The path we take in our careers can be a fairly winding one. It’s hard to predict exactly where you’re going to wind up. For instance, last year I found myself in the position where, while working as an independent sound designer after years as a staffer, I needed a team of people to help me complete a project by deadline. It’s not a bad position to be in. I like working, and … [Read more...]
Lessons of a Reckless Freelancer, or How I Learned to Love the Paperwork
When I first started up as a freelance sound designer and re-recording mixer, I had never been responsible for running a business. Working for myself seemed to be the ultimate job; I could set my hours, pick my projects, and do things how I wanted to do them. Beyond this freedom, what else was there? As it turns out, I completely glossed over that whole “how to run my own … [Read more...]
News: The Soundkeeper – Top 5 Sound Design Plugins
Recently, game audio industry vet Jeremy Rogers launched a new SFX library store & blog at www.thesoundkeeper.com. While the blog is still new, he's already putting out some interesting articles, including his most recent "The Top 5 Must-Have Plugins for Sound Designers". Check it out for Jeremy's plugin recommendations, as well as some brief descriptions on how he uses … [Read more...]
News: The Sound of Killer Instinct, Season 2
In a recent video, some members of the Killer Instinct sound team, including Zachary Quarles, Adam Isgreen, Mick Gordon, Chase Ashbaker, and Jeff Dombkowski, discuss some of the unique approaches and techniques they used in creating the sounds for some of the new characters featured in the second season of the game, including how they created fire effects, scarab attacks, and … [Read more...]
Make Yourself a Valuable Sound Designer
Guest Contribution by Jason Cushing My name is Jason Cushing and I’m one of the co-founders of SoundMorph. Recently, I was chatting with the hard-working and talented Shaun Farley of Designing Sound about the site's latest monthly topic: the business of sound. There are many aspects to this vast subject, but one topic that might be helpful for those of you just starting out in … [Read more...]
The Mindset of Business
Guest Contribution by April Tucker Early in my career, I watched a couple studios crumble first hand. One was a music studio that went bankrupt because the owner made some poor choices. The other was a post studio that laid off most of the staff in one day; "Black Wednesday," we called it. I had mixed feelings knowing I’d own a business someday. Learning business skills didn’t … [Read more...]
News: Tonebenders Ep. 36 – Marriage Equality Parade Recording
In a recent, abbreviated episode of the Tonebenders Podcast, Rene Coronado had the opportunity to capture some celebratory crowd sounds following the Supreme Court decision on marriage equality. In the episode, he discusses his recording approach, along with some unexpected inclement weather. Check it out here. Also, Rene generously made the raw recordings available for use, … [Read more...]