Is this job worth applying to?

Pay

About typicalTops out at $45/hr. The typical top rate across 238 priced audio listings is $40/hr.

Getting in

Some screening~30–45 min: profile + AI interview. Computer with webcam and mic for the AI interview.

Steady work

Work is patchyLong waits between tasks are common.

Payout record

Some delaysSchedule: twice a month. Paid via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments).

Freshness

FreshPosted 6d ago. Still listed on micro1 on Nov 6, 2026.

Where you live

Not statedThe listing names no country.

The job description

micro1 is engaging Music & Sound Annotation Experts to contribute to a customer's project at the forefront of music and audio technology.

Your ears are the ground truth. You'll listen to short field recordings and document exactly what's audible — instruments, tempo, key, background sounds, crowd reactions — through a structured web platform built for this project. Later phases involve grading AI model answers against what you actually heard.

What you'll do

Listen to 30–90 second field recordings (headphones, your own quiet workspace) and complete structured annotations: which instruments are present, tempo and key, timestamps of background events (traffic, sirens, applause), scene details
Compare paired recordings of the same song captured at different locations and judge what stayed the same and what changed
In later phases: review AI model descriptions of clips and mark what's correct, wrong, or invented, with a brief written explanation
Attend a paid onboarding/calibration session and a short weekly sync

Who we're looking for (any of these backgrounds)

Working or gigging musicians, session players, producers, or mixing engineers
Music educators, ear-training instructors, band/choir directors, conservatory students or graduates
Location sound recordists, sound designers, foley artists, or podcast/documentary audio editors

Requirements

3+ years of hands-on music or audio experience
Strong analytical listening: you can pick individual instruments out of a busy, noisy, real-world mix — not just studio recordings
Can identify tempo (within a few BPM) and musical key (relative pitch with a reference is fine)
Comfortable with detail-oriented, repetitive annotation work in a web platform — dropdowns, timestamps, short structured notes
Clear written English for brief, evidence-based notes (e.g., "accordion enters around 0:12")
Quality headphones, quiet workspace, reliable internet
Available 20–25 hrs/week for the engagement window

How do you apply to micro1?

Apply on micro1

The Apply button opens this post on micro1's own site. You apply with them, not with Rubric. Budget about 30–45 min: profile + AI interview.

Get through screening

What micro1 asks for after you apply:

Do the AI interview with Zara on a computer (not a phone)
Take any skill assessment and verify your identity
Wait to be matched to a project and sign the contract

Start work and get paid

Pay schedule: twice a month. Paid via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments). You're paid for the work they hand out, not a fixed salary.

micro1 also needs

Computer with webcam and mic for the AI interview
Relevant degree or work history for expert roles

Red flags

Red flagWeeks of silence after the AI interview
Red flagContracts signed but no onboarding or tasks
Red flagProjects ending or changing scope without notice

What is micro1 like to work for?

Recruiting company that vets experts with an AI interviewer (Zara) and staffs them on contract AI-training and evaluation projects for AI labs.

Advertised pay	$15–135/hr
Getting in	Some screening
Application takes	~30–45 min: profile + AI interview
How you get paid	Twice a month, via micro1 platform wallet (contractor payments)
Payout record	Some delays
Countries	Recruits globally with heavy hiring in South Asia, Southeast Asia, Latin America and Eastern Europe; India-based applicants are eligible for many roles.

Generalist and annotation roles start around $15–30/hr; coding, STEM and law/medicine roles commonly list $40–90/hr and occasionally more.