Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/713016
As a technical sound designer, how do you go about QC-ing your work? You want to play test every square inch of the game if possible. Mixing a game takes a lot of iteration. The more variation in gameplay (if the game is open-world), the harder it is to test all of the possible scenarios the player might experience. For example, if you're a run-and-gun type of player, you might plow through an area and the music is intense the whole way. Or you might take it slow and the music switches from tension to full combat along the way. To ensure a consistent mix, I usu- ally get the full music track to a good spot when most of the sound effects are playing. Then, all the other music states (intensity stems) will usually fall into place. As for sound effects, I first make sure that every type of sound and all of their variations have balanced levels. It saves me a huge amount of time mixing the game if all of my footsteps, gunfire, ambience, props, dialogue, etc., are all balanced. So if there are any files that spike too loud or are super quiet, I want to fix those on the asset level and not in-game (usually). Toward the end of the project, I'm in a hurry and won't have time to reprint assets, so I'll make those adjustments in-engine. Once I have consistent and balanced assets, then it's just relying on the game engine's tools to mix those sounds in real-time. A big "thank-you" to Brad, Eric, and Brian for taking the time to share your insight and experiences.• " " [Music cues are] from the same composition, same length, and tempo changes so that they can be switched in real-time seamlessly at any point in the cue. –Brian DiDomenico RECORDERS MIXERS MICROPHONES SMPTE/SLATES WIRELESS Dual Receiver for Camera slot or stand-alone use 76 MHz Wideband Tuning Range Tracking Front-End Filters SmartTune TM for Fast Frequency Searches IR ( IR (Infrared) Interface for Quick Transmitter Setup SRc and SRc5P Dual- Channel Slot Mount ENG Receivers 4549 Powerline Road ● Fort Lauderdale, FL 33309-3836 ● Tel: 954.289.4770 311 West 43rd Street, Suite #200 ● New York, NY 10036 ● Tel: 212.586.1033 8222 Maple Street ● New Orleans, LA 70118 ● Tel: 504.309.7112 Your Production Sound Headquarters 40+ Years of Experience