Getting Started in Game Audio

So you want to get started in Game Audio but you have no idea how or where to start with the hundreds of links on this page. Hopefully this page helps you!

Step 0 - Follow the Game Audio Learning Roadmap.

Click here to head on over to GameAudioLearning - created by Greg Lester and Jonny Sands. This is a learning roadmap here that will help you with all of the basic information about getting yourself set up for sound design and game audio. It's an INCREDIBLE resource, and starting here will get you inspired and learning in no time. For the basic order of operations to get started in sound design, see below, then REFER BACK to the roadmap.


Step 1 - Get yourself a Digital Audio Workstation

Digital Audio Workstations (DAWs) are how sound designers create, edit, and export the audio they put into games. Most game audio professionals will currently recommend Reaper due to its flexibility and price ($60 with a GREAT free trial). It's not the easiest to get started with if you're not used to navigating DAWs so I'd look at This playlist from Akash Thakkar to get set up properly.

Other popular DAWs include Ableton Live , Cubase , Nuendo , and ProTools .


Step 2 - Practice sound design!

The most important part of our job is creating incredible sound effects, so now that you have your DAW it's time to start learning! The Learning Resources page has a TON of information on it that you can use. See also This video playlist from Akash Thakkar, Marshall McGee's videos , BlipSounds free sound design course, among the other links from Learning Resources, Blogs, and the discord servers listed on the home page.


Take note that you do not need an expensive setup to get started in sound design. I started with my phone's built-in microphone and some free plugins listed on this website. Marshall McGee's videos have some amazing tutorials on utilizing just your phone mic to record amazing source. Check them out!


Step 3 - Dive into Implementation

Our sounds have to get into the game somehow, and there are plenty of methods of doing this. The Learning resources page also has a ton of links for this, but for some more direct recommendations, I'd go for The BlipSounds Reaper FMOD and WWise Course and Wwise 101 from Audiokinetic. Both are free courses. If you need more help and want to take a more direct learning pathway, you can check out the (paid) courses available at the School of Video Game Audio


Step 4 -Find a mentor!

Also on Game Audio Learning, there are mentorships available! Check it out Here!