A sound engineer must be analytical to the extent that they are able to analyze the sound and create a design for it. For example, during recording sessions, they must be analytical enough to assess producers' needs and translate them into technical specifications for the musicians. They need to understand if their microphone setup is tuned properly or if their room's acoustics are creating distortion. They also need to be analytical in order to assess how well the equipment is working, make adjustments when necessary, and make notes about what needs improvements.