A music producer is often associated with the creative side of music. The producer is often responsible with helping the artist complete work on songs for albums and scores for television shows. He also helps choose the songs used for albums and the songs that will be used in movies. An engineer is often associated with the technical side of things from microphone placement to equalization of guitars during a recording session.
A producer is often seen as an outsider and can give critical opinions and may be able to give constructive criticism without emotional involvement. As an artist often sees a song as his artistic creation, it is often hard for him to separate himself from his art for critique. A producer is able to help in this regard and can act as a filter for better judgment. An engineer is often able to achieve the sounds that an artist hears in his head but does not have the technical skills to create in the studio.
Most music producers and engineers work as in-house employees of a recording studio. There they can work with clients to get the right sounds for tracks and create the best product to use for albums, television placement and movie insertion. This is the best opportunity for professionals in the field as it offers stability and networking opportunities for outside work as well.
Many music engineers and producers are useful to studios who work with voice-overs. These engineers are able to set up the correct microphones to enhance the sound of the human voice and have training in ways to capture sound that is pleasing to the ear. Audio production schools such as Full Sail near Orlando offer courses in engineering specifically geared to voice-over work.
Many engineers are trained in live sound as well as studio techniques. They are able to work on-the-fly at concerts and events to capture the sounds from the instruments and vocalists for the audience. You can work at a particular venue or sound company as well as a band in a touring capacity. There are front-of-house sound men, who handle the sound coming from the mains, and monitor sound engineers, who make sure that the musicians and vocalists can hear themselves well on stage.