subject: Sound Engineering Schools Offer More Than Just Music! [print this page] Visions of aspiring producers, musicians, and artists may come to mind when you hear someone is considering sound engineering schools. Truthfully though, there is so much more to it than that. Opportunities abound for graduates of these programs. Movie studios, video game developers, and many others need sound engineers.
When you hear the 'roar' of the zombie, or the 'clash' of two swords clanking. The soaring ballad on a movie track, or a cool special sound effect. Someone had to put that there, and that person is a sound engineer. It wouldn't be nearly as exciting of an experience if these things were missing. Boring even.
The emotions evoked by a killer sound track on a movie, were put there by an artist. Yes, an artist. Someone who has both vision, and the training to make it seamless. The art of it may come natural to you, but the technical side requires some skills, and practice. It cannot be treated like just a hobby.
A skillful sound engineer can make it all come to life. The artistic element to bring it all together. When done correctly it just flows. Seamlessly placed there by an artisan of sound. That little bit of magic that makes everything pop. Seamlessly creating an alternate world the viewer gets lost in.
If you think this is just something that comes natural, think again. There is equipment to learn; much of it very expensive, and timing. The idea of just walking into a movie studio, or even game developers office and getting a job, is unlikely. And, even if you did, it would be a disaster. There's more to it than just locking yourself into a room and making noise.
Going to work everyday may feel fun. Maybe not even like a real job for some, and that's awesome. But, it is a job, and not an easy one 'per say'. There is actually quite a bit to understand and practice to make great sound effects, or even to operate the tools used to make them.
So if the idea of working with sound effects, learning to add pizazz to the next big video game, or even working in the music industry sounds like it's something for you, where do you start? You start with a good school.
Available in most states, sound engineering schools are a great start to a promising career as a sound engineer. They don't take long to complete. Some are a year or less. So find your fantasy job today, for less time and money than you may think.
