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(Approved May 2008)
Page 1 of 4
This document lists basic GRAMMY Award crediting guidelines and definitions for the credit Engineer.
Please note: The producer of a recording project is responsible for supplying accurate crediting
information to the designated person at the record label or media company who is authorized to
receive that information for the purpose of compiling printed or metadata album credits. The producer
is also responsible for reviewing finished liner notes to ensure that the information remains correct
through that point.
All persons credited on a GRAMMY-winning recording are eligible to be acknowledged with GRAMMY
certificates, but only those credited as producer, engineer, (and mastering engineer as well in the
categories of Album of the Year, Best Historical Album, Best Surround Sound Album and Best Classical
Album) are eligible to receive GRAMMY statues.
CONTENTS:
ENGINEER AWARD CREDITING DEFINITIONS
1. Eligible Engineer Credits Page 2-3
2. Non-eligible Engineer Credits Page 3-4
2
Eligible Engineer Credits
Engineer
This person is present in the recording studio or at the location recording and is responsible for the
process of recording and/or mixing a project as well as technical issues and decisions. He or she
operates (or oversees the operation of) the equipment during the recording process and makes
creative and aesthetic choices in order to realize the sound and concepts the artist and producer
envision.
Recording Engineer
Same as Engineer, except this person is not necessarily involved in final mixing.
Recorded By
Same as Engineer except that this person is not necessarily involved in final mixing.
Mixed By
This person is responsible for taking previously recorded tracks and creating a mixdown of the original
separate tracks to create a finished product (either stereo or multi-channel) that can then be mastered
and distributed.
Mixer
Same as “Mixed By”
Mix Engineer
Same as “Mixed By”
Remix Engineer (Best Remixed Recording category only)
Remixer (Best Remixed Recording category only)
Vocals Recorded/Engineered By
This person is responsible for the process of recording vocals on a project and dealing with technical
issues and decisions. He or she operates the recording equipment (or supervises the operation of the
recording equipment) during vocal performances and makes aesthetic choices in order to obtain the
sound and concepts the artist and producer are looking for.
Orchestra Recorded/Engineered By
This person is responsible for the process of recording an orchestra on a project and dealing with
technical issues and decisions. He or she operates the recording equipment (or oversees the operation
of the recording equipment) during orchestral performances and makes aesthetic choices in order to
get the sound and concepts the artist and producer are looking for.
Strings Recorded/Engineered By
This person is responsible for the process of recording strings on a project and dealing with technical
issues and decisions. He or she operates the recording equipment (or supervises the operation of the
recording equipment) during string performances and makes aesthetic choices in order to get the
sound and concepts the artist and producer are looking for.
Balance Engineer (Classical)
This person is an engineer with all of the same responsibilities as the engineering description. This
term is most often used in classical music.
3
Eligible Engineer Credits (continued)
Mastering Engineer (Best Historical Album, Best Surround Sound Album & Album of
the Year Only)
This person is an engineer who is the last creative bridge between the mix process and the
manufacturing process. He or she generally works with a final mix of a project and makes final
adjustments to the sound before pressing while maintaining the vision of the artist, producer and
(sometimes) label.
Tonmeister (Classical)
This person does the same work as an Engineer or Balance Engineer, but for this name to be correctly
applied, he or she must be a graduate of an official Tonmeister program that includes score reading
and electronics training as well education in recording, mixing and editing techniques.
Non-Eligible Engineer Credits
Pro Tools Engineer (or Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) Engineer)
This person is responsible for the operation of a Pro Tools (or other Digital Audio Workstation) hard
disk recorder during recording and mix sessions including the archiving and maintenance of the
recorded material (basically data files on a hard disk). This person is not generally called upon to make
aesthetic judgments.
Pro Tools Operator (or DAW Engineer)
This is the same as a Pro Tools (or other Digital Audio Workstation) Engineer.
Pro Tools Editor (or DAW Editor)
This person is responsible for the operation of a Pro Tools (or other Digital Audio Workstation) hard
disk recorder during post recording work on musical performances. He or she is also responsible for the
archiving and maintenance of the recorded material (basically data files on a hard disk). This person is
not generally called upon to make aesthetic judgments.
Additional Pro Tools (or DAW) Engineer
This person has the same responsibilities as a Pro Tools (or other Digital Audio Workstation) engineer.
He or she is often given the title of “Additional” to signify that they have worked on a much smaller
percentage of a project.
Assistant Engineer
This person is responsible for assisting the engineer(s). They often keep all logs of sessions and
materials. They should also have enough engineering skills that they can step in for an engineer in
case of an absence.
Second Engineer
Same as “Assistant Engineer.”
Additional Engineer
This person has the same responsibilities as an Engineer. He or she is often given the title of
“Additional” to signify that they have worked on a much smaller percentage of a project.
4
Non-Eligible Engineer Credits (continued)
Assistant Mix Engineer
This is the same as the Assistant Engineer except that they only work during the mixing process.
Mix Assistant
Same as “Assistant Mix Engineer.”
Mix Programming
This person programs musical sequencers, samplers, and synthesizers in a remix situation (where an
already finished project is retooled with new musical parts to appeal to a specific market).
Mastering Engineer
A mastering engineer is not eligible except in the categories of Best Historical Album, Best
Surround Sound Album, and Album of The Year. (Please see recommendation that Mastering
Engineer be eligible to receive a Winner’s Certificate for winning albums.)
Digital Editing
This person is responsible for operating equipment for editing (in today’s world generally a digital audio
workstation). They can, from time to time, be called on to make aesthetic choices.
Digital Engineering
This is generally a person responsible for the functioning and maintenance of digital recordings and
digital audio workstations.
Digital Programming
Recording Editor
This is the same as the Digital Editor although they may work on a broader base of equipment.
DSD Recording (or DSD Engineer, DSD Mixer, etc.)
This is generally a person responsible for the functioning and maintenance of digital recordings using
Direct Stream Digital format equipment.
