Music & Sound Annotation Expert | $30-$45/hr Remote
Overview
At micro1, your ears become the ground truth for a project shaping music and audio AI. You'll listen to 30-90 second field recordings captured in the wild, then document exactly what you hear through a structured web platform. That means logging instruments, tempo, key, and timestamping background events like traffic or applause. In later phases, you'll grade AI model descriptions against your own listenings, marking what's correct, wrong, or fabricated. You'll start with a paid onboarding session and keep a short weekly sync to stay calibrated. This role suits someone with strong analytical listening skills and solid music theory knowledge.
What You'll Do4
- 1Listen to field recordings of 30 to 90 seconds each and complete structured annotations detailing instruments, tempo, key, and background sounds with timestamps.
- 2Compare two recordings of the same song from different locations and note similarities and differences in the audio.
- 3Review AI-generated descriptions of audio clips in later stages, flagging inaccuracies or hallucinations and explaining your reasoning in writing.
- 4Participate in a paid calibration session at start and a brief weekly check-in to maintain consistency.
Requirements7
- 1Hands-on music or audio experience spanning three years or more.
- 2Sharp listening skills able to isolate individual instruments within dense, noisy real-world mixes, not just studio recordings.
- 3Ability to gauge tempo within a few BPM and recognize musical key, even if you rely on a reference for relative pitch.
- 4Comfort with meticulous, repetitive annotation tasks using a web interface, including dropdowns, timestamps, and brief structured notes.
- 5Clear, concise written English for evidence-based comments, such as 'accordion enters around 0:12'.
- 6Reliable setup: quality headphones, quiet workspace, and stable internet connection.
- 7Capacity to dedicate 20-25 hours per week throughout the project's duration.
Who Should Apply
Musicians, producers, engineers, educators, or sound recordists with at least three years of experience will find this work familiar. You're used to picking out details from messy audio and describing them accurately. The role demands consistent focus and repetition, so if you prefer recording or performing over meticulous cataloging, this might not be the right fit. Common reasons candidates miss out: submitting examples that only reference clean studio recordings, or underestimating the 20-25 hour weekly commitment. Strong written communication and proven ability to analyze field audio are what set successful applicants apart.
Salary Insight
The contract pays between $30 and $45 per hour. No additional compensation details were provided in the posting.
Location
Required Skills
Application Tip
When you apply, mention a specific instance where you identified an unusual sound or instrument in a field or live recording, and explain how you documented it. Quantifying your experience with tempo and key recognition will also help your application stand out.
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1Application received
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