OIART Logo

OIART News

We are proud of our grads, their careers and continued achievements. Read about new graduate success, industry news, audio engineering updates and other OIART news.

By Jeremy Alves 26 Feb, 2024
Deciding to pursue an education in audio and sound engineering? Not sure what education you need and school you should attend? It can be a complex and life changing decision, so we’ve created this guide to help you make the right choice for your career!
By Jeremy Alves 07 Nov, 2023
Finding the right audio engineer school is an important decision. With so many things influencing the decision, OIART is here to help. Find out what makes a good program great, and apply today.
By Jeremy Alves 30 Oct, 2023
A music producer is a multifaceted professional responsible for overseeing and guiding the creation, recording, and production of music tracks or albums. Find out what it takes to a music producer and start your career with OIART.
Show More
By Jeremy Alves 26 Feb, 2024
Deciding to pursue an education in audio and sound engineering? Not sure what education you need and school you should attend? It can be a complex and life changing decision, so we’ve created this guide to help you make the right choice for your career!
By Jeremy Alves 07 Nov, 2023
Finding the right audio engineer school is an important decision. With so many things influencing the decision, OIART is here to help. Find out what makes a good program great, and apply today.
By Jeremy Alves 30 Oct, 2023
A music producer is a multifaceted professional responsible for overseeing and guiding the creation, recording, and production of music tracks or albums. Find out what it takes to a music producer and start your career with OIART.
Digital vs. Analog Audio Recording
By Jeremy Alves 24 Oct, 2023
Digital and analog audio recording are distinct methods for capturing sound. Learn how to use them both in the right capacity to expand your knowledge and career. Study at OIART and master this skill and others as you work towards your degree.
5 Ways to Improve Your Music Production Skills 2023 | OIART
By Jeremy Alves 21 Aug, 2023
Are you looking to improve your music production skills? Check out OIART’s 5 recommended ways to improve. Whether you are a beginner, or a music engineer, OIART outlines steps to boost your skills and offer knowledge on what it takes to become a music producer. Check out our music engineering programs today!
Music students learning live sound techniques
By Jeremy Alves 18 Jul, 2023
One of OIART’s goal as a live sound school is to prepare students for a long, successful career as live sound engineers. Check out this article to learn what you need to get started with live sounds and live sound engineering.
Students learning audio engineering
By Jeremy Alves 08 Jun, 2023
Video games are a multi-billion dollar industry with a competitive yet fulfilling landscape. Learn what it takes to work as an audio engineer or sound designer in the gaming industry.
audio engineering students mixing on a sound board
By Jeremy Alves 21 May, 2023
Music production is constantly changing, with some techniques becoming exceedingly popular while others fade away. Read on to find out what we recommend as the top 5 production techniques in 2023.
Music Student Recording Audio Into a Studio Mic
By Jeremy Alves 04 Apr, 2023
Audio engineering is a diverse field ranging from working with recording artists to making sure live broadcasts are problem free. An audio engineering career is a unique blend of audio, technology, and science that can be a perfect choice for many people. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) estimates the career growth of broadcast, sound, and video technicians to grow by 10% between 2021 and 2031 , which is faster than average job growth. However, it’s worth noting this estimate excludes related fields you may also explore after attending an audio engineering school that may experience even more significant growth. Pursuing a career in audio engineering typically begins with formal education. The course you attend will lay the foundation for a fulfilling and lucrative career working with specialized technology, the science of sound, and the world of audio. As such a diverse field, you may help set up equipment for major sporting events or work with your favourite singer as your career progresses. After graduation, you’ll have a wide range of opportunities to choose from based on your interests. Are you wondering what options you’ll have post-graduation? Keep reading to learn what you can do with an audio engineering diploma to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you. What Exactly is an Audio Engineer? Audio engineering is diverse, with engineers typically working with live broadcasts or audio recordings. Attending an audio engineering program will provide you with hands-on training with high-end equipment and leading-edge software. You’ll also attend lectures covering audio theory, including the fundamental sciences of sound and how to produce excellent sound. Audio engineering is often confused with audio production, which is undoubtedly related but still distinct fields. Audio production is concerned with the overall product, which might be producing a track for a recording artist or finalizing a podcast for publication. On the other hand, Audio engineers work with a range of hardware and software to capture high-quality audio for broadcast or recording. In the context of live performances, audio engineers also make sure the venue’s system is producing high-quality sound. Expect Salaries in Audio Engineering Audio engineering is a diverse field that presents several opportunities for income potential. The range of salaries depends on your focus area, experience, and industry. For example, in the United States, sound engineering technicians earn a mean annual wage of $67,360. However, if we look at the percentile breakdown, the top 10% of earners have a salary of $124,690 . So your career may start at or below the average, but you’ll have tremendous potential for growth throughout your career. Different industries will also offer different pay, even for similar job titles. For example, working with recording artists is competitive, often creating lower salary offerings, while other less-competitive industries tend to offer higher salaries to attract talent. What Are Possible Careers in Audio Engineering? Audio engineering is a broad field that extends into several industries. Some of the job titles you’ll see that an audio engineering diploma will prepare you for include: Broadcast Engineer Audio Engineer Acoustic Engineer Live Sound Engineer Audio/Visual Engineer Sound Engineering Technician Production Engineer Mastering Engineer Equipment Technician Acoustic Consultant And plenty more There’s a lot of overlap between the above job titles when it comes to the core skill set they require. However, your diploma will prepare you to handle the fundamental responsibilities of each of them, which may then be applied differently depending on the career you pursue. Let’s take a closer look at a few popular career options for graduates of audio engineering programs. Sound Engineering Technician A sound engineering technician utilizes high-end equipment and software to record sound with the best possible quality. Depending on the exact position, sound engineers may work closely with music producers or with other engineers to create a fine-tuned end product. The BLS estimates that 50% of sound engineers earn a salary of sound engineering technicians is US$60,500 . As discussed earlier, salaries for this field can reach up to $124,690 as you gain experience and explore new career opportunities. Therefore, pursuing a diploma in audio engineering allows you to start gaining experience after graduation and build your career. Be aware of the job title ‘sound technician,’ which is often an entry-level position that often leads to a sound engineering technician role. The significant difference is that you’ll generally work with engineers to gain hands-on experience before becoming an engineer yourself. Broadcast Technician A broadcast technician is primarily responsible for transmitting audio or video signals for radio and television broadcasts. This specialization requires a robust working knowledge of the electronic equipment involved with broadcasting. In addition, you’ll need to understand how to configure and control the equipment to regulate volume, signal clarity, and signal strength. The BLS estimates the mean annual wage at US$51,280 , while the upper 10% earn US$90,850. Salaries are also further differentiated by industry, with the top earners working in the Federal Executive Branch and the second highest working in advertising. Attending a school of audio engineering will prepare you with the fundamentals of becoming a broadcast technician. However, you’ll likely begin in an entry-level position as you gain experience specific to broadcasting. Audio/Video Equipment Technician An A/V equipment technician works heavily with all the hardware and equipment involved in audio. An A/V technician will need a strong understanding of setting up, configuring, and dismantling the following gear: Video monitors Audio monitors Microphones Sound and mixing boards Video cameras and servers Specialized equipment for concerts, conventional, and sporting events You may still work with software, but this position is strongly focused on the equipment side of engineering and is ideal for someone more interested in audio hardware. The BLS estimates the mean annual age for A/V equipment technicians at US$55,310 , with the top 10% earning $90,180. Software and legal are the two highest-paying industries for an A/V technician. Related Careers in Audio We mentioned earlier that audio production is a similar yet different career in the world of audio. Some students enroll in an audio engineering program but discover they’re more interested in the production side. Fortunately, OIART also offers an audio production program to allow students to make an easy change. Other related careers in audio engineering include: Electronics engineering and repair Electronics testing and quality assurance Installation and repairs of audio equipment You may discover that you’re more interested in the above careers as you start working in the field. Fortunately, your audio engineering diploma will still help prepare you as you’ll have a strong understanding of electronics and the science behind their work. How Can You Prepare Before Attending a School of Audio Engineering? You’ve decided to attend an audio engineering program; what can you do before your first day? There are a few ways you can start preparing and exploring before you take a single course, such as: Experiment with DAWs: Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) are at the heart of music and audio production. Many audio engineers will need a solid working knowledge of how to use them, especially those specializing in mastering. Many DAWs, such as Ableton and FL Studio, offer free trials so you can explore the software before you start classes. Learn more about specific career responsibilities: We’ve given you plenty of foundational knowledge, but there’s still a lot to learn about specific careers in audio engineering. Did any of the jobs we’ve discussed catch your attention? Dive deeper and learn everything involved to help you decide which career path is right for you. Take preparatory classes: If you’re in high school, take electives related to audio engineering to help build a strong foundation. Computer science, physics, and electronics courses will each help prepare you for audio engineering. If you’re no longer in high school, you can look around your area for local classes covering these topics. Preparing ahead of time will help you identify and overcome gaps in your knowledge before your course begins. Then you can focus on what’s truly interesting instead of catching up on the foundational skills. Earn Your Audio Engineering Diploma with OIART Audio engineering is an exciting industry and an excellent choice for those interested in audio, technology, and how they overlap and interact with each other. Earning an audio engineering diploma imparts you the right skills, training, and credentials to start your new career. The Ontario Institute of Audio Recording Technology (OIART) is an industry-recognized institution that offers diplomas in audio engineering, music production, and other specialties throughout the world of audio. Are you ready to take the first step toward becoming an audio engineer? Apply today for free .
Audio Mic in a Recoding Studio in OIART
By Jeremy Alves 15 Mar, 2023
Pursuing a career in audio engineering and sound production can be highly rewarding for people with a technical and creative mindset. Sound production and engineering are two distinct fields, but both involve applying technical knowledge and skills to create a high-quality end product. Attending an audio engineering or audio production program prepares you to begin your new career in the world of sound. You’ll learn the skills, theory, and mindset that make a successful engineer or producer. Working in music or audio is undoubtedly appealing, but you should have realistic expectations about what working in the field will actually be like. For example, how much will you earn? What exactly will you do? What’s the best way to get started? Keep reading to learn the answers to these essential questions to help you decide if a career in audio is the right choice for you. What is an Audio Engineer and Sound Producer? An audio engineer and sound (or music) producer are two distinct roles that often share responsibilities and work closely together. We’ll focus mainly on engineering, but plenty of this information also applies to producers. Let’s briefly define the differences between these roles: An audio engineer focuses on the technology, science, and electronics involved in audio recording or broadcasting to ensure the highest possible quality. A music producer takes a big-picture approach and applies technical aptitude and creativity to guide a project's overall direction and vision. Now let’s focus on audio engineering to help you get a feel for what you can expect if you choose this career path. What Salary Can You Earn in Audio Engineering? Audio engineering is a diverse field with several applications throughout various industries. Therefore, your salary will depend on your chosen industry and your experience, skillset, and soft skills. Overall, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the mean annual wage of a sound engineering technician is US$67,360 . In addition, the top 10% of earners bring in $124,690, while the bottom 10% earn $29,110. These figures demonstrate the significant range of possibilities and the potential growth you can expect throughout your career. Where Does an Engineer or Producer Work? Audio engineers are needed in nearly every industry, including some you might not anticipate. If we drill down into the BLS report, we see that the top-earning sound engineering technicians work in the following industries: Accounting and Tax Preparation ($98,120) Advertising and Public Relations ($94,260) Computer System Design ($91,990) Each of those industries has a low concentration of engineers but demonstrates how nearly every industry needs your future skill set. The industries with the highest concentrations of audio engineers are more aligned with what you expect: Sound Recording Industries ($66,020) Motion Picture and Video Industries ($85,020) Performing Arts Companies ($66,460) Combined, we see that the more specialized audio engineers who work in unexpected industries have a higher mean wage than the industries that first come to mind. Remember this takeaway as you consider audio engineering and take the first steps toward building your career. Note: All of the above figures are USD and represent the annual mean wage per the BLS . What is the Lifestyle of Someone Working in Audio? Deciding on your new career isn’t just about the money and industry; you also need to consider your daily workday and environment. So what will a ‘day in the life’ of an audio engineer look like? As expected, your daily workday will vary depending on your industry and your company. Let’s touch on a few common industries and explore how your everyday working environment might look: Music and sound recording: You’ll work alongside producers, artists, and other engineers to create a high-quality track. Some work days will be long, busy, and potentially stressful, while others will involve pre-production setup and configuration. You won’t likely provide creative input, but you may handle mixing and mastering to fine-tune the song before it’s finalized. Motion picture and video: You’ll spend some workdays on the set of a TV show, movie, or live broadcast. On these days, you’ll make sure all equipment is configured correctly and operating optimally to capture sounds. On other days, you’ll work alone or with other engineers planning how to set up equipment to record audio properly. Performing arts: Live audio engineering is an entire skill set that uses available equipment to deliver high-quality sound to the entire venue. Depending on the project, you may also record during the live performance. Workdays during showtimes will be busy and potentially stressful, and you’ll be expected to fix any issues that may arise. Pre-production will involve thorough setup, configuration, and testing of a venue’s system. Did you notice the common theme? Workdays will be highly varied in each of these industries. You’ll have a mix of long, busy days combined with pre or post-production work days focusing on setup or mastering. Ultimately, the lifestyle of an audio engineer is one in which nearly every workday will be different from the last. How to Get Started in Audio Engineering If everything above sounds like your dream job, how can you get started becoming a working audio engineer? Read on for a concise overview of going from inexperienced to working in the field. Explore the Field First (Optional) You can enroll in a sound engineering college immediately, but it’s worth stepping back and exploring the basics first. An easy and affordable way to explore audio engineering on your own is by exploring Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs). A DAW is the heart and soul of any sound or music project; it’s where all recording tracks and MIDI compositions live together, and where everything is mixed and mastered before being finalized. Several DAWs offer free trials with limitations, such as the inability to export or re-open projects. Fortunately, you can still explore them within these limitations. The goal is to see how well you learn the new software and how much you enjoy working with it. Some popular DAWs with free trials are: Ableton Live FL Studio Pro Tools Each of the above DAWs is professional-grade and is the go-to standard in specific industries. Learn the basics, experiment with mixing and mastering, and play with different plugins to alter sounds. If you’re enjoying the process, it’s worth taking the following steps toward becoming an engineer. Enroll in an Audio Program An audio engineering program is typically offered by a specialized educational institution, although some universities also offer audio programs. The overall purpose of your chosen program should be to prepare you for working in the field — it’s not just about earning the degree or certification. Look for schools that provide hands-on experience in a studio environment. The course should also include learning the theory and science behind sound and how electronics work at a fundamental level. Upon completion, you’ll be ready to find an entry-level position working in the field. Ideally, your school will also help with job placement. Continually Develop Your Skills The world of audio never sits still. As an engineer, you’ll need to stay on top of the latest electronics and technologies that impact your job. So keep exploring what’s new and see how it can improve your job. Additionally, even though your formal training will prepare you for working, you’ll likely still have plenty of opportunities to deepen your knowledge and learn additional skills. Education never truly stops in audio engineering. Keep learning, practicing, and growing throughout your career. Seek an Internship Internships are typically unpaid positions that provide real-world experience working alongside engineers and technicians. Fortunately, you don’t need to wait until graduation to start an internship — see what’s available in your area so you can attend classes and work in the field simultaneously. It’s also worth noting that paid internships exist, but they’re generally harder to find and competitive. View internships with a long-term perspective, the skills you can learn working closely with a studio or movie production company can do wonders for your career in the long run. Find an Experienced Mentor Mentorship is valuable in every field and perhaps more so in audio engineering. Every experienced audio engineer has knowledge and skills refined throughout their career. Finding a mentorship lets you learn from their work experience and rapidly advance your training. Internships can help you find a mentor. You’ll get to know everyone on the team, and throughout your internship, you may identify highly skilled audio engineers on the team. You can then approach them and ask if they’d mentor you — you might be surprised how many professionals want the opportunity to share what they’ve learned. Begin Your New Career with OIART’s Audio Engineering Programs A career in audio engineering can be the dream career for someone interested in audio, technology, and electronics. Most work days will be entirely unique, and you’ll have the fulfillment of contributing to a polished final product, whether it’s the next top 10 track or an acclaimed indie movie. You can start your career in sound engineering faster than you might think by attending a specialized audio engineering program. Ready to take the next step? Go to OIART today to apply.
Show More

Follow Us On Social Media

Be informed with everything OIART

Have Questions?

If you have questions about our audio engineering and music production program or would like to book a tour, we would be pleased to speak with you.


Call Us: 519.686.5010

Text Us: 519.200.4151

Email Us: Using Our Contact Form

Share This With a Fellow Music Lover

Apply Now

Share by: