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Blog 3: Audio Engineering
9 years ago
So, the reason for the delay between entries is because the website had an update and i didn't have the time or bother to relearn how to post journals. Since i'm up at 4 AM and can't sleep i figured i'd ramble about some stuff.
This time i want to talk about a topic i actually know something about. The state of engineering in audio, and maybe i can clear up some misconceptions.
First things first. When someone says "audio engineer" generally what they're talking about are producers, mix & mastering engineers, and/or stage technicians. Rarely will anyone be talking about "audio engineers" and be referring to the actual engineers who design studios, equipment, software, ect. (This should be a hint to how i feel about the state of engineering in audio.)
The reason for this is because since around the '80s engineers have engineered the tools we use to produce audio to the point where the most elementary knowledge of sound and signals is enough to be proficient with them. This new low barrier to entry is a double edged sword. While it's great that we can have more people producing more music, the overall quality of sound has taken enough of a hit that it can't be fixed with better tools.
This effect isn't just limited to bedroom producers, the top 40 is absolutely littered with over-affected nonsense. There is a video of this big time producer hanging around east west studios trying to explain his production process. The video is pretty short, but almost half of it is him struggling to describe what a volume knob does.
[/rant]
There is still hope though. people like Skrillex in '08 are still exploring the boundaries of audio, and today we have people like Seamlessr who acts like a bit of a scientist, exploring what is possible in the systems given to him. We even have people like Jerobeam Fenderson (i seriously suggest checking him out on youtube if you like having you mind blown) who are exploring the mathematical side of signals. I've tried replicating his work and did okay, but my attempts were nothing compared to what he can do.
I'm also certain that there are thousands of people just like me who care about integrity in their engineering handy work, but just aren't marketable because they're not actively working in audio, and/or no one cares a whole lot.
This time i want to talk about a topic i actually know something about. The state of engineering in audio, and maybe i can clear up some misconceptions.
First things first. When someone says "audio engineer" generally what they're talking about are producers, mix & mastering engineers, and/or stage technicians. Rarely will anyone be talking about "audio engineers" and be referring to the actual engineers who design studios, equipment, software, ect. (This should be a hint to how i feel about the state of engineering in audio.)
The reason for this is because since around the '80s engineers have engineered the tools we use to produce audio to the point where the most elementary knowledge of sound and signals is enough to be proficient with them. This new low barrier to entry is a double edged sword. While it's great that we can have more people producing more music, the overall quality of sound has taken enough of a hit that it can't be fixed with better tools.
This effect isn't just limited to bedroom producers, the top 40 is absolutely littered with over-affected nonsense. There is a video of this big time producer hanging around east west studios trying to explain his production process. The video is pretty short, but almost half of it is him struggling to describe what a volume knob does.
[/rant]
There is still hope though. people like Skrillex in '08 are still exploring the boundaries of audio, and today we have people like Seamlessr who acts like a bit of a scientist, exploring what is possible in the systems given to him. We even have people like Jerobeam Fenderson (i seriously suggest checking him out on youtube if you like having you mind blown) who are exploring the mathematical side of signals. I've tried replicating his work and did okay, but my attempts were nothing compared to what he can do.
I'm also certain that there are thousands of people just like me who care about integrity in their engineering handy work, but just aren't marketable because they're not actively working in audio, and/or no one cares a whole lot.
