Game Development Reference
In-Depth Information
Because audio for games is used in a digital format, it's quite easy to look at
massive sound-file libraries to find effects for your game. Recording original
audio costs money, so game designers choose carefully when they want to tap
a library for sounds and when they want to attempt original recordings. If the
designer has made the choice to record original sounds, then something unique,
sound-wise, is being sought.
Original sounds
Original sounds can be created by blending and manipulating sounds. Brad
Beaumont cleverly manipulates and mixes audio to achieve desired results.
For one project, Beaumont needed to come up with the sound for a chainsaw
wielded by an otherwordly spirit. In Figure 8.6, you see Beaumont working with
the computer, blending different tracks to create new sounds.
even as original
sounds are created
for unique projects
by recording audio
or manipulating
existing sounds,
designers will occa-
sionally play sound
backward to obtain
entirely new mate-
rial to work with.
FiGuRe 8.6
Brad Beaumont from Soundelux, Design Music Group, creates original
sound effects for video games.
Beaumont started with the basic sound of the chainsaw. To begin altering the
sound, searching for the elusive quality that would marry with the chainsaw,
Beaumont turned to more organic sounds to blend with the saw's mechanical
roaring. After working with a few combinations, he settled on a blending of a
real chainsaw and the guttural growling of an adult walrus.
