Training complete for sound engineers

Over the summer, NICH hosted a three and a half month workshop to train interested persons in sound engineering. The audio training workshop was intense and covered a number of areas, from equipment recognition to how to use to them to stage audio work. The participants of the class received their certificates last week that certified them as audio engineers. Andrea Polanco has more with the following story.

Andrea Polanco, Reporting

There are twenty-two newly certified audio engineers in Belize. After fourteen weeks of intense training, the participants received their certificates, which will help them to get jobs across a number of fields that use audio services. Instructor Whitfield Welch taught the class a range of skills in sound work from basics to advanced lessons.

Whitfield Welch, Sound Engineer, Bliss Center for the Performing Arts

Whitfield Welch

“They got real intense training on each of the equipment that we did, from speakers to microphones. We didn’t just do microphones, so they know what to expect when they see a microphone; they could tell you what that microphone could do without they see that microphone. So, to me, that is what a real sound engineers is about. It is a person who could analyze before they get on the job. So, what they will require is documentation before they go on the job to make their assessments, so when they go on the job they can professional assessments and decisions. When you hire them, you will find out that they will ask requirements.”

Forty persons started the course and at the end, twenty-two completed the training, including Brian Usher, Paul Jones and Robbie Beltran.

Brian Usher

Brian Usher, Participant

“A lot of stuff that I have learnt, I didn’t think about it until I get the opportunity to get the hands on and see what it is all about. Besides, stuff that I used to do with music, I do no more because I know now what is exactly needed for better mixing and other stuff to get the works done.”

Paul Jones, Participant

Paul Jones

“I think it is a good introduction to the concept of audio engineering. It is very enlightening that a lot of things we take for granted we learn that we need to take a lot more consideration than just plugging in equipment and hope for the best.”

Robbie Beltran

Robbie Beltran, Participant

“The audio engineering class mi very helpful because it clarify a lot of doubts that I had about how to use certain equipment. But the most important part to me, as somebody who deals with music, is learning the basics that a lot of people don’t teach us. So, basic stuff like how to use the mixer, we just do it the way we think it should be done which is wrong; gain structure is one of the principles I learn from this course and I definitely carry it everywhere I go.”

Participants of the audio training course included musicians, deejays, audio equipment sales person, and even persons who were new to sound engineering. Music Ambassador Shyne Barrow told the new graduates about the importance of audio skills in the music industry.

Shyne Barrow, Music Ambassador

Shyne Barrow

“There are many dynamics to the music business and one of the most unsung, undervalued aspects of the music business is the engineer. Now we have microphone, speakers, full on productions, now we make recordings. And so you wouldn’t be able to enjoy Lord Rhaburn and Paul Nabor or any of the great musicians, Lee La Vernon, Michael Jackson or whatever you fancy, if it wasn’t for the engineer – the guy who sits in the studio and make sure you have that sonic sound. It is a necessary component of the music industry. It can’t happen. Because nobody buys a cappella albums. It’s like you can’t have the singer without the producer; you can’t have the singer or the producer without the engineer. So, you guys are a very integral part of the entire music industry.”

Welch says NICH plans to create a database to keep a record of sound engineers to use as referrals for future job opportunities.

Andrea Polanco reporting for News Five.