ENTITY · CONCEPT
Sound-system engineer (scientist of sound)
Well supported
The crew member who designs, builds, powers and fine-tunes the equipment, described by researchers as a "scientist of sound" continually monitoring and innovating the rig to keep a competitive edge, distinct from the selector who chooses records.
At a glance
- Type
- concept
- Confidence
- Well supported
- Era
- Open era →
Connections
Watch & listen
Debate & reception
How people argued about the music — praise, criticism and public debate. See all debate & reception →
debate
Who authored the sound? Recording credits versus live-rig craft
A documented question of credit, stated neutrally: the recorded canon and its labels credit studio producers and engineers, while the box-builders, cabinet carpenters and rig engineers who shaped how the music was actually heard on a sound largely go uncredited. One side argues authorship belongs with the released record; the other argues the live rig and its builders co-authored the sound. Neutral framing; no verdict. Sources: Julian Henriques, Sonic Bodies; 99% Invisible (Wickedest Sound); dub-stuy Sound Sculptors.
Stance: authorship in the recording credit vs authorship in the live-rig craft