Table 1Transition record

acoustical engineertosound mastering engineer

A acoustical engineer already meets 28% of what the sound mastering engineer role asks for. The move turns on 8 required skills not yet in the profile.

From acoustical engineer

28%

Overlap1

To sound mastering engineer

4 Skills carried over

8 Required, not held

64.2 Difficulty2

adjacent 0–30

moderate 30–55

substantial 55–75

career change 75–100

this move, 64.2

This move: 64.2 of 100 · substantial

1 Share of the sound mastering engineer role’s weighted skill requirement already met by the acoustical engineer profile. Required skills count in full, supplementary skills at 0.35. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs. 2 Combines what is missing with how specialised it is, so a gap of general skills scores easier than the same number of narrow ones.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 4 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A sound mastering engineer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a acoustical engineer background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area

already held operate audio-signal processors working with machinery and specialised equipment
already held audio technology arts and humanities
already held assess sound quality constructing
already held audio editing software information and communication technologies (icts)

All 4 carried skills, including the 4 the sound mastering engineer role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you would need to learn

The 14 missing skills fall into 5 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered below in the order worth working in: the areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the supplementary ones.

Skill to acquire Tier

01 arts and humanities 3 required, 5 supplementary

required, not held audio mastering required
required, not held audiovisual products required
required, not held types of audiovisual formats required

optional, not held audio post-production optional
optional, not held audiovisual equipment optional
optional, not held musical instruments optional
optional, not held musical theory optional
optional, not held musical genres optional

02 working with computers 2 required

required, not held edit recorded sound required
required, not held convert different audiovisual formats required

03 working with machinery and specialised equipment 1 required, 1 supplementary

required, not held coordinate audio system programmes required

optional, not held operate an audio mixing console optional

04 communication, collaboration and creativity 1 required

required, not held adapt to artists' creative demands required

05 constructing 1 required

required, not held manage sound quality required

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries a sound mastering engineer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 4 skills that carry over

Skill Type

already held assess sound quality skill
already held audio editing software knowledge
already held audio technology knowledge
already held operate audio-signal processors skill

6 supplementary skills, helpful but not required

Skill to acquire Tier

optional, not held audio post-production optional
optional, not held audiovisual equipment optional
optional, not held musical instruments optional
optional, not held musical theory optional
optional, not held operate an audio mixing console optional
optional, not held musical genres optional

29 held skills the sound mastering engineer role does not ask for

Skill Type

not needed by the target role acoustical engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role acoustics knowledge
not needed by the target role adjust engineering designs skill
not needed by the target role advise architects skill
not needed by the target role advise on building matters skill
not needed by the target role approve engineering design skill
not needed by the target role architecture regulations knowledge
not needed by the target role building codes knowledge
not needed by the target role computer science knowledge
not needed by the target role create software design skill
not needed by the target role design principles knowledge
not needed by the target role design transportation systems skill
not needed by the target role develop audio system designs skill
not needed by the target role develop product design skill
not needed by the target role draft design specifications skill
not needed by the target role electrical engineering knowledge
not needed by the target role engineering principles knowledge
not needed by the target role engineering processes knowledge
not needed by the target role ensure compliance with noise standards skill
not needed by the target role examine engineering principles skill
not needed by the target role operate audio equipment skill
not needed by the target role operate the sound in the rehearsal studio skill
not needed by the target role perform scientific research skill
not needed by the target role perform soundchecks skill
not needed by the target role physics knowledge
not needed by the target role prevent undesired changes to sound design skill
not needed by the target role set up sound equipment skill
not needed by the target role technically design a sound system skill
not needed by the target role use sound measuring instruments skill

8 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to acquire Tier

required, not held audio mastering required
required, not held audiovisual products required
required, not held types of audiovisual formats required
optional, not held audio post-production optional
optional, not held audiovisual equipment optional
optional, not held musical instruments optional
optional, not held musical theory optional
optional, not held musical genres optional

Index

Other moves recorded from acoustical engineer

Full index of moves from acoustical engineer

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.