Chapter 8 Sound FX Composition

Objectives Describe the work and responsibilities of a sound engineer. Identify a sound asset and define the elements of a sound asset entry. Explain what a sound library is and how it can be used. List common recording equipment used to create sounds for video games. Summarize the process of sound rendering Outline the use of sound effects in video games.

Sound Engineer Sound effects, or sound FX, are audio game assets used as artistic enhancements or content or within gameplay The sound engineer is the team member responsible for sound production Sound engineering is the art and science of creating, editing, mixing, and synchronizing sounds

Sound Engineer (Continued) A sound engineer has five major responsibilities Identify sound context Generate sounds to specification of the asset Record and edit voice (dialogue) Optimize sounds for the game platform Mix sounds Sound context is a description of what and where an action is occurring

Sound Engineer (Continued) The sounds must make sense, match the action occurring, and fulfill the specifications of the sound context For many games, much of a sound engineer’s time is spent working with voice actors Optimizing involves formatting the audio so it sounds best from the playback device Mixing is the process of combining two or more recorded sounds into a single sound

Sound Assets A sound asset must be created for each interaction in the game that requires an associated sound The sound engineer will create the sounds and add them to the sound database The name of the asset is the name of the file that contains the sound The context entry gives a brief description of the sound

Sound Assets (Continued) The category entry provides the major classification for the asset The cue entry indicates when in the game the sound will occur The specs entry details the file size, file type, sound quality, and playback media Looping is when the sound or animation restarts at the end of playing

Sound Assets (Continued) The link, due, and status entries are workflow identifiers that help keep the work moving forward The link entry states where the asset is stored The due date for each asset is assigned to meet the deadline for each milestone The status entry indicates progress for a sound asset, such as “delivered” or “accepted”

Sound Library A sound library is a collection of completed sound samples that are available for use Canned sound may be purchased or taken from the company’s own library Permission from the copyright holder is required to use purchased sounds A field recording is made using a microphone and recording device outside the studio

Common Sound File Formats Goodheart-Willcox Publisher

Recording Equipment Some standard equipment is needed to capture and record sounds Typical equipment includes Recording device Microphone Windscreen (when required) Mount (when required) Most sound engineers work with recording devices that store sound data digitally

Recording Equipment (Continued) The digital recording can be transferred to a computer for editing and mixing When recording in stereo, it is critical to have a matching pair of microphones A windscreen is a foam or furry cover over the microphone that reduces wind noise detected Having the microphone on some type of mount will help keep vibration interference from the recording

Recording Equipment (Continued) Types of microphones Goodheart-Willcox Publisher

Rendering Sound rendering is the process of using sound to communicate feelings, effects, and acoustic reality in a virtual world Sound engineers record actual sounds, similar sounds, and composite sounds Engineers then render the sounds to create the final result An actual sound is the sound made by a real object, animal, or person

Rendering (Continued) A similar sound is a sound that imitates the sound from something else A composite sound is several sound assets mixed to render a single sound Creating a composite sound is a typical job for a sound engineer Sound-editing software can have features to make it easier to create new and original composite sounds

Sound Effects Sound FX in a game are sounds used to enhance the artistic presentation of the game Reverb is an echo effect that makes the sound full by simulating the reflecting of sound waves off walls and objects Chorus is similar to reverb except it adds a delay to the sound to simulate more than one sound source

Sound Effects (Continued) A plug-in is software that enhances another program by extending its capabilities Some plug-ins include interface equipment, such as a synthesizer or sampler Synthesizers can create interesting sounds, such as beeps and notes A musical instrument digital interface (MIDI) is used to connect musical instruments to a computer using a cable

Is a career as a sound engineer one that interests you? Why or why not? Do you think a good video game can be created using canned sound or are original recordings required? Explain your opinion.