Game audio is a complex and creative field that requires both technical and artistic skills. Whether you are a beginner or a seasoned professional, you can always learn something new from other game audio experts. In this article, we will explore some of the ways you can benefit from listening to, reading, and interacting with other game audio professionals.
Podcasts are a great way to get insights and tips from game audio experts who share their experiences, challenges, and solutions. You can listen to podcasts while commuting, working, or relaxing, and learn from different perspectives and genres. Some of the popular game audio podcasts are Game Audio Podcast, Beards, Cats, and Indie Game Audio, and The Sound Architect.
One thing I've learned after spending over 20 years in the game audio space is, there is no one way to create killer audio! Experiment. If an idea for a sound or way of recording pops in your head...try it. And don't forget to keep and catalog your source material. You'd be amazed at how many other sounds you can make from it. Look around your kitchen, bathroom, a neighborhood park, etc. We have a virtually endless source of inspiration and materials.
I follow the "Audio Podcast Alliance" to catch up on interesting topics about audio while on the road. It includes "Sound Business" and "Tonebenders", two of my favorites!
I used to listen to the game audio podcast before I even thought about not working in music and the insights and sheer enthusiasm for sharing new strange things they found was always a treat, I learnt about a bunch of tools that I now love, things like audiomulch and Bidule and got me into trying to dwell deeper into the rabbit hole of procedural audio on csound, max, puredata… podcasts are awesome
Books are another valuable source of knowledge and inspiration for game audio enthusiasts. You can find books that cover various aspects of game audio production and integration, such as sound design, music composition, audio programming, middleware, and implementation. Some of the recommended books are The Game Audio Strategy Guide, Game Sound: An Introduction to the History, Theory, and Practice of Video Game Music and Sound Design, and Game Audio Implementation: A Practical Guide Using the Unreal Engine.
I found "Quit Aspiring" by Adam T. Croft a great kickoff point to learn about game audio in general. The "The Game Audio Strategy Guide" is a pretty comprehensive book that I like to go back to once in a while and I recently picked up "Game Audio Mixing" by Alex Riviere. All great books to get inspired.
To be honest I never read books about sound, it always felt counter intuitive but I should probably start. I did read the Foley Grail but that was more a of a history book for me rather than learning new techniques
Online courses are a convenient and affordable way to learn new skills and techniques in game audio. You can find courses that suit your level and interest, and learn at your own pace and schedule. You can also get feedback and support from instructors and peers. Some of the platforms that offer game audio courses are Udemy, Coursera, and Game Audio Institute.
Affordable is relative. You can find great resources for free on YouTube from absolute masterminds that can teach you a whole lot, people like Marshall McGee, Dan Worrall or Venus theory. All different people, covering different things that will make you a better sound designer. There is nothing wrong with paid courses of course but you’ll never regret money you didn’t spend
Forums and communities are a great way to connect with other game audio professionals and enthusiasts, and get advice, feedback, and support. You can ask questions, share your work, join discussions, and discover new resources and opportunities. Some of the active game audio forums and communities are Game Audio Network Guild, Reddit Game Audio, and Facebook Game Audio Group.
Don’t bother with Game Audio Network Guild. Join the sound design discord, join air wiggles, go to itch.io and see the schedules for game jams, you’ll find a community for you in no time and people have always been so kind with their time, you can ask away to your hearts content. Watch some Reel Talk from powerup audio, chat on twitch, make new friends. The Internet is your oyster! Wait… is that how the saying goes?
Events and workshops are a fantastic way to learn from game audio experts in person, and network with other game audio professionals and enthusiasts. You can attend events and workshops that focus on game audio topics, such as conferences, festivals, meetups, and jams. Some of the notable game audio events and workshops are Game Developers Conference, GameSoundCon, A MAZE., and Global Game Jam.
I hear these are a great way to network and make new friends but also quite expensive and I’m not talking about the plane ticket… I hope to go to one some day but if you can’t go, like me, then don’t worry about it, take all the other suggestions in the previous topics
Finally, one of the best ways to learn from other game audio experts is to apply what you learn to your own projects. You can experiment with different tools, techniques, and styles, and see what works and what doesn't. You can also compare your work with other game audio examples, and analyze what makes them effective or not. By doing so, you can improve your game audio skills and portfolio, and develop your own voice and vision.