A recording technician must have knowledge of sound and recording equipment to be successful.
A recording technician's position may fall under many other names: recording engineer, sound engineering technician, or sound recording technician, but they all involve operating machines and equipment to record, mix, and reproduce sound. In smaller companies or organizations, the title of recording technician and recording engineer may be used interchangeably, but in larger organizations where there are numerous recording positions, a technician's job may be more specialized.
Responsibilities
Recording technicians are responsible for operating and maintaining a variety of sound equipment and machines, depending on the location where they are working. They may work in a recording studio, managing the equipment used to record music, dialogue, or sound effects. They may also work at a radio station, where they set up and maintain broadcasting equipment. A recording technician's duties may include selecting and setting up recording equipment, starting and stopping the recording machine, adjusting volume and other levels as needed, and repairing equipment as necessary.
Qualifications
A recording technician's position requires some formal training, usually at a technical or vocational college. A one- or two-year program will suffice for most positions, but a more advanced degree will make applicants favorable for advancement. Applicants must also have excellent computer skills and formal training in math, physics, and electronics.
Salary
The average annual salary for sound engineering technicians was $47,490 in May 2008, as reported by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. The bottom 10 percent earned less than $23,790 per year, and the top 10 percent earned over $92,700 per year. Technicians in larger cities can expect to have higher earnings.
Work Environment
A recording technician's day is mainly spent indoors in a clean and safe environment, especially if working in a recording studio. Those who work for broadcasting stations may have to work outdoors (occasionally in inclement weather) if they are assisting with the news or other events. Full-time recording technicians at large companies work an average of 40 hours per week, while those at smaller companies sometimes work longer hours. Weekends and evenings may also be required as determined by a studio or station's schedule.
Employment Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook states that employment opportunities for all broadcast and sound engineering technicians is projected to grow by 8 percent between 2008 and 2018. The growth of employment opportunities for recording technicians may be stifled by the advancement of certain technologies that remove the need for technicians to manage equipment, such as automatic, computer-controlled programming. Entry-level positions are projected to be more available in smaller cities and towns, where there will be less competition.
