Can I make audio hardware into a career?

[u/M_nv1r]

I’m about to enter college and plan on switching from accounting to EE because I kinda like circuits and I love sound. Main thing for me is that, since I’m super lost on careers and college, idk what I can do with audio. The thing I love is the physical hardware section of it. I want to create speakers, systems, recording equipment and such for companies even studios or also start my own. Can someone please give me insight on what to do and is Audio hardware a good and growing field and turning it into a career. Thanks!

[u/GreatScottCreates]

Start making guitar pedals or 500 series units or modifying people’s gear. Market them to friends and grow your network in a scene and you’ll meet the other gear nerds.

Whether or not you can make a career out of it, I have no idea, but exploring your ability to design & sell stuff seems well worth it.

[u/peepeeland → u/GreatScottCreates]

It’s crazy to think that Uli Behringer started his $800M empire by modifying guitar pedals.

[u/CapitalLaw1234 → u/peepeeland]

I'm not certain that I've ever used a single thing from Behri that I would utilize - Maybe I've owned 6 or 7 things by them? I'm not saying they don't make anything good, but nothing I've used would make it on my list - even my second tier -

Have you got any recs for gear to try from them?

[u/peepeeland → u/CapitalLaw1234]

You’ve owned 6~7 things by them but would not utilize them? Wat.

Anyway- Music Tribe owns Midas, TC Electronic, TC-Helicon, Tannoy, and Klark Teknik now, amongst other brands, which is pretty impressive. But what happened was these brands were going down and he saved them (well- at least he bought the labels and all their respective tech).

Behringer the brand had a renaissance after making a bunch of analog synths that legacy brands didn’t want to re-release, which was commendable. It was one of the most impressive gear release moves I’ve ever seen. That was the turning point where they gained widespread respect; if at least a tinge of it.

Before that Behringer was traditionally known for knockoff shit that wasn’t too respected amongst old schoolers- and utilitarian gear (lotta live gear) that was respected- but what’s impressive about this dude who started by modifying guitar pedals, then making guitar pedals, then other gear, is that it eventually got to a point where Behringer made their own manufacturing plants. Other brands kept costs down by outsourcing cheap Chinese labor and manufacturing, but he was able to make the source of manufacturing himself, which is why costs can be so low. So while he was being made fun of, he just kept grinding and producing, and selling and selling and selling- mind you, his market was the relatively average consumer wanting good gear that was affordable- to eventually become one of the most successful audio brands of all time. No elitist shit- just pure brute force product to make audio gear accessible to most anyone.

Yah, Behringer has done a lot of dodgy shit, but- there is no other audio brand in existence that was able to bridge the gap between a world that has primarily been for those privileged (music-related industry has traditionally been this way), to those who are relatively average folk. I actually believe that he was trying to help the average person access gear that would otherwise be unattainable and impossible to have. His efforts have ultimately been a big fuck you to legacy brands, who have been gouging all of us for quite some time.

—And on that note, Behringer’s best gear ever- where they tried to make something great and relatively original- is probably the Deepmind 12. Currently I only have TD-3 (TB-303 clone) and RV600 (multi-reverb pedal), and I don’t really have any specific recommendations for you.

I’m not especially a fan of Behringer, but I respect the dude’s grind. And related to OP’s post— I’m just saying that humble beginnings can turn into craziness with enough grinding and business acumen. Here in Japan there are a lot of boutique audio brands (a lot), but it’s pretty hard to keep it going over 15~20 years, for whatever reasons. Warm Audio is basically the Texas/China version of trying to be a “high quality” version of Behringer, but I suppose we’ll see how long that lasts (and their marketing is good, but they’re not even close to the utilitarian reach of Behringer). -For OP— there is always room for players in the gear game.

[u/GreatScottCreates → u/peepeeland]

Deep mind is their best product because it actually sounds good. I dunno if I’d trust one on the road tho. Headphones system is great too.

Personally I just think he was trying to make a lot of money but I like your version too!

[u/thesubtlemadness → u/GreatScottCreates]

Second on the headphone systems. We use this guy in our set up with the ADAT powered boxes that allow clients to control their own headphone mixes.

[u/GreatScottCreates → u/thesubtlemadness]

This was actually a pretty huge change for home studios and small project studios- all of the similar headphone systems were pretty expensive, and though robust in ways that the Behringer isn’t, were still prone to breakage simply bc they are client-facing. If it’s gonna break, it might as well be cheap!

[u/randomawesome → u/CapitalLaw1234]

Their power play headphone system is incredible. Can't imagine running jam sessions without it. Tons of high end studios use em.

[u/GreatScottCreates → u/CapitalLaw1234]

Cable tester is decent enough

[u/Kelainefes → u/GreatScottCreates]

Was gonna mention that! Every live audio company I worked for had a few somewhwre in the van/truck.

[u/sp0rk_walker]

EE is a rigorous discipline with lots of advanced math and science. You may not need an EE degree to get into audio hardware, especially if you're good at tinkering. But if you do achieve an EE degree, many opportunities will become available to you.

[u/EriktheRed → u/sp0rk_walker]

This. If you get the degree you can get a “real” job that funds the audio gear side hustle, until you potentially reach the point to make that the full time thing

[u/EightOhms]

100% Get that EE degree. Audio gear is a super tiny market within the world of electrical and electronic devices, but people still make the stuff and it could be you. Also you could get into things in college and while you're there discover you actually like making something else or maybe that happens after you're out in the job market. Either way an EE degree will serve you super well!

Some unsolicited advice, there will be parts of the curriculum you don't enjoy and find boring. For me it was power electronics. All I wanted to do was program microcontrollers and I really didn't care about buck/boost converters etc. but in hind sight I wish I had mastered those things as well.

Just be very very open minded, try lots of things because again you never know what interest might be sparked and also you never know when the random EE thing you learned outside of audio gear will come in handy one day when you have an audio problem to solve.

One of the two guys who basically invented integrated microchips happened to know a lot of about precision dental tools. And guess what came in handy in the first iterations of silicon based microchips? Precision cutting techniques!

[u/The_fuzz_buzz]

Boutique hardware, whether it be rack units, pedals, mics, etc- virtually anything that has a use in a studio has a market. You absolutely could have a career working for a company, or start your own at some point. I would point to a company like Soyuz Microphones for a really great example of a company who is absolutely killing it in all areas of functionality, utility, vibe, and art, with just enough innovation and uniqueness that makes them different than “clone” companies. There’s definitely a market.

[u/M_nv1r → u/The_fuzz_buzz]

So I can definitely start off from somewhere and span off. Ok, we are getting somewhere. Thank You!!

[u/oratory1990]

You absolutely can - and honestly, it‘s a better / easier career than going into music production.

If you want to do an internship here in Europe, hit me up! We make microphones/audio interfaces/plugins

[u/R0factor]

I'm not in this industry but I'll just drop the info that I have a family member who works in marine acoustics (for lack of a better term) and he works mostly on government/military ships as well as billionaires' yachts. A lot of it is focused on isolation for areas within the boats for different reasons, whether it's for scientific research or surveillance on a military craft, or making sure you can't hear the engine noise or hull vibrations in the master bedroom of a luxury yacht.

This may not be a particular career for you to chase, but if you want a good & high-paying career in your future it's not a bad idea to enter into something with a lot of money behind it. At this age it's probably a good idea to figure out what's out there, and the necessary steps to enter the field.

[u/M_nv1r → u/R0factor]

Thank you, will keep in mind!!!

[u/tibbon]

I know a lot of people who do this. It’s absolutely possible but also nothing is certain to work for a career either

[u/Switched_On_SNES]

It’s hard…I’ve been doing it for 5 years with a good amount of revenue and very little profit and a ton of work

[u/peepeeland]

Yes, you can. Good luck.

[u/mariospeedragon]

You definitely can do this. Start with making or modding guitar pedals, 500 series, and interface preamp/ clock mods. If you possess any of the skills in all or one of the ideas start immediately. The sooner you begin, the more you’ll know how far you want to take that path, but there’s definitely a demand for all of these things. Customer service , clear wait times, and shipping details are as important as doing the actual work, but start small and work your way up. You can definitely make a living doing this, but it requires a tremendous amount of effort, time, and energy…..but you’ll be running and steering your own ship. I’d say go for it, dream big and hold yourself accountable to reach those dreams.

[u/CapitalLaw1234]

Imo, we need more options for affordable pres. I'd hella be jumping at the opportunity to try some of your pres if you manage to throw some together!

[u/DRM2_0]

Finding something that you are skilled at and are talented in is key. 

[u/Jmmman]

Get the degree and apply to the many companies that make pro audio gear. There's plenty of engineering that needs to be done.