2. Chapter 8
Sound FX Composition

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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”

10. 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

11. Common Sound File Formats
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12. 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

13. 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

14. Recording Equipment (Continued)
Types of microphones
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15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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

19. 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.