What are the best ways to improve your audio engineering skills outside of school?

Training your ear as an audio engineer is like crafting a unique sonic identity. Explore various genres, from the soulful echoes of jazz to the crisp beats of electronic music. Dive into podcasts and audiobooks, honing your ability to discern subtle nuances. Your ears become instruments, finely tuned to elevate the listening experience. In this journey, you not only refine technical skills but also cultivate an intuitive sense that distinguishes great audio. Listen deeply, for in the symphony of sounds lies the artistry of an audio engineer.

Play around with different sound edits on your software and then ask friends be family for their opinion. Not everyone processes sounds in the same manner. Finding a happy balance is important.

With the way technology is advancing in terms of Digital Audio, we see majority of the musicians and engineers shift to completely digital based plugins, instruments and effects. This reduces the bulk of the equipment one needs to have while simultaneously making it easy to be mobile. One needs to visit AV exhibitions and see what is new in the industry. One should also subscribe to all the AV tech companies to see what are the latest updates. Most of the time a free trial is offered to check the software. it's best to try your hands at it to see how effective it is when you use it in your mix down pipeline.

The key is to develop your sound. Some engineers are know for bass others for mixing instruments others for clairity and oddly enough others for muddy effects aka "dirt". Once you know what you want to be known for then study everyone who has done it well and worst before you. This will teach you tricks and thru listening you will learn! Also once you know your sound then get in as many studio sessions as possible to learn tbe secrets to a successful achievemnet of that sound that books wont teach. With engineering experience is the best teacher. Peace

Improving audio engineering skills outside a formal academic setting involves a dynamic and proactive approach. By combining online courses, practical experience, community engagement, literature, workshops, and exposure to industry events, aspiring audio engineers can develop a well-rounded skill set. Consistent and dedicated efforts, coupled with a passion for learning, are key to continuous improvement in the field of audio engineering. Seeking internships or volunteer opportunities with studios, recording venues, or live sound setups provides invaluable hands-on experience. Working with a diverse range of musical genres is essential for broadening one's skill set. Different genres may require unique approaches to mixing and production.

Practice Regularly: Hands-on experience with recording, mixing, and mastering is crucial. Analyze Professional Work: Study and deconstruct tracks from experienced audio engineers to understand their techniques. Utilize Online Resources: Take advantage of online tutorials, forums, and communities for learning new tips and tricks. Build a Portfolio: Work on personal projects or collaborate with others to showcase your evolving skills. Attend Workshops and Conferences: Stay updated on industry trends and network with professionals for valuable insights and feedback.

In the world of audio engineering, practice is your compass, guiding you through the sonic landscape. Dive into your own projects or collaborate with fellow enthusiasts, sculpting soundscapes that resonate with your creative essence. Leverage accessible tools like Audacity, Reaper, GarageBand, or Soundtrap to craft your sonic narratives. Venture into the digital marketplace on platforms like SoundBetter, Fiverr, or Upwork—where your skills find an audience, and feedback becomes the cornerstone of growth. Embrace online communities like Reddit, Discord, or Facebook groups, forming connections that amplify your knowledge and artistic journey.

Practice as much as you can. Record your events, the the recordings back home and mix them over and over again. You can mix in a different each time, focus on the various instruments.

Improving your skills in anything requires application. You can take those same projects done in school and revamp them or create similar projects. You can also work on passion projects and utilize free resources on the internet to learn more about refining your techniques. What I did personally was invest in basic studio equipment, work on my own music and have other engineers in my network help me to improve my mixes etc.

- Mastering audio engineering is a continuous journey that requires consistent practice. - Utilise free or affordable software and tools like Audacity, Reaper, GarageBand, or Sound trap for recording, editing, and mixing audio. - Join online communities learn from the experiences of other audio engineers. - The combination of personal projects, hands-on experience with affordable tools, offering services on online platforms, and engaging with online communities contributes to a holistic approach in mastering audio engineering. - Embrace the collaborative and ever-evolving nature of the audio engineering realm through this multifaceted learning journey.

There is an amazing way to learn from experts without any course or tutorial. Copy! I can not stress enough how much benefit anyone can get from simply mimicking an audio track. the beautiful thing is that you can apply it to any technical level you are at, just take your favorite song or live performance and try to get as close as you can in your DAW or mixer. The more advanced you are the more difficult it will get, but there is always something that you can learn simply from listening and working with your ear and hands

Seek trusted experts in audio production, mixing, and editing and offer to be an intern or production assistant. Contact the producers of your favorite podcast and offer to help with mundane tasks such as logging, filing, and organizing audio content and assets. Or, transcribing, tagging, and archiving content.

I’ve gained nearly ALL of my professional experience from doing the work and being guided by experienced leaders in my industry.

I’ve learned the most by watching and studying incredible people in real life situations . In any session you’re in if you could learn one new trick & then apply that every day for seven days, so it becomes in your knowledge and database you will grow every week .

Don’t underestimate the quality of tutorial videos available free through YouTube! I’ve personally benefited greatly from watching how-to videos for technical skills related to video production and so can you. No need to go spending money if you can afford to.

Engaging in playful experimentation with sounds offers a dynamic and creative approach to honing your audio engineering skills. By manipulating existing sounds through effects, filters, and innovative techniques, you open the door to a world of sonic possibilities. Recording diverse sources and blending genres not only challenges your technical abilities but also sparks artistic innovation. Embrace limitations as opportunities, setting rules that prompt resourceful problem-solving. This hands-on exploration adds a layer of enjoyment to the learning process, making audio engineering a thrilling and personalized endeavor.

Best way to try what you wannt is experiment with equipment and pluggins ... When you see ans hear what are you doing its best way to grow up on any job

My best answer: learn how to record various sounds near you. In college, I remember a professor assigned a project to record walks to and from class. When the headphones are on, you will notice so many unique sounds. Birds, planes, footsteps, passing conversations, tumbling leaves, etc. Spend 30 minutes randomly recording, and making adjustments as you go, and I guarantee your engineering skills will improve.

People close to you will always be your best critics. Ask them for honest opinions and give them something to compare with. Tell them not to hold back and use their feedback to become better

Fail regularly. Stop trying to be perfect at it and just do it. Do what feels natural and right. If you fail you will learn from it. The most important thing I ever learned from this was that I began to enjoy doing what I do more after I stopped trying to make it consistently perfect. I just focused on having fun with it. Then I posted it for local opinion and critique.

Continual learning and adaptability are paramount for advancing your audio engineering skills. In this ever-evolving field, curiosity is your compass. Stay receptive to emerging technologies, tools, and trends, fostering an open-minded approach. Embrace humility, acknowledging mistakes as stepping stones to growth. Your passion and motivation will fuel the pursuit of your aspirations. In the dynamic realm of audio engineering, the joy and success lie in perpetual improvement beyond the confines of traditional education.

Using and developing your skills independently and in collaboration with other creative professionals (in multiple disciplines, truly brings growth. An idea is only as good as who it's shared with. Listen, learn, ideate, implement.

Put your audio skills to use in the community. Look for hospital radio, local music studios, anywhere that’ll let you get work experience and play with their software. If you can produce music at home, reach out to local business and offer your sounds to people. The more you get your name out there, the more it could come back to you as your next paying job.

As any media skill, you need real talent. You develop your talent by doing it over and over. It’s like a pianist practicing for thousands of hours just to play one song in a concert. You practice your skills by volunteering it to people that may need it. But never take any task if you’re not fully equipped for. School knowledge is just a start, and not the end. If it’s like audio engineering you have to develop your ear as well as the skills of using your tools. Like film production has to develop their views and ears. Love your job or it just becomes work. Everyone hates work but absolutely loves their craft.

Volunteer in your community! I learned a lot from running the sound desks at a community festival, helping at my local talking newspaper, being involved in community theatre and running the desk for conferences. This all helped enormously when I started working in radio, as I already had a good understanding of how mixing desks worked, as well as real-life examples of my experience to use in job interviews.