Everyone knows as we age it’s natural to lose some hearing. Those of us who rely on our ears for a living, or for our service to the church, think about this a lot once the mirror starts reflecting more salt than pepper.
Like most audio engineers and musicians, I am a student of music and the technology that delivers it to us. Very early in life I developed a fascination with music, recording studios, and PA systems. There wasn’t a term for it in those days, but I guess you could say I’ve developed my critical listening skills over many decades. Over that time, I’ve followed the careers of some of my favorite producers, mastering-engineers, studio-engineers and FOH-engineers with great interest. What I’ve observed is that these highly sought-after industry giants do some of their finest work well into their 50s, 60s and beyond. And while I do see occasional retirement announcements, diminished hearing is never mentioned as a contributing factor.
Joe O’Herlihy, (U2’s FOH-engineer for over 40 years), Robert Scovill, (FOH-engineer for Tom Petty, Kenny Chesney and many others), Jim Yakabuski, (FOH-engineer for Peter Frampton and a long list of huge acts), are some of the most respected engineers in the world, and still going strong.
In an industry filled with young up-and-comers, how do our elder statesmen remain so relevant? I don’t think anyone who’s in this season of their career would be so disingenuous to claim their ears are just as healthy as they were 30 years ago. I know mine aren’t, just ask my wife.
I believe there are a number of contributing factors to the longevity of a great audio engineer. The greatest of these is that mixing audio is a function of the brain, not the ears. The ability to hear an instrument and assess how and where it should be placed in the sonic landscape of a mix is a learned skill, that occurs in the brain. Whether that skill is completely teachable or not, is another debate. I believe that great audio-engineers have a musical intuition that average-engineers don’t, or haven’t developed yet.
Another key to remaining successful over the years is self-awareness, the ability to know what you don’t know, or know what you can’t hear. I’m a firm believer in keeping an accurate RTA (Real-Time Analyzer) handy, for reference. I do think engineers should get their ears checked regularly and be aware of what deficits may be present.
All the great engineers I know are constantly learning. I had a discussion recently with a young engineer who said, “I can’t imagine how they did audio before virtual-sound-check.” I realized in that moment, we are now in an era where audio engineers may have never mixed on an analog console. We have such great technology at our finger-tips these days, and it’s nothing to fear. I have known some engineers over the years who refused to take risks and learn new technology. Most of them are no longer working professionally.
Back to the topic of intuition. The seasoned pros are all very good at the fundamentals. It’s great to have a fully in-depth understanding of every button and knob on the audio console and every plug-in. But it’s also wise to know when to unplug the plug-ins. On more than one occasion I’ve had to peel back multiple layers of processing to clean up a mix or a system, much to the dismay of a young Audio-Jedi. When I train audio teams I always lead with the fundamentals. The simpler your signal chain the better. If you don’t know how to operate a certain processor or plug-in, simply don’t use it. Some of the greatest mixes in the history of music were created with less outboard gear than an entry level Waves bundle.
When it comes to a successful career in audio production, I would be remiss if I didn’t address a very important, yet intangible quality. Some of the most successful musicians and engineers have the “cool” factor. In this case what being cool means is simply; don’t try to make an impression, just be yourself, keep your mouth shut if you have nothing important to say, and don’t act like something you’re not. Do the job, be pleasant to work with, and as my friends at my favorite church say; be humble, prepared and flexible.
So yes! Let’s stay healthy and take care of our ears. Let’s continue to learn and never lose sight of the basics. Let’s be a great example to the next generation of audio engineers.
I’m grateful to work in an environment that honors a lifelong pursuit of excellence in my craft. And thanks to some industry giants and good friends who’ve mentored and inspired me, I plan to stay relevant for years to come. And I hope you do too.
I look forward to hearing from some of our seasoned engineers. You can always send your comments or questions to me at rcochran@worshipfacility.com.
Until then, don’t forget to listen!
