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When most people think about careers in music production, they picture a producer working in a studio with an artist. While that’s certainly one path, music production and audio engineering opens the door to a much wider range of careers.
Your skills could take you into recording studios, live music, mixing, mastering, editing and more, with different roles suited to different strengths and interests. To help break down your options, we spoke to LCCM Senior Lecturer Nick Hunt, a producer with more than 30 years’ experience, about eight key production and engineering careers and what you should know about each.
Producer
A producer helps shape the creative direction of a recording project. Depending on the project, that could mean developing arrangements, guiding an artist’s sound, supervising recording sessions and coordinating the people involved. Producers can also be responsible for keeping budgets and schedules on track.
Could suit you if: you’re creative and collaborative, but you’re also good at stepping back and seeing the bigger picture.
Worth knowing: there’s a lot of responsibility involved. Producers may be managing creative decisions, deadlines, budgets and working relationships at the same time. Work is also often project-based, so hours and income can vary.
Studio Sound Engineer
Studio sound engineers are responsible for capturing high-quality recordings of musicians and vocalists. You’ll need to know your way around microphone techniques, signal flow, recording equipment and digital audio workstations (DAWs), while being able to spot and solve technical problems during a session.
Could suit you if: you’re interested in the technical side of making music but still want to be part of the creative process.
Worth knowing: entry-level studio opportunities can be competitive, and recording sessions don’t always fit neatly into a nine-to-five. You’ll also need to keep developing your technical knowledge as equipment, software and production methods change.
Live Sound Engineer
Live sound engineers look after the audio at concerts, festivals and other live events. They operate sound systems, balance the front-of-house mix for the audience and make sure performers have suitable monitor mixes on stage.
Could suit you if: you’d rather be around gigs and live events than spend all your time in a recording studio, and you’re good at keeping a clear head when things get busy.
Worth knowing: evenings, weekends and travel are common, and the work can be physically demanding. If something goes wrong during a show, you’ll need to fix it quickly while keeping sound quality, hearing safety and the event schedule in mind.
Assistant Engineer
Assistant engineering is often an entry point into professional studio work. You’ll support the lead engineer by preparing recording spaces, setting up equipment, positioning microphones and keeping session notes and documentation organised.
Could suit you if: you’re organised, reliable and want to build practical studio experience while learning how things work behind the scenes.
Worth knowing: starting out can involve routine or physically demanding jobs, long hours and relatively modest pay. Reliability, organisation and discretion matter too – studios need to know they can depend on you.
Session Musician
Session musicians are hired to play instrumental or vocal parts on recordings. You might work from written arrangements or chord charts or take direction directly from the producer. Strong musicianship matters, but so does adaptability. You’ll need to learn material quickly, work across different styles and deliver a consistent performance, sometimes without much rehearsal time.
Could suit you if: performing is one of your strongest skills and you enjoy adapting to different artists, styles and ways of working.
Worth knowing: session work can be inconsistent and often relies heavily on your professional network and reputation. As much of the work is freelance, being able to manage the business side of your career matters too.
Programmer/Editor
On larger productions, programmers and editors handle some of the more detailed digital work involved in creating a recording. You could be preparing MIDI sequences, samples, electronic instruments and tempo maps, compiling different takes or editing timing, pitch and arrangement details under the direction of a producer or lead engineer.
Could suit you if: you’re confident with DAWs and enjoy getting into the finer details of a production.
Worth knowing: dedicated programmer and editor jobs tend to be more common on larger productions, so there can be fewer standalone roles available. The work also requires concentration and precision, as well as keeping up with changing software and production techniques.
Mixing Engineer
Once the individual parts of a track have been recorded, a mixing engineer brings them together into a finished mix. That means working with levels, panning, EQ, compression, effects and automation to make sure everything sits together while shaping the overall character of the recording.
Could suit you if:you’ve got a good ear, enjoy shaping sound and don’t mind spending time getting the details right.
Worth knowing: building a reputation and regular client base can take time. Mixing can also mean long periods of concentrated listening, tight deadlines and several rounds of revisions before everyone is happy.
Mastering Engineer
A mastering engineer makes final adjustments to areas such as tone, dynamics and loudness, while checking that the music meets the technical requirements for different formats. On an album or EP, they’ll also work to make sure the tracks feel consistent as one release.
Could suit you if: you have a particularly sharp ear for detail and enjoy making precise creative and technical decisions.
Worth knowing: mastering takes specialist knowledge and experience, and professional monitoring and acoustic treatment can require significant investment. Entry-level opportunities are also limited, so it’s often an area people move into as their skills and experience develop.
How do you start a career in music production or audio engineering?
Practical experience is a big part of getting started. Recording your own projects, working with other musicians, assisting on sessions and getting involved with live music can all help you build your skills.
You’ll also want evidence of what you can do. Building a portfolio gives you something to share with potential collaborators, clients and employers, while working on real projects helps you build the contacts and reputation that are particularly important in freelance music production careers.
Study Music Production and Sound Engineering at LCCM
Our BMus (Hons) Music Production & Sound Engineering degree course covers recording, mixing and mastering, alongside analogue, digital and spatial production techniques.
You’ll study alongside performers, producers, songwriters and musicians, with collaboration forming a regular part of your time at LCCM. This gives you experience working with other people on music while developing your technical skills and building your own portfolio.
