Audio Technician and Sound Editor

An audio technician records sound while a media product is being made, and a sound editor works on the recorded audio afterwards. Both are technical roles, but their work happens at different stages.

Audio technician: recording during production

An audio technician sets up and operates audio equipment to record sound during production. This includes microphones, cables, audio recorders and a mixing desk. They monitor sound levels and quality, record the sound the production needs and work with the production team so the right material is captured.

They may record dialogue, voice recordings, music and sound effects, and may add sound effects or music to a recording. They might also mix tracks and remove unwanted noise while working, so the recording is clean enough to use. For example, on a short adventure film shot in a country park, an audio technician could place microphones near the actors, watch the levels as the wind changes, and record the creak of a rope bridge and the splash of a stream as separate sound effects.

Sound editor: finishing the audio in post-production

A sound editor edits and processes recorded audio during post-production. They may remove unwanted noise, mix audio tracks, check sound quality and synchronise sound with the images. In the same adventure film, a sound editor could take the recorded dialogue, reduce a low aeroplane rumble, balance the music against the voices, and match the stream splash to the moment a character crosses it on screen. Unlike the audio technician, the sound editor does not normally record sound on set.