Audio

creating the atmosphere

Importance of Game Audio• Atmosphere/mood• Gameplay cues• Heighten player satisfaction• Enhance quality of a game• Immersion• Reinforce interface• Convey physical/tactile sensation

Game Audio Formats• FM (frequency modulation) synthesis• MOD (module)• Wave table synthesis• Tracked audio• MIDI (musical instrument digital interface)• Sampled audio• DLS (downloadable sounds)

FM Synthesis

The Yamaha DX7 synthesizer uses FM synthesis to generate sounds from mathematical data associated with sound waves.

FM Synthesis• http://www.sonicstate.com/video/?manid=21

1

Samplers

The Fairlight CMI (expensive hardware-based pioneer), Emu E4 (modular unit), and Gigastudio (software) represent three different eras in sampling tools.

Samplers

• http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3403742606016512980&ei=r7n8SYXfFYXK-wGVs-CSCw&q=Samplers+&hl=en

DLS2

Microsoft’s DirectMusic Producer—which supports DLS2—is a popular tool used by game audio professionals because it allows for game-specific dynamic audio creation.

Direct Music

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVjNRt9AaHQ

Redbook Audio

Redbook Audio is used for commercial games distributed on CDs.

Redbook Audio

• A good article to read– http://www.gamasutra.com/view/feature/3262/in

teractive_music_merging_quality_.php• List of games that use Redbook Audio– http://www.vgmrush.com/redbook-list.php

• Sound guys for the Sims– http://www.myspace.com/razamike– http://pvachey.free.fr/

Sound Effects• Feedback & cues• Timing• Warning• Event-based• Foley• Sound libraries• Unique identity

Sound Effects

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F_rbJ3dI558

• Dee Baker– http://

vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=vids.individual&videoid=36217380

• http://www.marblehead.net/foley/specifics.html

Voiceovers• Spoken dialogue & narration• Out of context• Multiple versions• Actors work solo

Voiceovers

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nM3TrUPEAKM

• Watch this one on your own – it has some nice voice over work:– http

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hyAzNbgyj6g&NR=1

Music• Sets the tone• Provides cues• Score vs. song• Game vs. film scoring• Temp track infatuation• Music libraries• Looping vs adaptive music• No standardized tools• Most deals are buyouts• Game music remixes

Music

Soundtracks are recorded in a home recording studio (Aaron Marks’depicted) or a professional recording studio (Ron Jones conducting).

Game Music

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JVHGy9XEF9I

Watch these on your own:they are too long for class but I think they are valuable.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=emF8VAaIs8I&feature=related

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DiPdjbsiQqM