Studio Love: 10 Studio Engineer Interview Questions and Answers

For many young people eager to get into the business of music, working in a recording studio is the way to go. Almost every notable producer got his or her start as a studio engineer – the person actually setting up the microphones, laying the cables, and doing the hard work that makes the music we all love possible. To help you be a part of that world, here are ten studio engineer interview questions and answers so you can ace that first interview and get behind the glass.

1. Which digital audio workstations are you familiar with?

This is the big question. By now, there are dozens of computer programs to record music, each with its own twists and turns. Nobody will expect you to be intimate with all of them. But having at least a basic familiarity with some of the popular ones like Logic, Reason, and Ableton is very useful, and being a master of Pro Tools, still the industry standard, is essential.

2. Do you have EE training?

Whether or not you’ve formally studied as an electrical engineer, find a way to say “yes” to this question. The theory and principles underlying how machines work remains constant, even as the machines themselves grow more advanced. A good grasp on this information will be key to your success.

3. What separates a good engineer from a bad one?

This question, which we’ve personally heard more than once, is by necessity open-ended. Answering it gives you a chance to express your personality. Is it fealty to an artist’s vision, no matter what? Flexibility? Having the most options available at your fingertips? Your answer will reveal a lot about you, including whether your aesthetic fits into the overall tone of the studio.

4. How will you bring in clients?

Not a technical question – surprisingly few in any set of studio engineer interview questions and answers will be – but one of the most important on this list. Here is where you have to pitch yourself as a salesperson.

5. What is your educational background?

If you have a degree in either Electrical Engineering or music production from a college or university, that’s great. If you have a certificate from a trade school like the Institute of Audio Research, that’s also useful. If you have none of the above, but have been assistant engineering, sweeping the floors, and living out of the broom closet of your local studio before heading to this interview, make sure to mention that as well.

6. What is your musical background?

This is something sure to come up in every set of studio engineer questions and answers. Have you played in rock bands? Produced beats for local rappers? Done live sound at every club in a fifty-mile radius? Make sure to talk about all of it!

7. How do you handle pressure?

A recording studio may seem like a laid-back place if you’re visiting. But if you’re working, it’s a hothouse of pressure, fragile egos, intra-group power plays, and mounting deadlines. All of this tension can go in any direction, including towards the person pushing record. So make sure you’ve got specific ideas, hopefully backed up with anecdotes, about how you handle tough situations.

8. Why do you want to be an engineer?

A seemingly simple question on this list of studio engineer interview questions and answers, but one that has layers. Is your real goal to be a producer? To be an artist? To record music for movies or advertisements? Any of these answers can be fine, but make sure they line up with the opportunities and overall vibe of the studio at which you’re interviewing.

9. Can you work a tape machine?

The days of recording solely onto tape are long gone, and almost no one edits with a razor blade anymore when you can simply drag and drop instead. But many studios still have tape machines, and sometimes even use them, frequently running some instruments through the tape machine for the ever-elusive “warmth” before putting the signal into a D.A.W. So make sure you know how to set up and maintain a tape machine – and where to scour the Internet for spare parts!

10. Why do you want to work here?

Make sure you’re ready with specifics! What albums have they recorded at this studio? What gear do they have that you absolutely love? What is it about the owner or chief engineer that you want to learn from? The more specific the better. Remember – even cynical studio owners are susceptible to flattery.