Sound Engineering

Sound engineering which is known as audio engineering is a branch of audio science. After Slumdog Millionaire won the Sound and Music award at the Oscars, it seems that the popularity of this profession has gone up tenfold..  Indian sound engineers are not only a domestic hot favourite but are in high demand overseas as well. A course in sound engineering can open many new vistas.

Work
Sound engineer dispenses his work at two levels- production level and post production level. At production level sound engineer produces diverse voices with the help of mechanical and electronic devices and records them. At post production level those voices are edited and mixed to create new sounds.

Qualification
A student who has passed his 10+2 examinations is qualified to seek admission in a diploma or certificate course. For a PG diploma course, graduation in any discipline is compulsory. Background in Maths or Physics will be an added advantage.

Personal Qualification
In this field a fervid interest in music and sound is necessary for success. It is an amalgam of creativity and technology which requires knowledge of electronic and mechanical musical instruments. Good communication skills, patience, diligence and team spirit are added qualifications.

Opportunities
After completing a course in sound engineering a person can become a sound engineer, broadcast engineer, sound editor and mixer, sound effect editor, music editor, re-recording mixer, studio engineer, dialogue editor, location sound engineer etc. The television industry’s rapid expansion has increased the professional horizon of sound engineers. Apart from TV and films a sound engineer can find a job in advertising, multimedia, broadcasting and animation industry. A private recording studio can also be opened after due experience in the industry.

Curriculum
Practical knowledge of sound recording, editing and mixing is provided in the sound engineering course. The students are also made to learn the use of recording tools like tape machine, speaker, amplifiers, single processor, microphone etc. Audio writing, basic theory of sound frequencies and sound special effects are also taught in the course.

Course
Many institutes are offering diploma, certificate and PG diploma level courses in sound engineering. These are of 6 to 8 months duration depending upon the curriculum taught by the concerned institute. No special educational qualification is required for admission to these courses.

Income
The salary depends upon the post held, experience and the type of industry. After finishing the course a sound engineer’s initial monthly salary can be anywhere between Rs. 15,000 to Rs. 20,000. After earning a name in this field the income can be unpredictably high.

Institutions
 1. Delhi Film Institute, Delhi
 2. Shri Aurobindo Centre For Art and Communication, New Delhi
 3. Film and Television Institute of India, Pune
 4. Asian Academy of Film and TV, NOIDA, UP
 5. MGR Government Film and Television Institute, CIT Campus, Chennai,
 6. Whistling Woods International, Goregaon, Mumbai
 7. Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute, Kolkata, West Bengal
 8. Audiofil Institute of Sound Engineering, Kochchi, Kerala
 9. SAE Technology College, Mumbai
 10. Bihar Institute of Film and Television, Patna