r/audioengineering • u/Significant_Owl_6897 • 1d ago
Getting back into it; what's the state of freelance production/editing?
I "left" the entertainment industry about ten years ago. I was mostly touring as FOH, A2, and/or stage manager, and I also worked some studio projects with close friends as a producer/engineer. I went to school for production and had aspirations of becoming a sound designer. However, the allure of a stable career with benefits led me away from audio production. Now, having been firmly out of the loop for the better part of a decade, I'm looking to dust off my chops and try to get some scratch money on the side.
I know it's a bit of a broad topic, but I'm curious to know what avenues for opportunity are particularly common right now. How many podcasters and streamers need expert help producing or editing their content? Is mastering still outsourced by musicians?
I've read the FAQs and I'm firmly aware of the competitive nature of finding work in this field and the time it takes to get involved on a project and see it through. I'm looking to put my knowledge and passion to good use, and to put a number on it, maybe earn an extra $100-200 a month at some point later this year.
What's the pessimist's point of view, and what's the optimist's point of view on working audio production as a side gig in 2025?
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u/reedzkee Professional 1d ago
10 years ago the market was already struggling. but it was still WAY better than it is today.
but if all you want is a couple hundred a month of pocket money, thats easy enough to find. especially if you aren't picky about the type of work. i personally want nothing to do with most podcasts or voiceover ai training. podcasts dont really want expert help. they want cheap, good enough help. the majority of podcasts care more about the video than the sound, which i find pretty bonkers.
a stable, comfortable, and rewarding career is entirely different. i wouldn't recommend anybody get in to it in 2025. but for most of us still grinding, its what we know. its what we do. its hard to imagine doing anything else. we probably have egos and think we are better than many others doing this thing.
my pessimist point of view - the clients paying a couple hundred dollars to edit podcasts want too much for their money and the product itself is low quality and unrewarding. you will resent the work and client before finishing the first project.
for a side hustle, i'd be more interested in doing a few nights a month at a live venue or doing post sound on the occasional short film for a green director.
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u/Significant_Owl_6897 1d ago
I appreciate the thoughtful response. Is voice-over AI training common? I hear about it in the screenwriting world. It's something I am staunchly opposed to, but I'm sure plenty of people will take that paycheck. My current career path does not intersect with creative ai in any meaningful way.
Do you have any experience using ai plug-ins to aid in noise removal or something similar?
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u/unspokenunheard 1d ago
There’s definitely money to be made editing podcasts, and even consulting on how to record them.
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u/Significant_Owl_6897 1d ago
Are you speaking from experience in that role or experience in hearing far too many pods with subpar audio quality?
The latter kills me every time...
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u/unspokenunheard 1d ago
From experience! I’ve been offered a lot of this work over the years, and often when I’d turn it down because of lack of time or interest, I’d flip it into a one-off or short term gig getting them set up and teaching their staff or intern how to do the work at a basic level.
If you’re already set up with a DAW and iZotope RX, this is good work to look for. Recurring, and word of mouth will carry you far in this sector.
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u/Significant_Owl_6897 1d ago
Excellent advice, thank you! Any other plug-ins or software tools you'd recommend?
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u/unspokenunheard 20h ago
Nope, and my only major advice is don’t go crazy with eq and compression — sweetening the voices too much makes them fatiguing to listen to for long form material, versus, say, a short song or something we’re more accustomed to mixing.
Good luck out there!
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u/ArkyBeagle 1d ago
It all depends on your network.
maybe earn an extra $100-200 a month
I found that bar band gigs as a sideman paid better. YMMV. Now even that is dead ( after I had to move for my day gig ) .
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u/Alarmed-Wishbone3837 1d ago
It alllll depends on your network.
The clients that are realistic for you are the ones you’re already connected to.
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u/Raspberries-Are-Evil Professional 1d ago
If you are a very talented songwriter, multi instrumentalist, and have a good studio space, nice gear, and know how to properly mix, there are always artists willing to hire you.