Every sound designer has to make new whooshes in record time. Whenever I’m stuck in that position I've always tried to come up with some quick automated ways. A long time ago I made a template that allows me to quickly make new whooshes, and on top of it it’s incredibly fun to “operate” since you get to actually orchestra the whooshes in realtime. I’m still using this template … [Read more...]
Planning for Feedback in Video Game Audio Production
Rob Bridgett has published a new and interesting article on Gamasutra. Let's read: [Veteran audio designer Rob Bridgett (Scarface, Prototype) here outlines how audio designers can avoid creative fatigue and deliver the most compelling audio while collaborating on large studio projects.] There are a great many reasons why gathering critical input from trusted colleagues and … [Read more...]
Charles Deenen Special: Car Recording Guide
The following article contains small excerpts of the 65 page “Need for Speed” Car Recording Guidebook, published internally at Electronic Arts, written by Charles Deenen. Car sounds are some of the most inspiring and entertaining sounds to record. Like a human voice, each car has a signature sound, with the driver being the actor. Recording these machines should be simple … [Read more...]
Audio Implementation Greats #4: De' Bug and the Tale of the DSP Sound-Bomb
At the Game Developers Conference Audio Boot Camp in 2006 Scott Selfon, Senior Audio Specialist at Microsoft, peeled back the layers of the onion for game audio newbies and exposed those in attendance to a Project Gotham Racing 3 debug build which allowed audio designers to visualize the parameters of sound propagation emanating from various points on the vehicle. If you can … [Read more...]
Charles Deenen Special: "Need For Speed" [Exclusive Interview]
For years, Charles Deenen has been the audio director of the Need for Speed Franchise. I had a nice talk with him commenting about some aspects of the audio of the award winning franchise. Let's read: Designing Sound: First of all, tell us something about your passion for cars, and what you enjoy most about working on Need For Speed Games? Charles Deenen: As a kid I played … [Read more...]
The Sound of "God Of War III" and "Game Audio Basics" on March Issue of Mix Magazine
The March issue of the Mix Magazine (Digital Edition) is now available with some goodies, including an article about the sound of God of War III with comments of senior manager Gene Semel, sound design manager Philip Kovats lead sound designer Paul M. Fox and sound designer Steve Johnson. It’s been five years since the first God of War videogame came out on the Sony … [Read more...]
Thoughts of the Oscars Sound Nominees
I've found two interesting articles with thoughts and general info from the sound nominees to the Oscars, talking about his respetive works on films such as "Avatar", "The Hurt Locker", "Star Trek", "Up" and "Inglourious Basterds". The first one is from MPEG, with comments of some of the sound editors with best sound nomination: Though the movies they worked on were all … [Read more...]