dSonic Reviews

One HR rep I know calls it an Audio Sweatshop. Horrible pay, cramped office where everyone is in headphones all day. Very strict, start at 8am, if you are a minute late you will be questioned in front of entire staff. No phone or contact with the outside world allowed. No talking to coworkers unless necessary to complete task. There are no benefits, pay is abysmal, no paid time off. If you are sick even a little bit you will be sent home for the rest of the week, unpaid of course. No bonus, even when it is promised. No raises, you'll take your $10/hr and like it. Cheapest people I have ever met, the software and hardware are outdated and not appropriate for the type of work being done. Free software is often used, such as Audacity for audio editing. Are you kidding me???

As awesome as the work itself is, the job is absolutely terrible. 1) Employer has little to no real respect for employees, their health, their opinions, or their lives. They are simply tools, easily replaced at a cheaper cost with free interns from the various colleges in the area. He has a very strong presence, and can easily freak you out with anger/disappointment, essentially ruling through fear. 2) Pay is very low, with no decent benefits and no hope of any decent raise. Pay is ~1/3rd of what most other sound designers in the industry make (http://www.simplyhired.com/a/salary/search/q-sound+designer), and as this company is in Boston, which is VERY expensive to live in, you will spend all of it just trying to get by. There is no pay ladder, it's more of a ditch. Health insurance was made mandatory in Massachusettes, which is the only reason you get any (though you still have to pay half the cost). There are no other benefits. 3) No vacation or sick days. While I agree with their personal mandate that 'if you're sick, stay home', as going to work sick just makes things worse...to literally force employees to stay home when sick and then not have ANY sick time pay is rather deplorable. 4) Setup is horrible for your health. Not only do you work almost entirely on headphones 8 hours a day (ear fatigue quickly became a frequent and painful problem), but the 'desks' are plastic tables and the computer chairs are cheap and not very adjustable, both of which quickly compound into a variety of back and arm issues. Proper ergonomics and long-term ear health are not even close to a top priority here. 5) Working hours are an extremely rigid 8-4:30 (do not be late or he will chew your ass out), so this can be tough for most college students who are not as creatively active until evenings. 6) To repeat the other reviewer here, the employer is incredibly stringent and ignorant about new technology, especially with software and plugins. Employer then complains when employees have a hard time finding new and interesting sounds.