How to Become a Good Sound Engineer?

The Fascination of Live Sound

Whether concerts, festivals, or corporate events – live events can touch audiences deeply on an emotional level. As sound engineers, we have the opportunity to make a decisive contribution to this experience.

Every production is unique, making the job incredibly versatile and exciting. At the same time, however, it also requires some sacrifices.

In this article, I would like to share my experiences as a sound engineer with you and give you an understanding of the advantages, challenges, and most important skills you need for this profession.

How Do You Become a Sound Engineer?

University Degree

One way into the industry is through a university degree. There are various state degree programs, such as the "Ton und Bild" (Sound and Image) course at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf. I frequently, though of course not exclusively, meet engineers with such a degree in OB van positions, in recording studios focused on classical music (since the recording process often requires a high degree of musical knowledge and skill), or on film sets.

In addition to state-funded programs, there are also numerous private universities.

Advantages:

• Acquisition of in-depth technical expertise.

Disadvantages:

• Often a very low practical share.

My most important tip for anyone who wants to take this path:

Gain practical experience as early as possible. Ideally, start as a stagehand or complete internships at event technology companies. It's not only important to know the gear, but also to understand the basic workflows expected in every production – from logistics to seemingly simple things like: "How do I use gaffer tape on a truss without someone cursing me afterward?"

Apprenticeship

Another way into the industry is an apprenticeship as an event technology specialist ("Fachkraft für Veranstaltungstechnik"). It is important to know that this training covers other areas in addition to sound engineering, such as electrical engineering, rigging, lighting technology, video technology, and event safety. With a simple Google search, you will find numerous companies of all sizes that train event technicians.

Advantages:

• You gain a lot of practical experience right from the start.

Disadvantages:

• The quality of the apprenticeship heavily depends on the company.

My most important tip for anyone who wants to choose this path:

Choose a company that offers a wide range of events in different sizes. It is particularly valuable if the company owns a comprehensive and versatile inventory of equipment or works with such gear.

Career Change

A career change is also possible. Since the formal vocational apprenticeship is still relatively young and has only been offered since around 1999, you meet many older colleagues who have not completed formal training, but have become excellent engineers through years of experience. A lateral entry is particularly suitable if you are already close to the event industry through your current job or if you have personally engaged with the topic intensively. However, if you are fresh out of school, I strongly advise you to choose one of the other two paths.

Advantages:

• Fast entry into the industry.

Disadvantages:

• No officially recognized qualification.
• Success is heavily dependent on contacts.

My most important tip for anyone who wants to choose this path:

Depending on your current level of knowledge, you should first focus on the basics and gain practical experience. Network with people in the industry, find mentors, and continuously educate yourself.

Conclusion

There are many paths into the industry, and none of them is inherently right or wrong. Each of the paths described above has its pros and cons, which you have to weigh up for yourself.

What Fundamental Qualities Should You Bring to the Table?

Passion for the Subject: Why Enthusiasm Is the Key

I consider it essential to bring a strong passion for sound engineering to be successful in this field. The industry is evolving rapidly – mixing consoles, speaker systems, and network technologies are becoming more complex year after year. Without the motivation to regularly stay educated, you quickly lose touch with these innovations.

Added to this are the often challenging working conditions: long and irregular hours, high time pressure, and much more. More on this later.

However, if you have a passion for music and/or technical equipment, that is an excellent foundation for staying successful and motivated in this profession.

Technical Knowledge You Should Acquire as Soon as Possible

Terminology – "My colleague asked for a Speakon Spookie. What is that actually?"

Get an overview of the gear you work with as quickly as possible and learn the common terms. Even after more than 10 years, I still hear new terms for one and the same object. If you don't know something, just ask – even colleagues with 40 years of professional experience do that.

Logistics

Learn how to properly handle cases and how to load a Sprinter, truck, etc. correctly. Make sure to keep equipment neatly sorted during setup. Event logistics are often underestimated, but clean organization saves hours when searching for equipment and cases.

Signal Flow

One of the most fundamental skills of a sound engineer. Understanding signal flows enables efficient and targeted troubleshooting.

Analog/Digital

Understand the basics of analog-to-digital conversion and vice versa. What are the advantages and disadvantages of analog signals compared to digital protocols?

Fundamentals of Physics

A basic understanding of sound is essential. How does sound propagate? How do sound waves interact with each other and their environment?

Network Technology

Basic knowledge of network topologies is also important. How do I program a VLAN? How do I build a simple local network for audio applications?

Signal Processing

Terms like Gain, dB, Threshold, Attack, Release, HPF, Q factor, etc. must be familiar to you. Even more important: You must know how to apply these parameters correctly.

If you have a good understanding of the topics mentioned above, it forms a solid foundation on which you can continuously build.

An Overview of Software

You won't be able to avoid various software solutions in any audio environment. Here is a small overview of programs, some of which you can download for free to gain initial experience. Many manufacturers offer detailed documentation and training materials. This list is just a starting point and makes no claim to be complete.

• Dante: Dante Controller, Dante Virtual Soundcard (DVS) – Dante Controller is used to manage Dante networks. With the Dante Virtual Soundcard, you can integrate your computer into a Dante network. Keyword: Dante Certification Program.
• L-Acoustics: Soundvision, LA Network Manager – Soundvision enables the simulation of sound reinforcement situations and checking whether the speaker design meets requirements. The result can be exported to LA Network Manager to control the system. Keyword: L-Acoustics Digital Learning.
• d&b audiotechnik: ArrayCalc, R1 – Similar to L-Acoustics: ArrayCalc is used for simulation, R1 is the control software. Keyword: d&b audiotechnik Tutorials.
• Meyer Sound: MAPP 3D, Compass – Here too: MAPP 3D is used to create simulations, Compass serves for system control. Keyword: Meyer Sound Education.
• Shure: Wireless Workbench (WWB) – Wireless Workbench enables frequency management for wireless systems. Keyword: WWB Quick Start Guide.
• Sennheiser: Wireless System Manager (WSM) – Sennheiser's counterpart to Shure's WWB. Keyword: WSM Overview.
• QLAB – Enables triggering audio, video, and MIDI signals, and much more. Keyword: Learn QLAB.
• Mixing Console Offline Editors and File Converters – Used for preparing show files and, if necessary, converting them. The programs can easily be found on the manufacturers' websites.
• DAWs: Pro Tools, Reaper, Logic, etc. – Used for recording and playing audio tracks and offer many other features.
• Measurement Software: Smaart, SysTune, etc. – Enables various audio measurements used to optimize sound reinforcement systems.

Interpersonal Skills: Why Soft Skills Are Just as Important

We all know the cliché of the grumpy sound engineer who seems to hate their job and everyone on the production. But how much truth is actually behind it? In my experience, bad moods often result from a lack of clear communication before the gig and the expectations of the artist or client not being fully discussed.

So what skills are essential so that both we as sound engineers and our counterparts are satisfied?

Communication Skills

A good sound engineer can communicate and collaborate clearly and respectfully with other technicians, artists, promoters, and even attendees. It is important to clearly define areas of responsibility and communicate expectations transparently to avoid misunderstandings. Precise communication ensures smooth collaboration and professionally prevents conflicts and misunderstandings.

Stress Resistance and Flexibility

Live events are predisposed to things occasionally going wrong. Of course, we do everything in advance to avoid this through redundancies and tests. If something still doesn't go as planned, it's important for a good engineer to keep calm. It helps enormously to look at all potential "points of failure" before the event and think ahead about how to react, for example, if a device fails. This speeds up troubleshooting and gets things moving faster without having to look for a solution in the middle of a stressful situation.

A small example:

The show starts, and after the fourth song, you suddenly hear noise coming from the speakers.

During soundcheck, you already noticed that the cable on the kick drum microphone wasn't locked properly.

This is a typical situation where so-called "confirmation bias" comes into play. Because you have a hunch from the start about what it could be, you focus your troubleshooting on that cable at the microphone. In doing so, you might overlook other obvious signs that the problem has a different cause.

To avoid this, it is important to start every troubleshooting process as unbiased as possible and not skip any steps.

Time Management

In addition to good communication and stress resistance, effective time management is also a crucial skill for sound engineers, especially in complex live productions. Often, strict schedules must be adhered to, whether during setup, soundcheck, or during the show. Those who are well-organized and can prioritize tasks ensure that all workflows run smoothly and on time. This leaves enough room for unforeseen challenges even in hectic moments.

Teamwork Skills

Productions of any scale only work smoothly when many small cogs mesh together. A good engineer strives to create synergies with other technicians and even other trades. Make sure to support your colleagues and not make their lives unnecessarily difficult through your work.

At the same time, insist kindly but firmly on the requirements you need to perform your job conscientiously and professionally. Basically: Just be someone people enjoy working with. Especially on long productions or tours, you spend an enormous amount of time with your colleagues.

Managing Client Expectations

Another important aspect is managing client expectations. As a sound engineer, you often stand between artistic visions, production requirements, and actual technical possibilities. Here it is crucial to convey realistically what is doable and to find solutions that satisfy all parties. This requires not only technical knowledge, but also diplomatic skill and the ability to propose alternative approaches without losing sight of the artist's or production's wishes.

Language Skills

Since you frequently work with international visiting productions and the event industry is highly globalized, solid spoken and written English skills are essential. They not only enable smooth communication with artists and technicians from abroad, but are also crucial for understanding technical documentation, software applications, and specialized terms that are often only available in English.

Roles of Sound Engineers in Major Productions

First of all, depending on the size of the event, one person can take on multiple roles or vice versa. Here is a simplified and incomplete overview of the areas of responsibility in major events:

FOH (Front of House) Engineer

The FOH engineer (also called the operator) usually mixes the sound for the audience. At events with multiple artists who bring their own FOH engineers, the local FOH operator supports visiting colleagues in adapting the house console optimally to their needs, loading show files, or collaborating with the system engineer to provide handoff points for a console brought along.

A good FOH engineer is thoroughly familiar with the house console and kindly supports colleagues unfamiliar with it. In addition, they possess a deep musical understanding and are skilled in using audio processing tools such as equalizers, compressors, gates, dynamic processors, and effects units.

Monitor Engineer

The monitor operator is responsible for the sound on stage. They create individual mixes for various outputs such as in-ear monitors for artists or stage speakers (wedges) for presenters. In addition, they significantly support visiting productions and act as the "audio head" on stage.

A good monitor engineer communicates clearly and confidently with artists, exudes calmness, and works closely with the FOH engineer. They form the communication bridge between stage and FOH. Like the FOH engineer, the monitor engineer also possesses excellent knowledge of audio processing.

System Engineer

The system engineer ensures that the entire sound reinforcement system functions flawlessly and is acoustically tuned to the environment.

A good system engineer has deep knowledge of system design and optimization, knows the physical conditions of the environment, and works closely with the FOH engineer to ensure an even listening experience for the entire audience.

PA Tech

The PA tech works closely with the system engineer and is responsible for setting up the sound reinforcement system.

A good PA tech is familiar with the system being used and ensures that safety aspects are observed during setup. After all, they might be flying several hundred kilos of speakers above the audience.

RF Technician

The RF technician takes care of frequency management for wireless systems during the production.

A good RF technician has extensive expertise regarding wireless systems and reacts quickly to potential interference.

Stage Tech / Mic Tech

The stage tech is responsible for stage patching and miking up the stage.

A good stage tech has an excellent overview of the signal flow on stage and resolves problems quickly or avoids them ahead of time.

A Few Practical Tips

• Look closely at plans and technical requirements in advance. Pay attention to whether you notice potential problems or bottlenecks that you can avoid ahead of time. Depending on your role in the production, you could already prepare a simulation of the sound reinforcement system or a console file to save time later.
• If possible, take a look at the gear list. Are there devices or equipment unfamiliar to you? Inform yourself about them in advance and check if they are relevant to your tasks. This way you avoid surprises and are fully prepared.
• If you are in a planning role, document everything precisely and comprehensibly. Your colleagues on site should be able to quickly understand your thoughts and plans so that implementation runs smoothly.
• Always plan at least one backup solution. Whether for wireless channels, mixing consoles, or signals – a backup saves you from major problems in an emergency and gives you the certainty that the process won't stall.

The Advantages

Here are the things I love about this job.

People

In this job, you meet incredibly interesting people, most of whom are following their passion. Whether during fascinating conversations after work or fun interactions during it – you build connections that last.

Moments

Even if these experiences lose a bit of their initial romance over time, you should still realize that you are often intimately involved in moments that other people would spend a lot of money to experience. Whether magical concert moments, thrilling sports events, or inspiring masterclasses – you become part of unique experiences.

Variety

No two days are alike, and every job brings new challenges. Boring moments are rare, which is precisely why even long days often pass surprisingly fast.

The Disadvantages

As mentioned earlier, the profession of a sound engineer brings not only exciting but also challenging aspects. Here I would like to shed light on some of these negative sides.

Working Hours

Sound engineers often work when others have free time. Weekend and holiday shifts are not uncommon. On top of that comes irregularity: sometimes you start early in the morning, sometimes late in the evening. Long workdays with very intense shifts are also part of it. Anyone heavily reliant on set routines might have trouble coming to terms with these flexible and often chaotic working hours.

Travel

The job usually requires a high willingness to travel. For people who enjoy being on the road, that initially sounds like an advantage. However, keep in mind that the work often leaves little time to truly experience the places you visit. Frequently, it comes down to short stays and a limited view of what you would love to explore as a tourist.

Family & Friends

The time spent with family and friends inevitably becomes scarcer. Especially during longer productions abroad or tours in a nightliner, it is inevitable that you will miss important events like birthdays or family celebrations. This often requires a lot of understanding from family and friends, as you are frequently absent at the most inconvenient times.

Physical Strain

The job often entails a high physical strain. Trucks must be loaded and unloaded, cases lifted, pushed, and "tipped". On large productions, long walking distances between various work areas add to this, further increasing physical demand. If you are not physically fit, depending on your area of responsibility, you might struggle to meet the demands of this job in the long run.

Conclusion

The profession of a sound engineer is undoubtedly fascinating and offers the opportunity to experience creative processes up close and develop technical solutions for great live experiences. The mix of technology, music, and working with different people makes this job unique. At the same time, the job is demanding and requires not only technical expertise, but also high flexibility, stress resilience, and a solid physical condition.

The working hours and the high willingness to travel demand a lot of personal commitment and readiness to forgo fixed routines and personal obligations. However, those who bring the necessary passion, can communicate well, and stay calm under pressure will be rewarded with exciting projects and the opportunity to create unforgettable experiences for artists and audiences.

This article is continuously updated to reflect the profession of a sound engineer as accurately as possible. I welcome feedback, whether on additional aspects that should be added or points where someone has a different opinion. Exchange helps to further improve the article and offer a comprehensive perspective on this versatile profession.