Sound technician, broadcasting/film/video
Sound technicians are required to assemble, operate and maintain the technical equipment used to record, amplify, enhance, mix or reproduce sound.
They identify the sound requirements for a given task or situation and perform the appropriate actions to produce this sound. Sound technicians of different types are required in a range of industries including film, broadcasting (radio or television), live performance (theatre, music, dance), advertising and audio recordings.
The specific activities carried out by a sound technician vary according to the sector in which they are employed.
Sound technician roles can be split into two categories:
Production activities include:
Post-production activities include:
For larger scale operations, such as film productions, sound technicians are usually required to work within sound teams. There are often separate sound teams for production and post-production. The job of a sound team is essentially to follow or interpret the instructions of the director, sound designer or sound supervisor. There are many specialised roles within sound teams including boom operators, sound assistants, dialogue editor, dubbing mixer, Foley artist, Foley editor, production mixer, sound designer and sound editor.
Although this area of work is open to all graduates, a successful candidate will need to show a good understanding of the physics of sound, technical aptitude (including an awareness of current sound technology and equipment), good aural skills, excellent communication skills and acute attention to detail.
A good general education will be useful. GCSEs or A-levels in maths and physics and qualifications in electronics will be particularly beneficial. The following degree/HND subjects may increase your chances of success:
Check the Association of Professional Recording Services , the governing body for accredited courses, for the current list of accredited courses.
Candidates will need to show evidence of the following:
Practical experience is usually a pre-requisite to securing work as a sound technician. There are a range of places where you can volunteer, including: a recording or editing studio; student or community/hospital based film or radio project; doing the rigging and sound for amateur theatre or local musicians; working for equipment manufacturers.
You can contact Skillset Careers for advice about finding relevant work experience. A code of practice for work experience is available from the Broadcasting Entertainment Cinematographic and Theatre Union (BECTU) website.
For more information, see work experience and internships and search courses and research.
Traditionally, sound technicians learnt their practical skills on the job by working in sound teams and/or alongside more experienced technicians. However, with the combination of rising competition and fast-changing sound technologies it is becoming increasingly important for sound technicians to specialise in certain areas and to be able to provide proof of their expertise. There are a range of courses which enable sound technicians to specialise and update their knowledge. Such courses are available at degree and HND level.
Some of the most highly respected technical training courses for new entrants in the field of broadcasting are run by film and screen agencies. These include Cyfle (Wales), Creative Scotland , Northern Ireland Screen and the Film Agency for Wales . Places on these courses are limited and competition for spaces is high. Candidates must have previous work experience and a good overall understanding of the field.
Professional associations, guilds and organisations are also useful sources for training and networking opportunities. Relevant associations include:
Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media also offers professional development and technical courses. These include programmes for both junior sound technicians and experienced technicians wanting to specialise or update their knowledge. Skillset also provides advice and guidance on courses and funding for freelancers.
The majority of sound technicians begin their careers as a trainee, sound assistant, runner or administrator and progress to more specialist or senior positions. In order for a sound technician to forward their career it is essential that they develop specialist knowledge and technical skills through training or shadowing more experienced sound technicians. There are many different roles within both production and post-production. Possible career routes include:
Some large employers have developed structured career paths for their sound technicians. For example, the BBC grade their sound technicians as junior, middle and senior. Promotion beyond the senior grade would involve moving into management or moving from small/regional stations to large/national stations. These organisations will often support their employees through training schemes, in-house development schemes and various other career development opportunities.
For freelancers there is no set career path. To further their career, a freelancer should develop strong networking skills and attend media events as well as make and maintain useful industry contacts.
Sound technicians can move on to the role of radio studio manager. Radio studio managers maintain the technical standard of broadcasts by controlling sound in studios and on location. At the BBC, radio studio managers oversee the running of the studios, handle all live output and are also involved in the final stages of mixing the overall sound of pre-recorded programmes.
Sound technicians of different kinds are required in many different industries including broadcasting (radio or television), live performance (theatre, music, dance), advertising, music production and film. The range of potential employers is large and includes:
Many sound technicians are freelancers and work across different sectors of the sound industry. When searching for employment, freelancers do not rely solely on advertised vacancies but make their own contacts through career networking and speculative applications. They attend media events and conventions to network with people in the industry and maintain/develop useful contacts.
Diary management services can be very useful for freelancers. These services put their clients forward for jobs, manage their diaries and ensure prospective employers are aware of their availability. They are often used as a resource for production companies and broadcasters looking for crew members. However, diary services can be very expensive and tend to specialise in different sectors of the industry. A comprehensive list of diary services can be found on the Skillset: The Sector Skills Council for Creative Media website.
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