• Designing microphones is an important job in music techonology.microphone 3 image by stefan Hudson from Fotolia.com
  
  So much of music today, from electro to rock, is based on technology. Nearly all aspects of the art form, from performing to recording, are dependent on technologically advanced equipment and software. With no shortage of demand for new and interesting devices and programs, there are plenty of jobs centered around music technology.
  
  

Amplifier Specialist

• Amplifier specialists have been around for decades, ever since the birth of the electric guitar and rock and roll, when the amp became a crucial part of a musician's sound. Some specialists choose to design amplifiers, others choose to repair them and still others do it all. Even the older amps are still technologically advanced, using high levels of voltage and vacuum glass tubes to power the sound and requiring the specialist to have a keen understanding of electronics. Nowadays, many amps use digital settings so, as with computers, many designers and repair technicians have to deal with assembling microprocessors.
  
  

Instrument Emulation Design

• One area of the music technology field that has taken off in the past decade is instrument emulation. As the power of computer processors increases exponentially, so do the possibilities for creating virtual, midi-based instruments. These include everything from pianos to drum sets to guitar amps. There are even programs that allow users to virtually play harpsichords from the 15th century on their keyboards. Instrument emulators must not only understand the science of audio and frequencies, they must also know how to capture samples of the instrument from every possible angle and velocity in order to properly replicate it.
  
  

Microphone Designer

• Designing and assembling microphones has become an art form in itself, as can be seen from the wide range of delicate and expensive boutique mics currently on the market. Although the overall purpose is the same for all microphones, they can designed specifically for the high- to mid-frequency voice or even for the low, subtle frequencies of a bass drum. There are also several ways to capture sounds, with some designers specializing in rugged condenser microphones and others preferring the sensitive ribbon mics.
  
  

Recording Software Designer

• Slowly but surely, digital recordings are taking over music multi-tracking studios. Although there is still some disagreement over whether the quality is as good as the top professional analog equipment, there is no debating the fact that digital recording software is much less expensive and much more convenient. Companies like Pro Tools, Logic and Ableton have exploded with software needed to record music. There are also several boutique programs in which software designers have focused on a specific aspect of digital recording, whether for midi-editing capabilities or just an authentic-looking interface. With the digital recording age still in its infancy, there are plenty of opportunities for software designers to leave their mark.