Making a Sound Career Choice: Apprenticeships in Audio Engineering

Dig out the suncream, wellies, bucket hats, flags and tents.  

Festival time is here again with Glastonbury, Download, Isle of Wight, BST Hyde Park and TRNSMT in Glasgow all taking place during June. 

Whether you like your rock on the heavier side or prefer something a little more chilled, the UK's festival scene has something for everyone during the summer months. 

The scramble for and the price of tickets can put the biggest, most popular events such as Glastonbury out of reach of young music lovers, though. So, to make sure they get their festival fix, many people volunteer at events or take casual shift work there as bar staff or stewards. 

This can be useful work experience for young job or apprenticeship seekers - and it'll look good on their CVs, particularly for those looking to go into customer facing roles in sectors such as hospitality, catering, retail, marketing and sales. A quick online search will bring up details of how and where to sign up for paid or voluntary work during festival season. 

Working behind the scenes in the music industry 

Watching their favourite group or artist live onstage is enough of a thrill for most festival goers, but what about those fans who aspire to work behind the scenes in the music industry?  

There are several routes into a music-related career, including the level 4 Assistant Recording Technician apprenticeship which can lead to roles such as assistant audio engineer, assistant recording engineer, recording assistant and mixing engineer.  

Students applying for this course typically study subjects such as design technology, music or ICT at school, with employers offering the apprenticeship usually looking for applicants with A levels or their equivalent or relevant experience. 

First approved for delivery by IfATE in 2021, this level 4 course takes around two years to complete, not including EPA, and is eligible for funding of up to £10,000.  

Employers involved in creating the standard were UK Music, Evolution Partnership (on behalf of ScreenSkills), Aquarium Studios, Halo Post, Metropolis, Molinaire, RAK Studios, Mastering Alchemy, Elephant Studios, Music Producers Guild/James, London South Bank University. 

Apprentices on this course will learn a wide range of technical, operational and communication skills including how to:  

• Set up audio equipment to meet differing recording specifications and final application. 

• Use software to edit and mix sound. 

• Regulate volume levels and understand their impact on sound quality. 

• Minimise unwanted sounds. 

• Take into account studio audio dynamics and their impact on the quality of the recording. 

• Recognise what different items of audio equipment are for, their functions and ideal uses, and in what situations they should be deployed. This includes different types of microphones and the situations in which they could be used to best effect. 

• Set up inputs and outputs on the mixing console.  

• Mix input sound signals and send them to the outputs. 

• Identify and diagnose problems with audio equipment and find common solutions for their resolution. 

• Recognise when to refer issues with equipment to a technician for repair/maintenance. 

They will also be taught about:  

• Implementing boundaries of responsibility in regard to recording sessions. 

• Studio set-up and how it is impacted by the type of music/sound being recorded and its final application. 

• Identifying studio equipment and integrating it with the client's own equipment.  

• Set up and operation of recording software and hardware protocols. 

• Inputs and outputs assignment and how to set these up on equipment. 

• Protocols for labelling and documenting channels. 

• Back up procedures for digital sound files and sound library requirements. 

• Security of sound files and how to protect them and physical assets on site.  

Additionally, the course covers:  

• How to collaborate with producers and performers. 

• How the requirements of different media can vary according to where the sound recording will be used (e.g. tv/film, computer games). 

• The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. How to assess the risks and potential health and safety issues that apply, particularly in relation to ear protection and electrical safety. 

• The Control of Noise at Work Regulations 2005 (CNWR), and relevant guidance for the music and entertainment sector. 

• The importance of meeting deadlines during sessions that use several external paid musicians.  

• The need to maintain the recording session's momentum to minimise costs. 

• Supporting stakeholders preparing for and during live recording and maintaining client relationships. 

• Following protocol to correctly label file names and archive the different mixes and multitrack recordings for easy retrieval. 

For music lovers eager to swap the mosh pit for the mixing desk, an Assistant Recording Technician apprenticeship offers an exciting, structured route into the industry. But just like a well-produced track, success doesn't happen without the right support in place. 

That's where Onefile comes in. As the leading apprenticeship platform, Onefile helps both apprentices and training providers stay in tune. From tracking progress and uploading evidence, to managing off-the-job training and end-point assessments, Onefile ensures every learning experience is seamless, efficient and fully documented - a backstage pass to success in technical and creative industries alike. 

Whether you're setting up mics in the studio or mixing at a live event, Onefile helps you keep your training on track - so you're ready to take your place behind the scenes of the music world.