What do you do if you want to level up your game audio and sound design skills?

Besides getting inspired by games, reading books, networking, watching videos, doing redesigns. I like to experiment with audio, by doing something different of what I would normally do. For example; it helps to give myself a challenge to work with limitation. Doesn't always come with good results, but with limitation you will start thinking out of the box and it will often lead to ''happy accidents''. The things that work would become part of your toolbox, as in preset or template. Ofcourse just make hours in the things that already work for you, should remain. It's all about balancing your creative vs productive routine.

One incredibly understated aspect of improving your sound design is just to listen. No matter where you are, walking to work, riding the subway or going on a bike ride, listen to your surroundings. Take note of every sound source you hear and pay attention to how they change as you move through space. When you enter a new space ask yourself how would you recreate this in game? What distant sounds are you hearing? How do the distant sounds change as you approach them and get closer? Next time you go out take out your earbuds and just listen, and I mean really listen, you'll be surprised the detail you can pull out when you just listen to the space around you.

Firstly, delve deeper into understanding sound theory and psychology to better grasp how sound influences perception. Experiment with unconventional recording techniques and embrace new technologies like spatial audio and interactive sound design. Develop proficiency in industry-standard software such as Pro Tools, Reaper, and Ableton Live, while also exploring specialized tools like Pure Data and Max/MSP for more experimental projects. Master essential game audio software like Wwise, FMOD, and Unity's audio tools, while also delving into specialized platforms like Fabric or Elias for nuanced control.

One of the most useful, lesser mentioned tips I have as a sound designer is to take inspiration from music. The world of a game will also have a key, whether that’s the actors voice in that moment or built up to match in-game colours and sights. Even the sound of wind will have its own key that you can build on as a foundation. Musicality can be found in everything

Sound is around you, the sound your fingers make touching your phone, the sound your shoe makes when walking, The sound of you sipping coffee, the breeze outside and the sound of birds hovering, all of the above have a frequency range(Hertz) within our hearing spectrum

Always practice your sound design skills, and train your ears in creating great quality assets. Look out for feedback on your work and try designing something you're not comfortable designing. Give yourself deadlines and try to publish as many examples of your work as you can!

Practice daily it's crucial. it can be hard to find brief but giving yourself one can really help. A small redesign or 30 second music, (3 or 7 :D) times a week brings back amazing results, technically and motivationally. There are a lot of communities out there that share daily or weekly redesign competitions. They're a good place to take inspiration and resources from.

I think that consistency is important. Not all information can be taught, and using the DAW regularly teaches us a lot of new features, shortcuts, and plugins. Setting daily, weekly, and monthly objectives will help one succeed more in our field as a whole. This allows you to expand your knowledge, develop your portfolio, and work with others.

Invest in high-quality recording equipment and practice field recording extensively. Capturing authentic sounds from real-world environments adds depth and realism to your audio creations. Whether it's the rustling of leaves in a forest or the rumble of a passing train, unique field recordings can elevate your game audio to new heights. Develop a keen ear for detail and precision in sound design. Experiment with layering and manipulating sound elements to craft immersive sonic experiences. Pay attention to nuances like texture, dynamics, and spatialization to create audio that not only complements the game's visuals but also enhances the player's emotional engagement.

Expose yourself to your DAW regularly, which DAW or Equipment you chose is of no importance early on. Get used to stumbling over and hitting road blocks, learn how to overcome challenges within your toolkit and become fluent in your practice.

I suggest taking this step further by attempting to mimic the environment you are hearing within your own software. Recreating is a valuable step in the journey of original quality creation.

Play games listening to the sonic environment, think about how sounds interact with the player, and try to understand how the implementation was made. Focus on what's more important in the soundscape and ask yourself why that decision was made. These are just a few crucial things to look out for when playing a game you want to analyse.

The current age's Artists have overlooked the importance of networking. A report I saw said that 70% of employment are awarded through recommendations. Personally, I believe there is a higher figure. As I live, I am proof. Thank God, there are a plethora of tools available now for networking. Collaborations while developing your portfolio might be a way to network, connect with individuals in relevant fields, attend events and social gatherings, etc. * Reaching 5 people per day is achievable. Building a business is like building friendship, we all know we don’t meet new friends sitting in our closet.

Discord, Discord, Discord. There are tons of servers out there with game developers looking for likeminded individuals to explore and collaborate with on their first game. Hanging out in online streams of people doing what you aspire to is also a great way to find a community to grow with.

Understand better the technical aspects of your role. Depending on the engine you're working on, develop your knowledge in C++ or C#. Find out how sound can interact with the player and think about its implementation in the early stages of production. Be curious about new approaches to work on game audio, for example, Unreal 5 metasounds are definitely something to look out for.

Immerse yourself in the intricacies of real-world sound environments. Listen attentively to your surroundings and observe how sound behaves in different settings – whether it's the reverberation in a room, the echoes on a street, or the muffled sounds in a subway station. Pay attention to how sound is influenced by various factors such as weather conditions, time of day, and ambient noises. Understand how sound interacts with different surfaces and materials, from the acoustics of buildings to the resonance of natural landscapes like forests. By studying these nuances and incorporating them into your game audio design, you can create more authentic and immersive experiences for players.