Course Outline for Music Recording Technology 32A
Game Audio Design I

Effective: Fall 2016
SLO Rev: 12/09/2016
Catalog Description:

MURT 32A - Game Audio Design I

3.00 Units

Overview of game sound development, basics of sound effects libraries and working with animation, typical studio effects, sound manipulation, and common troubleshooting. Fundamental techniques of recording custom effects, proper integration of audio, and mixing techniques particular to the gaming industry. Basics of the game audio industry, including professional roles, occupational divisions, scheduling, contracts and workflow.
Prerequisite: MURT 20.
1005.00 - Commercial Music*
Letter Grade Only
Type Units Inside of Class Hours Outside of Class Hours Total Student Learning Hours
Lecture 2.00 36.00 72.00 108.00
Laboratory 1.00 72.00 0.00 72.00
Total 3.00 108.00 72.00 180.00
Measurable Objectives:
Upon completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. develop sounds and music for interactive environments;
  2. write and edit music interactively;
  3. create video game soundtracks incorporating dialogue, sound design, and music;
  4. work with a variety of tools to complete game audio;
  5. work collaboratively and under the direction of a team leader;
  6. acquire and demonstrate professional behaviors required in the game audio industry.
Course Content:
  1. Lecture (Content)
    1. Game Audio Overview
      1. Definitions: Sound Types and Game Genres
      2. Assess the Audio in a Game Clip
      3. Game Sound Development Overview
      4. Game Music History
      5. Style and Genre Considerations
  2. Lab/Studio (Content)
    1. Working with SFX Libraries
      1. Basics of Sound Effects Libraries
      2. Working with Animations
      3. Performance Considerations and Tracking Strategies
    2. Game Music Composition
      1. Building a Successful Music Score
      2. Creating Simple Motifs
      3. Create a Rough Draft or Theme
      4. Calculate Tempo(s) for a Given Cut Scene Including Hit Points
      5. Create a Mockup of the Thematic/Draft Material and Class Feedback
      6. Scripting Systems for Interactive Sound
    3. Game Music Audio Asset Creation
      1. Recording Custom SFX
      2. Synthesis of Custon SFX
      3. Identify Types of Audio
      4. Creating a Unified Soundscape
        1. Sound Design Aesthetics
        2. Identifying Types of Audio
        3. The Soundworld
      5. Scripting Systems for Interactive Sound
    4. Industry & Professionalism
      1. Industry roles
        1. Audio Director, Sound Designer, and Composer Roles
      2. Working with a Team
      3. Creating a Content List
      4. Scheduling
      5. Professional Best Practices
Methods of Instruction:
  1. Lecture/Discussion
  2. Demonstration/Exercise
  3. Presentation of audio-visual materials
  4. Case Study
  5. Practice/Demonstration
  6. Presentation
  7. Problem Solving
  8. Guest speakers
Assignments and Methods of Evaluating Student Progress:
  1. Analyze and critique technical and aesthetic aspects of game audio design from a given case study.
  2. Compose a series of distinct musical motifs associated with characters from a sample game.
  3. Record and/or synthesize SFX for a sample game environment.
  4. Compose three music loops for background play in a sample video game environment.
  5. Work with a team to create a list of audio assets for a sample game.
  1. Exams/Tests
  2. Projects
  3. Group Projects
  4. Final Examination or Project
  5. Peer student evaluation of student demonstrations
  6. Demonstration of practice and skills
Upon the completion of this course, the student should be able to:
  1. Construct a multitrack sound design.
  2. Identify basic hardware components of a modern studio
  3. Explain the basic principles of acoustics and sound, including analog to digital audio conversion.
  4. Develop a critical ear.
Textbooks (Typical):
  1. Michael Sweet (2014). Writing Interactive Music for Video Games: A Composer's Guide (Game Design) (1st). Addison-Wesley Professional.
  2. Richard Stevens (2011). The Game Audio Tutorial: A Practical Guide to Sound and Music for Interactive Games (1st). Focal Press.
Abbreviated Class Schedule Description:
Introduction to game audio production, including basics of game sound design, working with animation, sound effect libraries, technical/mixing issues specific to game audio and professional overview of the industry.
Prerequisite: MURT 20.