Game Audio Essentials is a 6-part course that serves as an introduction to the technical and creative aspects of video game audio. In the course we cover everything from game audio history, creating interactive musical scores, sound design, and breaking in to the game industry as a whole. This course is taught by Akash Thakkar, Berklee College of Music alumnus and active game composer/sound designer. No prior game scoring experience is necessary, but a love of video games is a plus! Students are recommended to own or have access to a computer with MIDI sequencing and audio recording software to complete the course challenges.

By the end of the course you will be able to:

• Analyze interactive audio in games
• Work with and understand common game audio tools
• Compose your own video game music
• Create your own sound effects
• Promote yourself in the game industry

Lesson 4 – Sound Design Basics

• Sound design overview
• Storytelling in sound design
• Types of synthesis and instrument plug-ins (plus link to download free synth plug-in)
• Sampled sounds, and sampler plug-ins (plus link to download free sampler plug-in)
• Sample mapping
• Field recording and popular recording devices
• Sound effect libraries

Make some sound!

• Grab the TyrellN6 synthesizer (http://u-he.com/cms/tyrelln6)
• Explore the parameters of subtractive synthesis
• OSC, LFO, ADSR, Envelopes, Filters, etc.
• Experiment and create some sound with your synth of choice
• Layer them with pre-recorded samples