i dont think you can become an audio engineer.

its either you are, or you aint. i think that instinctively by listening to a recording, you are tempted to hear it a certain way. better yet, if you hear it in a control room, and you know you can do something about what it sounds like, you do it, no matter what it takes.

to get that sound, you tweak, to the best of your knowledge and ability, and eventually, your sound comes around. then you know you got your first mix and finally ARE an audio engineer.

what a feeling...