What does a recording engineer do?
Recording engineer responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real recording engineer resumes:
- Manage PowerPoint and mixing music at the same time.
- Prepare and run equipment during live FM broadcasts.
- Work with ReverbNation, MP3.com, Facebook, YouTube platforms.
- Trouble shooting software glitches in multiple DAW 's
- Help on-site technician align Otari tape machine and SSL consoles
- Record ADR for national TV and feature film projects.
- Use DAW to edit, mix and master recording.
- Host and producer of a sports talk show podcast on YouTube.
- Gain extensive experience with mixing consoles, automation systems, signal processors, analog and digital tape recorders, and microphones.
- Post production engineering for corporate media.
- Perform software installation and maintenance; hardware maintenance and troubleshoot issues
- Provide engineering services for all studio integrate digital and analog systems.
- Operate production board for high school basketball and baseball games without managerial supervision.
- Retain several local and national commercial clients while primarily engineering and producing music CDs.
- Operate production board for high school basketball and baseball games without managerial supervision.
Recording engineer skills and personality traits
We calculated that 17% of Recording Engineers are proficient in Digital Audio, R, and Music Videos. They’re also known for soft skills such as Computer skills, Manual dexterity, and Communication skills.
We break down the percentage of Recording Engineers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Digital Audio, 17%
Developed, coordinated and instructed workshops in Basic Recording Techniques and Digital Audio.
- R, 8%
Experience in statistical, economic, and data analysis using Stata, R, and Excel.
- Music Videos, 6%
Created treatments, schedules and budgets for music videos and other video projects
- Analog, 6%
Provided engineering services for all studio integrated digital and analog systems.
- Studio Equipment, 5%
Provided support to students operating studio equipment.
- Live Sound, 5%
Provided live sound monitoring during Sunday worship services
Common skills that a recording engineer uses to do their job include "digital audio," "r," and "music videos." You can find details on the most important recording engineer responsibilities below.
Computer skills. The most essential soft skill for a recording engineer to carry out their responsibilities is computer skills. This skill is important for the role because "technicians use computer systems to program equipment and edit audio and video recordings." Additionally, a recording engineer resume shows how their duties depend on computer skills: "service and repair of all audio equipment and computers. "
Manual dexterity. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling recording engineer duties is manual dexterity. The role rewards competence in this skill because "some technicians set up audio and video equipment and cables, a job that requires a steady hand and good hand-eye coordination." According to a recording engineer resume, here's how recording engineers can utilize manual dexterity in their job responsibilities: "coordinate and play audio tracks and effects manually in appropriate time for events and performances. "
Communication skills. This is an important skill for recording engineers to perform their duties. For an example of how recording engineer responsibilities depend on this skill, consider that "technicians need to communicate with supervisors and coworkers to ensure that clients’ needs are met and that equipment is set up properly before broadcasts, live performances, and presentations." This excerpt from a resume also shows how vital it is to everyday roles and responsibilities of a recording engineer: "coordinate live music productions, consultant communications".
Problem-solving skills. A big part of what recording engineers do relies on "problem-solving skills." You can see how essential it is to recording engineer responsibilities because "technicians need to recognize equipment problems and propose possible solutions to them." Here's an example of how this skill is used from a resume that represents typical recording engineer tasks: "suggested solutions to improve live sound during worship services and special events"
The three companies that hire the most recording engineers are:
- Magna International3 recording engineers jobs
- Booz Allen Hamilton2 recording engineers jobs
- Raytheon Technologies1 recording engineers jobs
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Compare different recording engineers
Recording engineer vs. Sound editor
These skill sets are where the common ground ends though. The responsibilities of a recording engineer are more likely to require skills like "analog," "studio equipment," "live sound," and "microphone placement." On the other hand, a job as a sound editor requires skills like "video games," "sfx," "pro tools," and "feature film." As you can see, what employees do in each career varies considerably.
On average, sound editors reach similar levels of education than recording engineers. Sound editors are 3.2% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.5% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Recording engineer vs. Sound truck operator
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that recording engineer responsibilities requires skills like "digital audio," "r," "music videos," and "analog." But a sound truck operator might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "sound board," "qlab," "sound checks," and "photoshop."
In general, sound truck operators achieve similar levels of education than recording engineers. They're 2.1% less likely to obtain a Master's Degree while being 0.5% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Recording engineer vs. Play back operator
There are many key differences between these two careers, including some of the skills required to perform responsibilities within each role. For example, a recording engineer is likely to be skilled in "digital audio," "r," "music videos," and "analog," while a typical play back operator is skilled in "control room," "cip," "nfl," and "product issues."
Most play back operators achieve a similar degree level compared to recording engineers. For example, they're 0.5% more likely to graduate with a Master's Degree, and 2.4% more likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.Recording engineer vs. Sound technician supervisor
Even though a few skill sets overlap between recording engineers and sound technician supervisors, there are some differences that are important to note. For one, a recording engineer might have more use for skills like "digital audio," "r," "music videos," and "analog." Meanwhile, some responsibilities of sound technician supervisors require skills like "audio support," "visual support," "audio systems," and "mfa. "
Sound technician supervisors reach similar levels of education compared to recording engineers, in general. The difference is that they're 1.3% more likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.9% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.Types of recording engineer
Updated January 8, 2025
