Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/1524863
M OT I O N P I CTU R E S O U N D E D I TO R S 149 "Sound Design" Discord server? How can our readers get involved? PH: The Sound Design Discord is a public server that anyone can join! We always welcome new members to stop by, chat, and get involved in providing feedback and participating in the challenges. We try to ensure the challenges are helpful and inspiring to all avenues of sound design in some way, though sometimes we may have a more linear or interactive media focused one. For example, May's sound design challenge was co-hosted by Kevin Regamy of Power Up Audio, who does regular reel reviews on his Twitch channel (https://twitch. tv/powerupaudio) for game audio folks looking to upgrade their demo reels and websites. Here is the public link for the Sound Design Discord: https:// discord.gg/sound-design- 519238874581565458 Looking back, what piece of advice would you give to your younger self just starting out in game audio? PH: Iterate more and have more fun with it. Stop worrying about getting something perfect on the first try. Get advice early and often. Implement as early as possible so you can hear your designs in context with the rest of the game. Use your voice more, and experiment with fun ways to morph and mangle it. And record your own source more; record every day. You never know what will be useful. Where do you see the biggest opportunities for innovation in game audio over the next few years? PH: I think what's really exciting right now is how much more focus there has been on mixing in game audio. There are so many new books, articles, conference talks, and theories being shared on how to level up this stage of the process. I think it's something that will not only help the overall perception of a game's sonic landscape but will also give the sound designers more room to play with how parts of the game are presented. What goals or aspirations do you have for your future in game audio? PH: What I'd really love to do is continue my quest of providing a no-cost, high-quality sound effects library to everyone in the Sound Design Discord; and keep the server as a source of free information, knowledge sharing, and a hub for other resources. Furthermore, with technology advancing the way it is, we're seeing recording systems that are gathering ultrasonic information we didn't have commercial access to before, and the idea of getting hold of one of those systems and trying it out for myself is an experience I'm aiming to have eventually. I wonder what our two dogs would sound like… Presley Hynes