hundreds of dials, switches, meters, and lights. Sound engineers watch the lights and meters to "read" the music. The meters and lights indicate which sounds are being recorded and how strong they are. As music is performed, technicians adjust the recording level, volume, and tone quality to achieve the desired sound. Technicians are responsible for maintaining all of there equipment.