Employment for Pro Tool experts versus audio engineers

[ACT]

Hello Fellow DUC'ers.

I recently considered the Pro's and Con's of becoming a certified Pro Tools Expert in Music & post production, versus taking a more general education in audio engineering that would introduce me to Pro Tools among other programs.

I decided that Pro Tools was only one, albeit significant, layer of knowledge that one will truly need, so to go ahead with the more general audio engineering school (SAE in NYC), but one thing that confuses me is that I see on some recording sessions that there is a specified Pro Tools engineer involved sometimes.

So my question is: Can anybody give me any advice as to becoming a Pro Tools Expert in and of itself is too narrow, or is it the USP of anybody wanting to work in the field of recording, producing etc today? Can you be a Pro Tools Expert without being an audio engineer in the first place? I understand that life is tough these days for Audio Engineers, but I kind of doubt that a relatively easy to take Pro Tools Expert certificate will do much to change anything for any one of these committed individuals? On the other hand - maybe not?

all the best,
Anders

[Redbeard]

As a "ProTools Expert" being a "ProTools Expert" without being an "Audio Expert" engineer seems useless to me. You will only limit yourself to being someone's assistant running the PT rig while he/she does the real work.

I put "ProTools Expert" in quotes because I don't think that expertise in this field is very useful without knowing a hell of a lot about audio, recording, microphones, mixing, etc.

Are there construction workers who are Certified "Tablesaw Experts?"

Oh, damn, I forgot about unions. There probably are.

[ACT]

Originally posted by Redbeard:
As a "ProTools Expert" being a "ProTools Expert" without being an "Audio Expert" engineer seems useless to me. You will only limit yourself to being someone's assistant running the PT rig while he/she does the real work.

I put "ProTools Expert" in quotes because I don't think that expertise in this field is very useful without knowing a hell of a lot about audio, recording, microphones, mixing, etc.

Are there construction workers who are Certified "Tablesaw Experts?"

Oh, damn, I forgot about unions. There probably are.

<font size="2" face="Verdana, Arial">HAHA - I thought so. Well, thanks for confirming my suspicions, although it is scary that I actually had to ask the question!

[Sir Charles the Audible]

What good is being a PT Expert without knowing the difference between a D/I and a headphone multitap box. Seems like a gross exageration, but actually had a second engineer that didn't even know what a D/I was. He brought me 3 things before I got fed up, went over and got it myself.

PT Expert is too narrow by itself, but a being an Audio Guru with PT certification can only help you.

Good luck!

[bjorn for a reason]

Don't forget another really important part of the equation...... Solid knowledge of music theory!!!!!!!!!!

[Sir Charles the Audible]

Here Here, Perhaps I should've said Tonmeister instead of Audio Engineer.