Creating music and sound for games

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Title:

Personal Author:

Childs IV, G. W.

Publication Information:

Boston, MA : Thomson/Course Technology, 2007

ISBN:

9781598633016

Subject Term:

Computer sound processing

Computer game music

Computer games -- Programming

Available:*

Library	Item Barcode	Call Number	Material Type	Item Category 1	Status
Searching... PSZ JB	30000010124253	QA76.76.C672 C444 2007	Open Access Book	Book	Searching... Unknown

Get ready to step into the mysterious world of the video game sound designer and composer. Creating Music and Sound for Games examines the responsibilities associated with each of these roles and offers tips and insight for breaking into the business. With focused sections for each of these important roles, this book offers an insider's look into how the sound designer and compositor fit into the game production team and how these roles interact with one another. You'll cover the essential tools of the trade and will examine sound design and compositional tips that can save you time and make you more efficient.

Chapter 1 Meetings	p. 1
Who's Who in Game Design Meetings	p. 2
Producers	p. 2
Level Designers	p. 3
Art Team	p. 3
Quality Assurance Team	p. 4
Marketing	p. 4
Questions to Ask the Design Team	p. 5
What's the Timeline?	p. 5
Do You Have a Design Document?	p. 7
What Are the Sound Engine's Capabilities?	p. 7
Chapter 2 Sound Database	p. 9
Project Database	p. 10
Status	p. 12
Assigned To	p. 12
Sound Class	p. 12
Character Name	p. 12
Character Code	p. 12
Level	p. 13
Milestone Delivery	p. 13
Filename	p. 13
Description	p. 13
Notes	p. 13
Filename(s)	p. 14
Status Checkboxes	p. 14
Tags	p. 15
Find	p. 15
Omit	p. 15
Export	p. 15
Info	p. 16
Other Handy Fields	p. 16
Personal Database	p. 16
Modifying Source Material	p. 17
Personal Database Software	p. 17
Making Prototypes	p. 20
Chapter 3 Field Recording	p. 23
When to Go Out in the Field	p. 24
Be Prepared	p. 24
Keep It Simple	p. 24
Slate	p. 24
Recorders	p. 25
Sound Devices	p. 25
Edirol	p. 27
M-Audio	p. 28
Inexpensive Recorders You May Already Own	p. 29
Microphones	p. 29
Audio-Technica AT897	p. 31
Shure VP88	p. 31
Sennheiser MKH 418S	p. 31
Rode NT5	p. 32
Locations	p. 33
When Field Recording Isn't What You Expected	p. 33
When Recording Is Done	p. 34
Chapter 4 Sound Design: Tools of the Trade	p. 35
Computer Platforms	p. 36
Recommended Software	p. 37
Wave Editors	p. 37
Sound Forge for PC	p. 39
Wavelab for PC	p. 40
Peak for Mac	p. 41
Multi-Track Editing Programs	p. 42
Pro Tools for PC and Mac	p. 43
Nuendo for PC and Mac	p. 44
Plug-ins	p. 46
Waves Platinum Native Bundle for PC and Mac	p. 47
Reaktor for PC and Mac	p. 48
TC Electronics Power Core for PC and Mac	p. 48
Synthesizers	p. 49
Reason for PC and Mac	p. 51
Reaktor for PC and Mac	p. 51
Samplers	p. 52
Kontakt	p. 52
GigaStudio	p. 53
Chapter 5 Sound Design: Basic Tools and Techniques	p. 55
Basic Tools for Sound Design	p. 56
Time-Stretching/Time-Compression	p. 56
Pitch-Shifting	p. 58
Pitch-Bending	p. 59
Fade-In/Fade-Out	p. 60
Silence	p. 62
Change Gain	p. 62
Reverse	p. 63
Crossfade	p. 63
Effects	p. 66
Reverb	p. 67
Chorus	p. 69
Delay	p. 70
Distortion	p. 71
Compression	p. 71
Equalizer (EQ)	p. 73
Chapter 6 Advanced Tools and Techniques	p. 75
Return of the Robot	p. 76
Manipulating the Robot	p. 77
The Robot Thus Far	p. 85
When You Need Inspiration	p. 87
Canned Sound	p. 87
Existing Sound FX Libraries	p. 88
Chapter 7 Software Instruments and Samplers	p. 89
Using Reason for Sound Design	p. 90
The Malstrom	p. 91
Enter the NN-XT	p. 99
If You Don't Use Reason	p. 106
Chapter 8 Batch Converting	p. 109
What Is a Batch Converter?	p. 110
Batch File Renaming	p. 111
Batch Processing	p. 116
Quick Keys	p. 128
Chapter 9 Mixing Cut Scenes	p. 129
The First Cut Scene	p. 130
The Stage	p. 130
Music	p. 132
Ambience	p. 133
Foley	p. 134
Sound FX	p. 136
Voice	p. 137
Effects-Adding Plug-ins	p. 137
The Final Mix	p. 138
Chapter 10 Composing: The Game Design	p. 141
The Audition	p. 142
Music in Video Games-A Small Bit of History	p. 143
The Team's Needs	p. 144
Demo for E3	p. 144
Portable Recorder	p. 146
Proactivity	p. 148
How the Game Uses Your Music	p. 149
Internal Looping in the Game Engine	p. 149
Cut Scenes	p. 150
Interactivity	p. 150
Beat-Synchronous Instructions	p. 151
Chapter 11 Composing: Tools of the Trade	p. 153
Multi-Track Programs	p. 154
Nuendo/Cubase SX for PC and Mac	p. 156
Apple Logic Pro for Mac	p. 157
Digital Performer for Mac	p. 159
SONAR for PC	p. 160
Pro Tools for PC and Mac	p. 162
Wave Editors	p. 163
Soft Synths	p. 166
Absynth for PC and Mac	p. 167
Reason for PC and Mac	p. 169
Atmosphere for PC and Mac	p. 171
Blue for PC and Mac	p. 172
Minimoog V for PC and Mac	p. 173
Chapter 12 Samplers	p. 175
Sample Formats	p. 177
Soft Samplers	p. 179
Kontakt for PC and Mac	p. 179
GigaStudio for PC	p. 182
Additional Samplers	p. 184
Logic Pro EXS24 for Mac	p. 184
HALion for PC and Mac	p. 185
MachFive for PC and Mac	p. 187
Sample Libraries	p. 188
Vienna Symphonic Library	p. 189
SAM Orchestral Brass	p. 190
Symphonic Orchestra, Gold Edition	p. 191
Symphonic Choirs	p. 191
Chapter 13 Editing Prerecorded Music	p. 195
Cutting Audio	p. 196
Crossfading	p. 203
Crossfading: The Function	p. 204
Crossfading: Manual	p. 206
Automation	p. 208
Automating Effects	p. 212
Chapter 14 Creating Music for Cut Scenes	p. 217
Start with Action	p. 219
The Dialogue	p. 221
The Intro	p. 223
The Ending	p. 224
Chapter 15 Breaking into the Game Industry	p. 227
My History in the Game Industry	p. 227
Going to School	p. 228
Networking	p. 229
The Internet	p. 230
Job Hunting	p. 230
Your Web Site	p. 231
Trade Shows	p. 231
GDC	p. 233
E3	p. 234
Chapter 16 Reviewing What You've Learned	p. 235
Step 1 Demo Reel, Web Site, Business Cards	p. 235
Demo Reel	p. 235
Web Site	p. 237
Business Cards	p. 237
Step 2 Game Conventions	p. 238
Step 3 A Gig	p. 239
Step 4 Stockpile Tools of the Trade	p. 239
Game's Complete	p. 240
Freelance Contractor	p. 241
Going Full Time	p. 242
Appendix A Online Resources	p. 243
Appendix B Tools of the Trade	p. 247
Appendix C Potential Employers	p. 255
Appendix D Glossary	p. 265
Index	p. 271

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