Assistant engineers: who needs 'em?
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Assistant engineers: who needs 'em?
I just have to get the forum's opinions on this one from the perspective of what happened to me today. I do work in studios in NYC, and there are some where I've been on staff as either an intern, assistant engineer, or engineer. Currently I'm a staff engineer and have been for years at this particular spot, and I've been "put" on a multiple-day tracking session. First day comes and goes, great. Second day, the studio manager tells me there will be no assistant on the session and I will have to simply deal with it. Now, if I had no assistant on the first day, my stress levels would have been greatly amplified, something I don't think is good unless my job title included the word Masochist. Without getting into too many details at this point, I'm thinking that the manager doesn't seem to think an assistant engineer is integral to a session paying full rate for our services, or I am fully capable of doing two people's jobs at the same time while getting paid for only one. I'll save the meaty bits and say that I refused the job, and based this decision solely on my position in the situation, which could have set a bad precedent for any future repeat situations. What say you, and what questions do you have to clarify your understanding of this before I end up writing a studio psychology compendium?
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Assistant schmassistant
I guess assistant engineers aren't really needed and I'm just spoiled for expecting one.
we go with the two-engineer-approach when we have a client that wants/needs to do a lot of work in an amount of time that isn't so "a lot". as long as both engineers are on the same page throughout the session, it goes pretty smooth. it's handy to have one guy handling routing and mics and such while the other guy is doing mixing/computer/tape machine stuff.
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Nope. They get jobs as audiovisual technicians and set up LCD projectors and easel stands all day. At least that's what happens around here. Otherwise they go to university and get a real job.knobtwirler wrote:So what happens to the guy getting out of recording school and thought he was gonna be an assistant? Do they just go straight to being engineers with Pro Tools LE and a laptop and charge 50/hr instead of getting $7.25/hr?
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I used to be an assistant, then I quit and they replced me. Then that guy quit and they didn't replace him. So my old boss did all his sessions solo for the next eight years.
Meanwhile, I started here as the only engineer, then after five years got an assistant, then this year she quit and they're not replacing her. Right about this time my old boss just got himself another assistant. Go figure.
Sometimes around here it's good to have someone else to do patching, dial-ups, setting up mics, documenting, log sheets, ordering food, etc. But I did it all myself for years, I can get used to it again.
Meanwhile, I started here as the only engineer, then after five years got an assistant, then this year she quit and they're not replacing her. Right about this time my old boss just got himself another assistant. Go figure.
Sometimes around here it's good to have someone else to do patching, dial-ups, setting up mics, documenting, log sheets, ordering food, etc. But I did it all myself for years, I can get used to it again.
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"Lots of people are nostalgic for analog. I suspect they're people who never had to work with it." ? Brian Eno
All the DWLB music is at http://dwlb.bandcamp.com/
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Thanks for all your experiences and views. Now that some time has passed, it seems painfully obvious that the previously predetermined and stable workforce associated with recording studios is being wittled away to its core structure just before it collapses on itself. When one toils as an assistant for years and hopes to be that engineer one day and reap the rewards of having that assistant by your side just like you were for everyone else, it is very disheartening for the system to tell you, "No, I'm sorry, now that you've made it, you will not be given that luxury. Good luck in there, soldier." It's ok, I just wish I had a boss who knew how to communicate these concepts on a level higher than a Southern Hairy-Nosed Wombat.
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Along with all of us who went to a four year and got a BA or BS and are still trying to juggle "reality" with our need of time for artistic/creative endeavors as well as rent/bill/health insurance paying slavery.knobtwirler wrote:That should be Full Sail's new slogan.NoClass wrote:go to university and get a real job.
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I've worked with some rotten assistants. Guys who did not know how to align a tape machine, I've had to stop sessions to re-align them myself. Always a great moment explaining to the artist that you're working with that the other guy in the room is not to be trusted. Does this make me a control freak?
Part of me says, why would I possibly need an assistant engineer when I could just as well do the work myself? Getting a taste of strictly producing these days, I still think I'd rather also engineer my own projects as well as produce. I mean, if I can fix the hum faster than the engineer- why should I use one?
But for your situation, I know those kinds of sessions. The assistant becomes invaluable for monitor mix cds at the end of the night, good documentation and excellant team play and comraderie. I would hazard a guess you're studio manager is booking under the going rate at your studio though- that's the only reason I've ever seen for not putting an assistant on a session. Even on some of the lowest paying gigs, studio managers will typically make the client pay for the assistant engineer out-of-pocket.
Part of me says, why would I possibly need an assistant engineer when I could just as well do the work myself? Getting a taste of strictly producing these days, I still think I'd rather also engineer my own projects as well as produce. I mean, if I can fix the hum faster than the engineer- why should I use one?
But for your situation, I know those kinds of sessions. The assistant becomes invaluable for monitor mix cds at the end of the night, good documentation and excellant team play and comraderie. I would hazard a guess you're studio manager is booking under the going rate at your studio though- that's the only reason I've ever seen for not putting an assistant on a session. Even on some of the lowest paying gigs, studio managers will typically make the client pay for the assistant engineer out-of-pocket.
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I have forgotten most of what I learned about aligning tape machines because I don't use them much. They have a sound and a "requirement" that I'm not married to having, anymore.
Anyway, I like to have an assistant. Especially a good one that knows the room.
Maybe the manager couldn't get one that knew your room? I dunno.
I like a good one.
Maybe all the audio engineers in the world should talk to each other and form an ethic: no taking shit from the manager. If the manager gives even one of us this kind of hassle we all walk.
Dreams.
Anyway, I like to have an assistant. Especially a good one that knows the room.
Maybe the manager couldn't get one that knew your room? I dunno.
I like a good one.
Maybe all the audio engineers in the world should talk to each other and form an ethic: no taking shit from the manager. If the manager gives even one of us this kind of hassle we all walk.
Dreams.
Harumph!
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