I am currently undertaking a module at unversity called 'indusrty research'. if there are any sound designers out there could you please anwer these questions:

1. what qualifications do you need to become a sound designer?

2. what is the best way to get into the industry?

3. what is the anual wage?

4. how many hours a week does a sound designer work?

5. what equipment does a sound designer need to specilize in?

6. what crew members do you mostly work with?

1. what qualifications do you need to become a sound designer?

Sandy MacRae AMPS:

In the UK, Sound Designers usually only work in the Theatre Industry where they are responsible for overall sound for the stage production - not my expertise so can't help here. I am NOT a Sound Designer but a Production Sound Mixer so this is my personal view of the job from working many years in the Industry. Hopefully, some Sound Designers will answer too.

In professional Film and TV terms, the job description Sound Designer is used mainly in the USA to describe the senior Sound Technician for the production. He/she will usually have overall responsibility for sound on a production but more often, only the Post-production operations - the show has been already shot by the time he/she joins.

They will supervise the sound editing, find, or maybe create, special Sound Effects, maybe commission suitable music to compliment the production, maybe supervise and organise replacement dialogue sessions (ADR) as required, all in close collaberation with the Director and Producers They will also supervise the final mix in conjuction with the Re-recording Mixer. In the UK Film Industry, we use the grade Supervising Sound Editor more frequently, which is the equivilant job, and most will advertise their services under both descriptions. A Supervising Sound Editor will usually be a senior Sound Editor of many years experience, so:

Qualifications - long experience in Sound Editing, Dialogue Editing, Sound Post-production are the main ones. It is not a job where you start from school!

>> Read about Sound design (Wikipedia)

2. what is the best way to get into the industry?

Best way in - gain some theoretical and practical knowledge of Sound Editing and Post-production at College or University. Then try to find a placement as an Assistant Sound Editor (very few positions available) and do a few years there and maybe work your way up. Needs tenacity.

>> Read about sound editor (Wikipedia)

3. what is the anual wage?

There are no fixed rates but whatever you can negotiate! If you are good and in demand, you can make a reasonable living and be able to pay the mortgage. If you are only average, you will struggle to survive. The work is mainly freelance so there is no security of employment. So start at the legal minimum wage in the UK and, hopefully, progress from there over time and experience to a sensible professional salary - whatever that is these days!.

4. how many hours a week does a sound designer work?

Hours of work - how long is a piece of string? There is no regulation of work time in the Film and TV market. You work to the demands of the Schedule, Producer and Director. 60 hours and upwards, over 6 days a week is fairly normal.

5. what equipment does a sound designer need to specilize in?

Sound Editors need to have extensive knowledge of non-linear workstations and software like Avid, Pro-tools, Final Cut and so on. They need to understand the whole sound and picture chain, from production through to final mix and delivery. They need knowledge of all the tools used by Production Sound, microphone techniques, and even personal skills to deal with actors and producers!

6. what crew members do you mostly work with?

The problem today is that most Producers (the paymasters) understandably want as few people as possible on a production. Often it is a lonely one man job. On a major Feature, there could be a sizeable crew, depending on budgets, with separate Dialogue Editors, Music and Effects Editors and so on. Assistant grades are being eroded so few are getting the solid background training. This is a huge industry problem across all the skills.

Excerpt from thread "sound design" Apr 24, 2007 at amps-talk, AMPS Discussion List

Film Sound Question & Answers