I've written a new article for PSNEurope that attempts to explain just how big the game audio world really is. I probably could've filled another 2,000 words... Today’s game audio has come a long way from the simple beeps and boops of Pong and other early video games. It wasn’t until 1978 when Taito released Space Invaders that music became more than just an accompaniment to … [Read more...]
Loudness In Game Audio
Finishing up Loudness Month here at Designing Sound I asked the good folks at Audiokinetic (makers of Wwise), Firelight Technologies (makers of FMOD) and G.A.N.G. IESD about what is happening in game audio in regards to loudness metering. From the G.A.N.G. IESD Committee: "Loudness and monitoring levels have been very high on the IESD's agenda since the the organization … [Read more...]
DocHouse Masterclass Videos on Sound
Earlier this week, we posted that Peter Albrechtsen's Masterclass presentation at DocHouse was available for viewing online. That's not the only video in the series worth your time though. Make sure you check out the others, featuring Mary Milton and Larry Sider! [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/59107571[/vimeo] … [Read more...]
Does Bit or Sample Rate Reduction Affect Loudness Measurements?
A few nights ago, I was struck by an idea that hadn't occurred to me previously. I was prepping for a presentation on loudness metering at a game development studio that would take place the following day. It was a question... Would bit rate or sample rate reduction affect the loudness measurement of sounds metered using ITU-R BS.1770? Both are practices common to game … [Read more...]
Designing Sound Reader Survey
Along with the new site, we're tying to further refine how we develop content. We would really appreciate it if you'd be willing to spend 10 minutes filling out this short...and it is short...survey. It's completely anonymous, and your answers will help us continue to improve the site. If we haven't said it enough in the past, the community is what makes this site so … [Read more...]
Peter Albrechtsen – Sound Design Master Class Available on Vimeo
He's one of our contributors, he gave a master class on sound design for documentaries, and you can watch the whole thing on Vimeo right now! [vimeo]http://vimeo.com/60171257[/vimeo] … [Read more...]
Spectral Analysis: Interview with Jeff Macpherson
Thanks to Brad Dyck for contributing this interview. For the past two decades, Electronic Arts’ FIFA franchise has been the most successful selling sports video game series of all time and Audio Director Jeff Macpherson has been overseeing the sound of the games since 2006. Creating a smooth, realistic commentary system along with dynamic, exciting crowds is no small feat … [Read more...]