Music Technicians engineer the events here at California State University, Stanislaus (Stan State). In most shows here at Stan State, performers generally are the stars of the show as they either play an instrument or they sing, etc. However, the real stars of the show are not just the performers but the people who make the performers sound excellent with audio shaping techniques as well as mixing alternatives.
These people are the Music Technicians who engineer the main events here at Stan State. The, “engineers,” as they are called by Professor Phillip Short who is a lead music technician and part time lecturer, have a multitude of duties. Since there are forty music technicians, each one is assigned multiple jobs including recording the event, streaming the event via camera operator, live sound, and if necessary, a light board operator that does types of lighting for specialized events. Some of the technicians include Sadie Cupit, Marshall Jones, Christian Stallworth, Luis Rodriguez, and Declan Quinn. Most of the jobs can switch between each technicians.
Recording the event goes to the job known as the Recording Engineer whose primary task is to set up and run the recording equipment but also act as the mixing engineer for the live stream event if we are live streaming at the time. The recording engineer is also responsible for post production as well which involves cleaning up the track that was recorded. The camera operator operates three cameras that can be controlled all at the same time. Most of the cameras are meant for streaming or for recording solos in a jazz concert. The live sound engineer does concerts or events that require that type of support. In other words, the live sound engineer has the most important job which is to make the main stage sound great. The light operator basically creates the mood of the event by either dimming the lights or creating an impactful ending to a show.
Professor Phillip Short is the direct supervisor of all student assistants for the music department that fall under the tech area and loves his job very much. The technology used for these events pertain to someone, like Luis Rodiguez (freshman, Music) who, creates and records music using microphones, an audio interface, a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW), and creativity. Such technology includes Pro Tools and Logic Pro, both Digital Audio Workstations that help create and shape sounds that make music.
“Anyone is qualified to be a music technician, it’s not something’s that’s exclusive, as long you want to put in the time in effort of basic theory, basic sound design, basic ear training, and spend money on a DAW,” said Christian Stallworth (freshman, Music) said. “It’s all about the effort to become one to be called one”
Stallworth loves being a music technician and always says that, “The show must go on”
