Sound Engineering Technicians
Official O*NET title: Sound Engineering Technicians (27-4014.00)
Also called: audio engineer, audio operator, mastering engineer, mixing engineer, mixing technician
Do you do this at work?
Answer each card — it takes about a minute.
Do you do this at work?
Talk with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production
Swipe right for yes, left for not me. On a keyboard: → yes, ← not me, Z undo. +2 XP per answer.
How AI is changing sound engineering technicians work
2 of 13 measurable main tasks for this job show up in real AI-use data, so we rate it Green (little AI use yet) — 15%.
This shows where people already use AI, not whether the job will disappear. How we measure this.
Tasks in this job and recorded AI use
- Talk with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving (main task) — some recorded AI use
- Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Report equipment problems and make sure that required repairs are made (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Keep logs of recordings (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Tear down equipment after event completion (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Synchronize and equalize prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment (main task) — no recorded AI use
- Create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction — some recorded AI use
Tasks: O*NET 31.0. AI use: Anthropic Economic Index (exact or close text match).
Your first steps (guidance)
- Week 1: Open a free AI assistant and say hello. Follow our “Getting started with AI” guide. Ask it one simple question about your work.
- Week 2: Use AI on one task you do often. Try the prompt for: “Talk with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production”. Try the prompt for: “Convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving”.
Tick your own tasks above to get a plan based on what you really do. The first 2 weeks are free; Premium (coming soon) adds weeks 3–12. New to AI? Read our beginner’s guide.
Questions about AI and sound engineering technicians
Will AI replace sound engineering technicians?
Our data can’t predict job losses, and we don’t try to. What it does show: 2 of the 13 main tasks for this job match tasks people already use AI for (Anthropic Economic Index), giving a Green rating (little AI use yet). Using AI on a task is not the same as AI doing the whole job, and 11 of the 14 listed tasks show no recorded AI use yet.
Which sound engineering technician tasks is AI used for most?
In the data, the most AI use among this job’s tasks is for: create musical instrument digital interface programs for music projects, commercials, or film postproduction; talk with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production; convert video and audio recordings into digital formats for editing or archiving.
Which sound engineering technician tasks show little or no AI use?
For example: regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles; record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment; separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage. These are good places to keep building your own skills.
How does this job compare to others?
In Microsoft Research’s “Working with AI” study, this job’s AI applicability score is equal to or higher than 21% of the occupations they scored. That measures overlap with AI chat use, not risk of job loss.
How can a sound engineering technician start learning AI?
Start small: open a free AI assistant, try it on one task you do often, and always check facts and numbers yourself. The plan on this page is guidance, not professional advice.
See how this job ranks
Sound Engineering Technicians ranks #403 of 572 jobs for the share of main tasks with AI use (#1 = most), and #27 of 31 in Creative & Media.
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