Skip Lievsay needs almost no introduction: He is one of the most distinguished and prolific sound editors in the movie business. His many collaborations with The Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, Spike Lee and Jonathan Demme, to name just a few, are often considered classics. Lievsay has been nominated for four Academy Awards, two for No Country for Old Men and two for True Grit. … [Read more...]
An interview with Nils Frahm
About a year ago I watched 'An Island', a documentary film by Vincent Moon on the Danish band Efterklang. The whole soundtrack of the movie is extremely musical and is a great example of sound design and music creating a great blend. It was almost no surprise to see Nils Frahm credited for mixing and recording the soundtrack. Frahm is not only an accomplished producer and … [Read more...]
Interview With Composer/Sound Designer Yuki Ichiki
Welcome Japanese readers. The Japanese version of the interview is below the English version. ようこそ日本の読者の皆様。インタビューの日本語版は、英語版の下に掲載されております。 As I mentioned in my interview with Tomoya Kishi: Japanese video game composers and musicians get a good bit of coverage and acclaim over in the West, but the people making the booms and whoosh sounds don’t seem to get much visibility. … [Read more...]
Collaborating with the Music Team – An Interview with Randy Thom
When we talk about the blurry lines that exist between sound design and music, it's important to remember that we don't work in a vacuum. Media is collaborative. The more effectively we work with our counterparts, the greater a project's potential becomes. So, I asked Randy Thom to discuss the ins and outs building a working relationship the music department. DS: I know … [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...]
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...]
Capcom Audio Director Tomoya Kishi Interview
Japanese video game composers and musicians get a good bit of coverage and acclaim over in the West, but the people making the booms and whoosh sounds don't seem to get much visibility. To that end I reached out to Tomoya Kishi, who is the Audio Director and Senior Manager of Audio Design and Production at Capcom: "Tomoya Kishi joined Capcom in 2001, beginning his career as … [Read more...]