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Meet your teacher! Bruce McCleave explains what to expect in Sound Engineering 1-2.

Sound Engineering

What do you get when you combine one part scientist and one part artist?

A Sound Engineer.

While the focus, when it comes to music and film, is almost always solely on those singing or speaking, there are countless jobs that go into supporting those artists. In fact, there is an entire industry! From radio and television, to performing arts and broadcasting, sound engineers are working in the background to make those players shine. Sound Engineers understand everything from the latest technology for improving sound to where to place microphones for a performance.

Introductory Classes

Sound Engineering: Intro

GR 9 | Prerequisite: None (0.5 credit)

Students will learn the basics of audio engineering through using a combination of audio workstations and doing fun activities that are designed to introduce them to many important basic concepts related to recording, producing, mixing audio. We will be using GarageBand, SoundTrap, and/or Pro Tools. This course is the study of music recording technologies. Students will work with digital and analog materials to record music. Students will work with different interfaces to assist with writing, recording, mixing and mastering music of different genres. This course will also introduce music theory and notation to those who have not had a classical background.

Sound Engineering 1-2

GR 10 –12 Prerequisite: None

This course is the study of music recording technologies. Students will work with digital and analog materials to record music. Students will work with different interfaces to assist with writing, recording, mixing and mastering music of different genres. This course will also introduce music theory and notation to those who have not had a classical background.

Intermediate Classes

Sound Engineering 3-4

GR 11 –12 | Prerequisite: Sound Engineering 1-2

This class will develop ideas and skills learned in Sound Engineering 1-2. Students will get more in depth with Pro Tools as well as become familiar with other Digital Audio Workstations. Members of 3-4 will be responsible for running sound at school assemblies, talent shows and other live events at the school. The 3-4 class will have a more career focused agenda.

Advanced Classes

Sound Engineering 5-6

GR 11-12 | Prerequisites: Sound Engineering 3-4

This course provides a more in-depth look at industry related applications of today’s analog and digital audio engineering processes. Class learning and student development will be focused on real life project-based explorations of advanced audio production technics and skills used in many of today’s high tech, high demand, and high paying industries. Students will reinforce and continue to develop a solid foundation and understanding of the “Pro Tools” DAW and use that knowledge and foundation to explore other popular DAWs used in today’s audio production world. Successful completion of this class will include potential Dual Credit in a Portland Community College (PCC) Music and Sonic Arts course.

A Day in the Life of an Audio Engineer

Careers in Sound Engineering

Monitor sound engineers: This type of engineer takes care of the sound a band hears on their monitors on stage. A band member who asks something along the lines of, "can you turn down my guitar a little bit?" is talking to the monitor sound engineer.
Systems engineers: They take care of setting up amps, complex PA systems, and speakers for bands and the other sound engineers.
Studio sound engineers: They work in studios to make high-quality recordings of music, speech, and sound effects.
Research and development audio engineers: They invent new technologies, equipment, and techniques to enhance the process and art of audio engineering.
Wireless microphone engineers: They are responsible for wireless microphones during theater productions, sports events, or corporate events.
Game audio designer engineers: They deal with sound for video and computer game development.

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