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Audio & Video Technician

Creative

Set up, maintain, and dismantle audio and video equipment, such as microphones, sound speakers, connecting wires and cables, sound and mixing boards, video cameras, video monitors and servers, and related electronic equipment for live or recorded events, such as concerts, meetings, conventions, presentations, podcasts, news conferences, and sporting events.

You can enter this career straight after SPM. A degree is optional, not required.

Creative Arts & Media

What you'd do all day

The tasks that matter most in this job, most important first.

  1. 1Notify supervisors when major equipment repairs are needed.
  2. 2Diagnose and resolve media system problems.
  3. 3Compress, digitize, duplicate, and store audio and video data.
  4. 4Direct and coordinate activities of assistants and other personnel during production.
  5. 5Install, adjust, and operate electronic equipment to record, edit, and transmit radio and television programs, motion pictures, video conferencing, or multimedia presentations.
  6. 6Monitor incoming and outgoing pictures and sound feeds to ensure quality and notify directors of any possible problems.
  7. 7Mix and regulate sound inputs and feeds or coordinate audio feeds with television pictures.
  8. 8Control the lights and sound of events, such as live concerts, before and after performances, and during intermissions.
  9. 9Switch sources of video input from one camera or studio to another, from film to live programming, or from network to local programming.
  10. 10Record and edit audio material, such as movie soundtracks, using audio recording and editing equipment.
  11. 11Perform minor repairs and routine cleaning of audio and video equipment.
  12. 12Construct and position properties, sets, lighting equipment, and other equipment.
  13. 13Reserve audio-visual equipment and facilities, such as meeting rooms.
  14. 14Design layouts of audio and video equipment and perform upgrades and maintenance.
  15. 15Determine formats, approaches, content, levels, and mediums to effectively meet objectives within budgetary constraints, using research, knowledge, and training.
  16. 16Edit videotapes by erasing and removing portions of programs and adding video or sound as required.
  17. 17Obtain, set up, and load videotapes for scheduled productions or broadcasts.
  18. 18Produce rough and finished graphics and graphic designs.
  19. 19Locate and secure settings, properties, effects, and other production necessities.
  20. 20Meet with directors and senior members of camera crews to discuss assignments and determine filming sequences, camera movements, and picture composition.
  21. 21Maintain inventories of audio and videotapes and related supplies.
  22. 22Obtain and preview musical performance programs prior to events to become familiar with the order and approximate times of pieces.
  23. 23Conduct training sessions on selection, use, and design of audio-visual materials and on operation of presentation equipment.
  24. 24Plan and develop pre-production ideas into outlines, scripts, story boards, and graphics, using own ideas or specifications of assignments.
  25. 25Perform narration of productions or present announcements.
  26. 26Inform users of audio and videotaping service policies and procedures.
  27. 27Organize and maintain compliance, license, and warranty information related to audio and video facilities.
  28. 28Analyze and maintain data logs for audio-visual activities.
  29. 29Develop manuals, texts, workbooks, or related materials for use in conjunction with production materials or for training.

Also known as

What this job is called on JobStreet, LinkedIn and in job ads. Search these too.

  • AV Tech
  • VTC Tech
  • Stagehand
  • AV Installer
  • Service Tech
  • AV Specialist
  • Video Operator
  • Audio Installer
  • Video Installer
  • Audio Technician

How far is this from you?

Roughly how much preparation this job usually takes. In Malaysia your UPU route and the programme's syarat still decide entry, so treat this as a guide, not a gate.

  1. 1

    Entry straight after SPM

  2. 2

    SPM + sijil / short TVET course

  3. Typical entry

    Diploma / TVET (sijil–diploma)

  4. 4

    Degree (ijazah sarjana muda)

  5. 5

    Postgrad (sarjana / PhD) or professional route

Typical educationBachelor's degree

Subjects that matter here

The SPM subjects worth your effort for this career, with the reason for each.

Computer Science / ICTDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesDraws directly on Computers and Electronics — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
EnglishDraws directly on Communications and Media — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Bahasa MelayuDraws directly on Communications and Media — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).
Visual Art (PSV)Draws directly on Fine Arts — a top knowledge area for this role (O*NET).

What you'd need to know

The subject areas this job leans on most, and the SPM subjects that build them.

  • Computers and Electronics82%

    Computer Science / ICTElectrical & Electronic Eng. Studies

  • Communications and Media81%

    EnglishBahasa Melayu

  • English Language81%

    English

  • Telecommunications74%

    Electrical & Electronic Eng. StudiesComputer Science / ICT

  • Fine Arts72%

    Visual Art (PSV)

  • Engineering and Technology71%

    PhysicsAdditional MathematicsDesign & Technology (RBT)

Tools you'd use

Software and equipment that show up in this job, worth learning early.

Where to learn these, free

Scholarships & funding

What the work feels like

Day-to-day working conditions, so you can tell whether the job suits how you like to work.

  • Face-to-face discussionsEvery day
  • Contact with other peopleConstant contact
  • Dealing with customers or the publicVery high
  • Leading or coordinating othersVery high
  • Indoors, air-conditionedEvery day
  • Outdoors, in all weatherAlmost never
  • Noisy environmentAlmost never
  • Time spent sittingAlmost all the time

Where this job is heading

Newer tasks O*NET has flagged for this occupation, a hint at how the role is changing.

  • Operate drones for aerial videography and photography during live events or for pre-recorded material.
  • Purchase audio or video equipment.

AI and demand for this job

A few real, dated data points — not a single score. AI making some tasks faster usually means a job changes, not that it disappears.

13%

Share of everyday tasks today's AI can already help with (2023)

This estimate is from 2023 — already out of date, since AI moves fast. Treat it as a rough, aging starting point, not the current picture.

0.35%

Of Malaysian Claude conversations, about this kind of work

Measures how much people use Claude for this work, not how many Malaysians do this job — and more AI use can mean people relying on it, not that it's replacing them.

Pay in Malaysia

We don't have a sourced Malaysian salary range for this job yet, and we'd rather show nothing than a number we can't stand behind.

Where to check:

  • JobStreet and Hiredly job ads for this title
  • DOSM Salaries & Wages Survey
  • SSPA scheme tables, if you're aiming for a government post

Check what you may qualify for

Enter your SPM grades and see which routes and programmes you may qualify for. An estimate to plan with, not an offer.

Check my eligibility Not sure yet? Take the quiz

How to get here

Post-SPM pathways with programmes in this career's fields. Tap one to see real programmes and entry requirements.

Asasi / Foundation

One-year runway into a specific university: public via UPU or private direct entry.

12 months

Diploma

Skill-first qualification. Work after, or enter degree Year 2. Polytechnics keep it affordable.

2.5–3 years

Related careers

If this interests you, these are worth a look too.

About this information

This describes what the job involves. Pay, demand and entry routes differ in Malaysia, so check the Pathways and Programmes pages for local requirements.

O*NET occupation: Audio and Video Technicians

Job responsibilities, knowledge areas and work context from O*NET 30.3, US Department of Labor, used under CC BY 4.0. onetcenter.org

Programmes that lead here

Programmes from the official UPU (KPT) and MQA catalogues whose field of study typically leads to this career. Matched by field, not a job guarantee.

Public universities (UPU)

Private institutions (MQA-accredited)

Search the programme catalogue