How to Become an Audio Engineer

If you want to know how to become an audio engineer I can probably help you.
I have another site HOW TO FIX ANYTHING in which I show how I have fixed various audio gear. A large part of pro audio is trouble shooting and being able to fix problems.
'Audio Engineer' is a loose term. Many people who are called that might better be described as Audio Technicians or Sound People or Sound Engineers. There are more specific jobs such as Front of House Mixer, Monitor Mixer, System Technician, Sound Designer, and Shop Rat.
I come from the classic old school Soundman camp.
I found out that many sound guys have a similar background. It goes something like this:
You start out at a young age taking your toys apart to see how they work and trying to put them back together again.
You hear live music and are attracted to it for some unknown reason.
You take up a musical instrument and join your school band or orchestra.
You become a boy scout and learn survival skills in the wilderness and how to use tools and tie knots.
You join the audio/visual squad at your junior high school.
You form a rock and roll band with your friends.
You are the person who figures out how to get a sound system working for the band.
You end up being the bass player.
You get a van to carry the band gear to gigs.
You go to college to become an electrical engineer.
You drop out to spend all your time working with your band and building sound systems.
Your band breaks up and you and the drummer take off for California.
You get fed up with California and go to Europe.
You get fed up with the music business and go to work for a sound company.
You end up being a shop rat until one day they send you out on a gig as an assistant.
You get sent out with a truck full of audio gear and have to pull off the gig the best you can with only a shop rat or two and a cellphone for backup.
You pull this off a few times without too many problems and now they start to call you an Audio Engineer, Soundman or Sound Engineer.
Now you better study up on your audio fundamentals, the laws of physics, and learn as much as you can at every gig.
Watch the people who have been doing it for a long time.
They will show you how to do things in the real world, to get the job done despite less than ideal circumstances.
Subscribe to trade magazines like "Live Sound International" and "Front of House" and "System Contractor News"
Always ask questions at gigs and keep on learning, the more you know, the more valuable you will be as an audio engineer.


This is a pretty general example of how to become an audio engineer.