Music engineering: is it right for you? Have you ever thought of combining your hobby and academia into one career? The good news is that not only is it possible, such choices can be often exciting. Read on to discover one such option…… Do you love music? Do you like to work on computers? Do you often fiddle / work with gadgets? Does electronics fascinate you? – If the answer is yes to all these then Music Engineering may be just the career for you. Not only will you be able to contribute to the newest releases on the charts, you can change the way we listen to music or create new musical instruments. If you are ambitious, if you are hard working the field is wide open for you. Making music or music technology equipment is a complex process – A combination of the dynamics of your scientific knowledge and your creativity. How do you go about it ? You could begin with enrolling into a traditional engineering program with an audio, music or acoustics concentration either at the Bachelors or Masters level. Alternatively you could tie up a bachelors degree in electrical / electronics with a graduate program in music engineering or digital signal processing. Such hybrid programs are always offered within the disciplines of two schools ie Engineering and Music. Your creative instincts with right mechanical inputs help you visualize and design newer music technology equipment. The job prospects are enormous with audio mechanisms penetrating the game industry, the internet etc. You could have a niche for any of the following areas · Studio engineering, installation, management · Studio installation, maintenance, or management · Music equipment design · Sound systems / Recording systems for concerts · Sound editing and reinforcing · DVD production · Software design · Film, audio, and video production or post production · MIDI production · Synthesizer programming · Broadcasting With a degree you would find a job as a recording engineer, multimedia author, sound reinforcement specialist, acoustical designer, studio designer, etc. The most common places to work include recording studios either for performers or soundtracks, audio equipment design or manufacturing companies, studio design companies, or for yourself as a freelance recording, mixing or mastering engineer. You may take on audio research work to develop better audio for portable devices or even diagnostic services. A good recording engineer is able to detect and translate not just the sound but the feelings of the artist – capture the essence. The approaches to careers as a recording engineer may be very different from the approach for a traditional engineering student seeking an audio engineering degree.There is no question that the digital revolution is also changing the face of everything including music.Gone are the days of record labels.A zealous band will now record on MIDI in their own studio,burn to disk and distribue it on the internet.Do we need an engineer at all?