As a music and sound lover, I was always intrigued by the work of a sound technician. Until I actually became one. But a real one! Still, I know that many audio enthusiasts are still asking the same question: What exactly do sound technicians do and how much do they earn?
In this article, from the personal experiences of Edgar Vasquez Audiovisual Serviceswe will explore the exciting world of sound technicians, their different roles and how you can become one of them through an online or classroom sound course.
A sound technician is a professional in charge of controlling and manipulating sound in various contexts, such as live concerts, recording studios, radio stations, television and film productions. They are responsible for ensuring that the sound quality is optimal and meets the needs of the project.
The term“sound recordist” or“sound engineer” is often used interchangeably with “sound technician”. Basically it is the same as a sound technician, the main difference is that these other terms are often used more in Latin Americancountries , such as Argentina, Peru, Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Chile, among others.
In English the sound technician is called Sound Technician, although also as in the Spanish language, has other synonyms, for example: Audio Engineer and Sound Engineer.
Becoming a sound technician can open doors to exciting career opportunities. Previously you have to study this spectacular career and it is recommended to take different types of specialized courses in sound to improve your skills as a technician and get great benefits. Here are some areas where you might find employment:
If you’re excited about working at live concerts, festivals or sporting events, consider becoming a live sound technician. These professionals ensure that the music sounds perfect at every live performance.
I remember when I started, these were my first steps, making the sound of some musicians and small live bands, until I reached some very important artists and above all, professionals, who have marked a before and after in my career as a sound technician.
To give an example Jorge Luis Flores of the group Maldita Nerea and Ana Mena,whom I have had the good fortune to sound in small acoustic concerts. And of course, also to the Mustang (Spanish Group).
Radio stations require sound technicians to ensure that radio broadcasts have exceptional audio quality. This is an excellent option if you have a passion for radio and voice-over. (Although to tell the truth, radio has been migrating to the world of podcasts for a while now).
This is usually a much quieter job, since it is always the same location, however, it is necessary to be attentive to the technical needs of the program’s guests, live interviews and the adjustment of a good audio duckin between voices and music.
Television productions, such as programs and series, also need sound technicians. You will work closely with production teams to ensure that the audio is flawless. Both for sound capture inside and outside sound capture inside.
For example, in the case of mobile units where it is necessary to capture the sound and retransmit it to the channel, in addition to sending a good video signal, it is very important to maintain excellent sound quality.
If you are attracted to the world of film, you could work as a sound technician for movies. Your job will be to ensure that the sound recordings during filming are of high quality. You may also have to be in charge of the audio adjustments and mixing of all the folie audio adjustments and mixing of all the, voices and soundtrack of the film.
Can you imagine sitting in front of a digital mixing console making all the settings to create fantastic 7.1 surround sound audio with Dolby Atmos? Then without a doubt, this career is for you. Go get it!
In Spain, music is part of the culture and folklore. There are several cities where you can look for a job as a sound technician. Some of the most prominent cities include:
The Spanish capital is a cultural and artistic center where you will find numerous opportunities to work in music, theater and live events. Being the main city in Spain, it hosts hundreds of concerts, festivals and corporate events (The best).
A great benefit that you can have by being a sound technician in Madrid is not having the need to learn or adapt to other languages, since the language used is Spanish, and of course, it is very valuable to be a sound technician who also speaks English.
Barcelona is also an important cultural and tourist center, which means that there is a constant demand for sound technicians for corporate events. corporate events and shows. events and shows.
The Spanish language in Catalonia is one of the official languages, along with Catalan. And highly valued by the companies of sound and lighting rental companies that the sound technicians are fluent in English.
Seville is known for its vibrant music and cultural scene. Here, you could find employment at festivals, concerts and more. Of course, it is not far from the corporate sector either, since it also has important headquarters of the main companies throughout Spain.
Among its most important festivals are: The April Fair, the Flamenco Biennial and the Seville European Film Festival. All these important events are great opportunities to work as a sound technician in Seville.
Valencia is another Spanish city that offers opportunities in the sound field, especially during local events and festivals. Mainly recognized for one of the most emblematic events of the city: Las Fallas, held in March, it is a festival of fire, gunpowder, music and ephemeral sculptures.
And on the other hand, we cannot forget one of the most important corporate events in Valencia: The Tourism Fair of the Valencian Community (FITUR), which attracts industry professionals and visitors interested in learning about the latest tourism trends.
Malaga, with its growing film industry, is also a place to consider if you want to work as a sound technician in the cinema.
In this spectacular city, the Malaga Film Festival is one of the most important film events in Spain. It is held annually in March or April and presents a selection of the best Spanish films of the year, as well as film-related activities and events.
The salary of a sound technician varies according to experience, location and type of work. In general, a sound technician in Spain can earn an average salary of between 18,000 and 30,000 euros per year. Technicians with more experience and specializations tend to earn more.
The most advisable is to analyze how much a sound technician charges from different points of view, especially taking into account the position to be performed. Here we present different variants:
In the fixed hiring of a sound technician by a public or private company the salary reference is the Collective Bargaining Agreement for the Audiovisual Production Industry (Technicians)where 3 types of operations are established:
It should be noted that all these amounts are the net salary of a sound technician in Spain, including the pro-rata of extraordinary payments and the economic compensation for vacations.
This is the case for the vast majority of sound technicians throughout Spain, where they earn much more but also pay much more in taxes. I’m not going to lie to you.
The vast majority of freelance sound technicians usually earn between €240 and €350 for an 8-hour day per between €240 and €350. There are those who even much more.
Anyone who earns less than the above for a full day’s work is giving away his or her labor, time and effort. Not counting of course what is even worse, that they are damaging the output and job market for sound technicians. (I must be frank about this).
When you are a freelance sound technician you should always try to to achieve at least 10 to 15 events per monthYou must take into account that 19% of your profits will be eaten up by taxes, not to mention that you must pay the self-employed fee of from 230€ onwards, plus the manager’s expenses from 70€ per month. It’s simple, basic addition and subtraction mathematics.
In addition to mixing and adjusting sound, sound technicians can perform other important sound technicians can perform other. Both in the creation of material for the technical production of audiovisual projects as well as technical advice and assistance in other fields of sound.
Sound technicians sometimes act as Backliners, which involves the management and maintenance of musical equipment, such as guitars, amplifiers and drums, during a live event. They also take care of the assembly and disassembly of the instruments, as well as close technical assistance for the artists or presenter at all times.
A Technical Rider is a document that details the technical and sound needs of a band or artist prior to a concert. Sound technicians often collaborate in the creation of these documents.
In this document called Rider, the sound technician must specify the brand and models of all professional sound equipment. professional sound equipment with which it is essential or prefers to work both how the artist or audiovisual project. The Imput List, if any, must also be specified.
The Stage Plot is a plan that shows the layout of the stage, including theincluding the location of the musicians and sound equipment. The sound technicians work closely with the artists to design this plan.
Here the distribution of each of the musicians and elements on the stage is described graphically, usually with a 3D drawing or top view. A good technical rider should have a Stage Plot for sound only and another for lighting.
A builder, mason or electrician may know a lot about infrastructure and attaching elements to a wall or running wires through different rooms, but in a sound installation of any enclosure to know where to direct the speakers, the right angle, the right power and volume, you need much more than that. theoretical knowledge.
The more experienced sound technicians with greater enthusiasm to enter new fields also often serve as support for situations where a fixed sound installation is required for a conference room, stadium, museum or concert space.
If you are interested in learning more about the world of sound and become a sound technicianThere are numerous videos on YouTube that can show you hundreds of methods and opinions on how to use professional sound equipment, but the truth is that many of them lack a fundamental basis: The theory of sound.
On the other hand, if you decide to study sound engineering from scratch, you will be able to solve fundamental technical problems in any field of sound. From improving sound pickup in difficult environments, to the soundproofing of large to sound reinforcement of large enclosures.
A true sound technician with a very good theoretical background knows how to detect problems even before they occur, in addition to always being able to create a plan B on hand in record time.
If you are interested in learning more about the world of professional audio and becoming a sound technician, there are numerous academies and universities that can help you acquire the skills you need to study sound engineering. course of studies in superior sound technician for audiovisuals and shows with a duration of 2000 hours distributed in 2 years of study.
I still remember when I studied Sound Engineering in one of the most recognized private institutes in the country. BarcelonaAlthough the experience was good because I was young and very excited to start playing digital sound boards, recording microphones, near field speakers and connect with others, I had a lot of fun. music loversThere were hundreds of things they didn’t tell me, especially the possible bumps or inconveniences that you can encounter in this world of sound technicians.
If you want to invest in a sound technician course, I recommend you verify that they can inform you about real problems about difficult situations and how they have been solved. As well as getting good advice on how to become a freelance sound technician on your own and not die trying. All in one, that’s ideal.
In short, being a sound technician is an exciting and versatile being a sound technician is an exciting in the audio and music field. So we can also consider all these aspects as important:
If you liked our article about what a sound technician is and what he can do, don’t forget who told you about it, it was Edgar Vásquez Audiovisual Services in Barcelona. Also remember, you can continue learning with our other publications full of great experiences and knowledge.
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