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Women in Pro Audio: Elena González Women in Pro Audio: Elena González...

The Women in Pro Audio series highlights the technical expertise, career trajectories, and industry contributions of women working across live sound, studio recording, and broadcast audio. These interviews provide a detailed look at the professionals shaping the sound of modern music and events, focusing on their specific experiences and technical insights. This installment features Elena González, an audio engineer and specialist whose career spans massive arena tours as a monitor engineer and FOH, studio mixing, and the design of experimental electronic instruments.

From Coastal Roots to International Touring

Raised in Motril, a small town on the southern coast of Spain, Elena spent her youth driven by a fascination with music and electronics. She spent her savings on vinyl, obsessing over sound, and tinkering with cables and circuits for no particular reason other than curiosity. “I think I always wanted to work in music, even before I understood what ‘the industry’ really was,” she says. While she did not yet understand how to build a career in audio at the time, those early days of fixing gear and attending concerts with her three older siblings laid the foundation for a career in pro audio.

The real turning point for Elena arrived after she finished a higher degree in Audiovisuals and began an internship at a studio. While recording a band that had secured an opening slot for a well-known group in Spain, they asked her to mix FOH. “I said yes immediately… even though I didn’t really know what I was getting into,” Elena recalls. She had assumed the environment would feel like working on the AMEK Angela studio desk she was accustomed to, but she was shocked to find a massive Midas Heritage 3000 waiting for her. “I’m short, so my assistant had to bring me a little step!” she says, but that specific gig solidified her desire to understand live sound properly and go deeper into the industry from every angle.

Her transition into international touring began when she joined Carlinhos Brown’s “Sarau Du Brown” European tour as a stage manager working with scenography. While she was not hands-on with audio gear during that run, it provided an incredible education on how large international tours function—from sleeper buses and festival logistics to the dynamics of a crew with 16 musicians. “That experience was the moment I realized I wanted to tour internationally,” Elena explains. Following that, she joined a prominent sound company in Málaga, working as an A1 on major festivals, which accelerated her professional path into live sound.

Navigating Challenges for Women in Pro Audio

In an industry where the pathways can often feel narrow, Elena has faced hurdles related to access and trust. Early in her career, she found it difficult to get hired in Granada, prompting her to move to Málaga, which changed her trajectory. She observed that some colleagues seemed to find opportunities more easily, and like many women in pro audio, she has frequently had to prove herself multiple times. “Early on, I was more likely to be questioned, tested, or assumed to be in a non-technical position, especially in live music environments,” Elena shares. This adds a layer of pressure where she troubleshoots and mixes while simultaneously managing the opinions and behaviors of those around her.

Elena believes that the lack of women on the technical side of the industry is not due to a lack of talent, but rather because “opportunities, trust, and networks still tend to circulate within the same groups.” Since engineering is difficult to “practice alone” and requires access to artists and sessions, she advocates for clearer training pathways and hiring cultures that judge people by results rather than assumptions. “When women are given the same opportunities, the quality and the reality speak for themselves,” she notes. Her own strategy for overcoming these challenges involves consistency, preparation, and calm problem-solving.

Tech Skills and the Art of the Large-Scale Show

Elena recently served as the Monitor Engineer during an ambitious stadium-scale production with Dellafuente. The show, created by Buenas Señal Producciones and Twincam Pro International, with Dellafuente’s management, Maas World, was a visual spectacle featuring a stage in the middle of the stadium.

“Visually, it was stunning,” Elena recalls. “The set included moving fountains that ‘danced’ during the show, and the design referenced Granada’s identity: Alhambra-inspired ornaments hung alongside the Spanish Renaissance architecture. There was even a labyrinth built beneath the stage, used for entrances and reveals; actors and guests would appear on stage from below in a way that felt almost theatrical.”

Handling the complex Dante configuration—utilizing DirectOut Prodigy for redundancy and mirrored Yamaha Rivage PM5 consoles—Elena gained a unique perspective on the massive 118-enclosure K2 system. While her role on this production focused on monitors and network stability, she views the high-stakes environment of a stadium as a career benchmark: “Mixing a big venue can feel like driving a race car—focused, powerful, and thrilling.”

This level of precision requires a commitment to continuous learning. “One of my best resources is staying curious and hands-on: exploring new gear, consoles, and software, and setting aside time to test workflows instead of relying only on habit,” she explains. She takes courses as a student whenever there are new releases or major updates, especially regarding PA systems and evolving protocols such as Dante, MADI, and optical or TWINLANe-style networks. She also focuses on new RF systems and coordination tools.

Advocacy for Sustainable Working Conditions

When considering the most vital skills for the industry, Elena highlights preparation and emotional intelligence under pressure. “Even if you’re not a systems engineer, understanding PA systems, signal flow, networking, and how everything connects makes you stronger and more versatile,” she says. Beyond the technical, she stresses the importance of patience and communication. “Knowing how to stay calm, read the room, communicate clearly, and support your colleagues makes a huge difference. Great audio is technical, but it’s also human.”

If Elena could change one thing about the industry, it would be the sustainability of working conditions, particularly for freelancers. She notes that while the job is demanding, it is also unstable, with fluctuating income and schedules that make it hard to plan a normal life. “In Spain in particular, the system can be complicated, and a lot of technicians end up carrying the risk individually,” she observes. She advocates for standardized, fair working conditions, including clearer contracts, realistic schedules, proper rest, and pay structures that reflect the intensity of the work. Furthermore, she wants the industry to be more compatible with family life. “If you want to be a parent (especially if you’re not the main artist), touring and production schedules can make it extremely difficult to build a stable life,” she says.

Resilience, Reality, and Professional Pride

Even the most seasoned professionals face moments of doubt, often following exhausted travel cycles or difficult comments from coworkers. Elena admits there have been times when she questioned everything, but she has learned that rest and supportive people make a significant difference. One of the wildest moments of her career occurred during a tour opening in Madrid at a newly renovated venue. An electrician’s error led to a 360V power surge because the neutral was not connected. Elena’s brand-new DiGiCo Quantum 225 began smoking. “My first reaction was to shout to the lighting designer: Can you quit the haze? It’s way too early!” she laughs. Despite an electrical failure that popped fuses across the stage, the team managed to save the show using a Yamaha CL5. “It was stressful in the moment, but now it’s one of those stories that still makes me laugh… mostly because everything could have gone so wrong, and we still opened the doors on time.”

Elena’s pride stems from these moments of utility. “My biggest moments of pride are when things go wrong, and I can stay calm, fix what needs fixing, and keep the band confident onstage; that’s when I feel most useful, and genuinely happy,” she says. Speaking to one of her favorite show moments, she reflects, “Another of my favorite FOH gigs was with one of my main bands, La Plazuela, at the Arena ‘Plaza de Toros’ in Granada, one of the city’s largest. It was a major moment because it was their hometown and mine too, and the show was completely sold out. Because playing ‘at home’ carried so much meaning, we put extra effort into every detail of the mix and production, shaping a show that blended nu-funk, flamenco, electronic music, and more. That night will always be one of my favorites!”

For women starting out, her advice is to remain committed. “If you love this work, don’t give up. Be patient with the process and committed to learning; your skills and your reputation will build over time,” she encourages. She also warns to be careful about trust, noting that some friendships disappear when one is no longer useful. “That lesson pushed me to set clearer boundaries and choose partners and teams based on respect and professionalism, not just words.”

The Future of the Live Sound Experience

Looking toward the future, Elena remains inspired by the evolution of live events. She views live music as an ephemeral experience that exists only in a moment. “Right now, the level of immersion is incredible: world-class sound, lighting, video, and production elements like fire, smoke, water, and even performers flying,” she says. She cites Greg Milner’s book Perfecting Sound Forever as a major influence on her thinking, noting that while recorded music sometimes aims to feel “live,” the real power of a show lies in the fact that it only happens once.

“Even on the hardest days—when everything feels twisted, I still think this profession is amazing,” she concludes. “I love the craft, I love music, and I’m proud of the way I can stay steady under pressure and help a team get through difficult moments.”

To follow Elena’s professional journey, follow her on Instagram @Elenaiser, visit her YouTube channel, and view her professional portfolio online.