Appietus, a prominent sound engineer and music producer, has raised concerns about the impact of self-taught sound engineers in Ghana.
He believes that those who acquire their skills through online platforms like YouTube are compromising the quality of music production in the country.
“You have to understand sound engineering, the frequency range listeners can hear, the decibel range you can go, the dynamics, and all the technicalities. You need to understand all these things. It’s only in our industry that you find people saying, ‘Oh, I learned sound engineering on YouTube,’” Appietus argued.
According to Appietus, whose real name is Appiah Dankwah, the surge of untrained engineers is leading to a decline in the standard of Ghanaian music.
This, he argued, is hindering the industry’s potential to gain global recognition. He underscores the necessity of formal education and hands-on training for sound engineers to meet professional standards.
Appietus compares the need for proper training in sound engineering to the rigorous education required for medical professionals. He asserts that just as one cannot become a doctor through online courses, mastering sound engineering requires a thorough and structured approach.
He warns that the international music market has high expectations for production quality, and anything that falls short is unlikely to be accepted. Appietus calls on self-taught engineers to pursue formal training to enhance their skills and help boost Ghana’s presence on the global music stage.
“For you to become a medical doctor or a surgeon, you cannot go and learn it on YouTube. Nobody is going to lie down and say, okay, this is my stomach, operate on me because you learned it on a social platform. But in Ghana, we have people saying, ‘Oh, I learned it on YouTube, so I know.’ Come on, please. These internet communities cannot teach you the real thing,” he disclosed.
“Works from these amateurs are a contributory factor to why most of our songs are not breaking the global market. The international marketplace knows good quality, so if it’s low, they will not accept it. There’s something called industry standard in sound; if you do not have it, come on, they will just throw your music away.”