Read time 3 minutes
Published on Mar 8, 2019
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Do you have a keen ear for music, but aren’t quite convinced you’ll become a professional musician? There are many other career paths available in the music industry. Quite a few of them are well-suited to graduates of STEM degrees, like engineering. Here’s a quick look at some of the top electrical engineering jobs in the music industry.
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Modern bands often display pre-programmed video footage during live performances. Video engineers are responsible for coordinating the vision of the talent with the synchronization of the video footage. For some shows, the entire video feed is pre-programmed ahead of time, but video engineers must still be present at the show to make last-minute changes.
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A modern rock show wouldn’t be complete without a dazzling light show. Live performances often rely on lighting engineers to control the way the lights move around the stage and the crowd. They also control the color and intensity of the lights. During the show, the lighting engineer works at the lighting board, which is usually located near the front of the stage. Lighting boards are often pre-programmed and synchronized—another responsibility of the lighting engineer that those in electrical engineering may be suited for.
Recording engineers are typically under the supervision of the producer. They are responsible for the operation of the recording equipment, including the mixing console, during the recording session. Recording engineers must have top technical skills, as they need to set up and operate complex equipment. They also need a good ear for music. An eye for innovation and communication skills are both vital in this job, both of which are areas of focus in the electrical engineering program at GCU.
Perhaps you’re interested in a more dynamic, interactive career in the music industry. If you’d love to make a career out of attending live shows, then being a sound technician could be the perfect choice for you. Sound technicians arrive early to live shows and set up the sound equipment and instruments, working alongside the road crews. Sound technicians coordinate sound checks with the talent to ensure the best possible sound quality. During the performance, sound technicians work the soundboard. Not surprisingly, this position requires familiarity with electrical equipment, wiring and other engineering-related specialties.
A music producer is as close as one could get to fulfilling the role of the musician without actually being the musician. Producers help musicians nail down a cohesive vision for an album and for each individual song. Producers can do a wide variety of jobs, including the following:
As some of the busiest and most versatile professionals in the industry, a career as a music producer is best suited for multitasking individuals who are capable of paying as much attention to the little details as to the big picture. A bachelor of science is required for a job in this area, but the specialization has more flexibility as long as candidates have experience in the necessary skillsets, so those with a degree in electrical engineering may be able to apply their experience with electronic equipment and developed problem-solving skills to a position in this area.
