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Are Recording Engineers "Certified"?

It often amazes me the differences in recording quality from one album to another. I would imagine that each and every studio, recording electronics system, and engineer would each have their own "sonic signature". But how is the recording engineer evaluated? Other than a possible degree or diploma from an accredited school, is there an auditory test that they are subjected to?

Does the record company just trust their credentials and put that engineer at a mixing board and say "Here, record this"? Is that engineer's hearing evaluated. Are they required to take annual hearing tests? Who is the person or group of persons, that give the final "thumbs up" to a recording?

And who decides if the final recorded product is of "acceptable sonic standards"?

Does a record company assign certain recording engineers to certain musical performers? George Martin for example, recorded classical performances for many years before recording The Beatles. I have seen Bob Ludwig's name on hundreds of recordings in a lot of different types of musical styles and disciplines of music. There are many notable recording engineers out there and obviously have been around long enough to have established their credentials.

I know that this a myriad of questions, but I think most of you understand the focus of these questions.
128x128buscis2
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,137 posts
 
The direct answer to your question is, no there is no formal certification to be a recording engineer. There are a number of schools that offer hands on training in recording techniques and there are even college degrees in recording technology, but this sort of formal training is not a requirement to get a job as an engineer.

Any recording is a collaborative effort between the musicians, the producer, the recording engineer, the mastering engineer and record company. The final sound of a recording is the collective product of all these peoples' efforts. A quality recording or mastering engineer shouldn't have an identifiable sound. Instead, just as with a top flight studio musician, there work should remain unobtrusive and all their decisions should be done in the context of someone else's musical vision.
pbb
1,140 posts
 
Some institutions do train people for the job. They are not necessarily those that wind up with real studio jobs though. As to the hit or miss nature of recordings: blame a lack of standards. It's way more art than science, but when someone is good at their craft, the end product normally shows it. Which does not mean that everyone will like the job done. The type of music recorded also requires IMHO different approaches, talents and sensitivities. It may never be a science, which is as it should be, but simple things like having a standard by which to set the volume level properly for a given recording would help. Remember that in most cases a recording is a collaborative effort and that the planned horse often winds up more like a camel.
rives
953 posts
 
There are a number of schools. Some give you a "diploma"--which has absolutely no credentials except that you went to that school. Others offer an associates degreed program. None of this guarantees a good quality recording engineer. It is a very interesting question you ask, particularly in light of the advent (yes we are just barely at the advent) of multi channel. There are only a handful of engineers that know how to really mix in that format and there are basically no schools that teach the new formats. Some of the finest recording engineers have had no formal training--they had the gift and learned at the school of hard knocks. I'll bet if you looked at some of the best recorded music you would find that to be the case, but today the schools help open doors for those that want to get into the business.
imin2u
392 posts
 
No. Definitely not. (I worked those 16h/7day weeks for 5yrs). No two people "hear" the same. Just like colour, sound is very subjective. A certificate would be meaningless.
unclejeff
1,313 posts
 
I really don't know if 'certification/dgrees' would mean much as those of us in our own professions---whatever they may be--would probably agree that 60% of the people in our various professions are not as competent as the rest...

Also, I think that lots of older classics are digitized and released with a nod to maximum profit. A great example of great dissappointment would be 'The Best of Cream'---terrible CD. I happened to buy it on the same day as I gought the 'Greatest Hits of The Guess Who'---wonderful quality recording. Another example of awful vs. great would be two sets of Cds that I own that have lots of duplication. The 'Various Artists--Hitsvill U.S.A' on the Motown label is a four Cd collection of just about everything from Motown. I liked it until I was given 'Soul Spectacular--The greatest Hits of All Time' on the Rhino Label. Many songs are duplicated but the Rhino Cd is of such superior quality that I have not bothered with the Motown Cd in my home system. It does get to play in the Cd player that came with my Ford Taurus, though........
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