This is a guest article written by Ariel Gross, Audio Director of game development studio Volition Inc, which produces such PC and console titles as the Saint's Row and Red Faction series. You can view Ariel's introduction post here. I Feel Like a Fraud and So Can You! Every now and then I feel like a fraud. Every now and then I feel like I'm merely masquerading as a … [Read more...]
Top 11 Video Game Mixing Tips
Game Audio Mix has posted a list of tips for optimal mixing for video games. The full list can be viewed on the Gameaudiomix website Here are a few things that I lay awake thinking about last night, and in the hope that I may get a good night’s sleep tonight, unbothered by such thoughts, I wrote them down. In no particular order… 1) PLAN TO MIX Planning is good, … [Read more...]
Interview with Diego Stocco
FIDM Digital Arts has published a video interview of sound designer/composer Diego Stocco. "Do you have an idea in the first place? You're imagination is the most important plugin you have, 'cause without that you can't do anything. You can have the most expensive gear in the world...but if you don't know what you want to do, it's worthless." Watch, listen and be … [Read more...]
Coll Anderson Special: Exclusive Interview
To get things rolling on this month's featured sound designer, here's a little introductory interview with Coll Anderson. Designing Sound: How did you first get interested in sound? Coll Anderson: My Mother was a DJ at a country radio station in Des Moines Iowa. She did that and was a VO artist... I started hanging out at the station when she was doing her show, and then … [Read more...]
Interview with Ralph van Dijk – Radio Director
Despite being huge sound design fans, when we listen to any narrative soundtrack, our attention is naturally focused on the voice. "Dialogue is King" - plays a particularly key role when listening to radio, where you don’t have the benefit of pictures to tell the story. I spoke to Ralph van Dijk, who is an award winning, radio commercial’s writer and director, to find out more … [Read more...]
Rodney Gates Special: Learning to Listen: Using Sounds out of Context
[Written by Rodney Gates for Designing Sound] The Blank “Page” As we sit at our desks each day, creating new sounds for a game, it’s important to think outside the box when it comes to choosing your source material from which to design from. Most of the sounds you hear in games or film are usually not a single recording edited and dropped into place to represent the things … [Read more...]
Rodney Gates Special: Getting the Gig – A Guide to Becoming a Video Game Sound Designer
[Written by Rodney Gates for Designing Sound] Everyone has a story on how they started working in games, and they can be as varied as the day is long. Many start in Quality Assurance positions (game testing), or Customer Service (in the case of Sony Online). Some get internships, and some get hired on as a junior sound designer attached to a team right away. What I’d like … [Read more...]