What Exactly Do Audio Engineers Do?

Welcome All

Hello and welcome, my name is Taren McCullough. All of this started when I was a kid in high school; I rigged up some $400 subwoofers in my garage with no help other than Google. From there I was hooked on not only the quality of audio I was experiencing, but also how everything worked. Here I am, four years later, studying Electrical Engineering at North Dakota State University. But Electrical Engineering is only a stepping stone to what I would really like to accomplish in life.

MY DREAMS (Relevant I Promise)

As I study Electrical Engineering I have a deeper, much larger goal in life. Personally I am an amateur DJ and aspiring producer of EDM music. This has driven and consumed my life since high school. For those who do not know what EDM music is, check this out. This is an after movie for the 2013 Ultra Music Festival in Miami, FL playing EDM and genres alike.

That is my dream right there. to be a DJ/Producer on the main stage of Ultra Music Festival. Big dreams right? But as everyone knows and is told from a very young age that money has to be relevant when choosing a career. Or more of less you live on the streets or take money from hard working people through welfare. (Please no political debates. It's a joke.) So taking that into consideration, I chose the closest major to what I want to do with my life, Electrical Engineering. And believe me, I made the right choice. I love Electrical Engineering with a passion. Im not going to go too far in depth here about how these two things coincide with each other but I will give you a little insight. Electrical engineering generally deals with electricity, electronics, and electromagnetics. In relation to Audio Engineering, Electrical Engineers deal with active filters. Active filters are ways to cut out different frequencies as needed. Most of you should know that frequencies are the building blocks for audio. Music is build from an assortment of sound waves varying in different frequencies to make lower or higher tones. Now active filters is only one tool Audio Engineers use but the connection between Electrical Engineering is the same. The alteration of sound waves to make a different wave or a collection of waves is a way to describe Audio Engineering. And that is why I am pursuing Electrical Engineering on my way to my ultimate goal.

What Do Audio Engineers Actually Do?

Audio Engineers are responsible for the recording and reproducing of music.[1] The responsibilities include creating, recording, mixing, mastering, and producing all the music you know and love. No matter what genre you enjoy and listen to, Audio Engineers are making their music sound exactly how it is meant to be.

What Equipment Do Audio Engineers Use?

Audio Engineers use a wide variety of equipment just like the one pictured above. When I say wide I mean WIDE. Anything from the actual sound production equipment such as, musical instruments, microphones, amplifiers, speakers, etc. Then it goes to be modified which has a totally different set of equipment such as, mixers, computers, equalizers, compressors, etc. As you can see it's a complicated field but also very interesting.

Why Is Audio Engineering Awesome?

Depending on what you actually do within the Audio Engineering field, you could be traveling the world on tours showing off your productions or collaborations with other artists. You could also be in the studio working with stars listening and perfecting their craft exactly how they want it to sound. Building a creating from the base up and creating something magical every day is what I strive for. And you know that whole stupid 9-5 thing? Throw that away. Creativity isn't built into a schedule; within reason I mean. When the creativity bug hits you, that's when you should be working. Normally long nights are in the regiment but you know what? Night owls are more fun anyway.

To Conclude

But in reality. All I have to do is post another video of an EDM festival to show the amazing things Audio Engineers are doing. So I will. Here is Tomorrowland after movie 2013 in Boom, Belgium.

Enough said. Thank you guys for checking out my post. I hope I've opened your eyes to the amazing abilities of Audio Engineers.

PLUR (Peace, Love, Unity, Respect)

Taren McCullough