How to Get a Job as a Sound Designer for Video Games (My Journey)

In this episode, I talk a little bit about my own experiences and share some of the lessons that I learned on my journey to becoming a full-time sound designer.
I hope this was useful to you and if you know anyone who might benefit from this video please share it with them!
Resources from the video: gameaudiolearning.com/
Game Jam Calendar:
itch.io/jams/upcoming
PowerUpAudio (Reel-Talk):
/ powerupaudio
Indie Game Developers (Facebook Group):
/ indiegamedevs
Indie Game Chat (Facebook Group):
/ indiegamechat
Support us: Ko-fi.com/gameaudiolearning
If you have any questions contact us here: [e-mail]
References:
Horizon Zero Dawn | 3D Audio Dev Diary - Platinum Wireless Headset | PS4: • Horizon Zero Dawn | 3D...
The Best Games from GMTK Game Jam 2020:
• The Best Games from GM...
Draft for super bally ball:
vimeo.com/268898392?fbclid=Iw...
Super bally ball demo:
vimeo.com/gregoryscottlester
My gear:
RØDE NTG3: amzn.to/3gqeEzg
Mackie Big Knob Studio: amzn.to/3x53ANV
Zoom H5: amzn.to/3egTfWW
Rode Blimp & Boom Pole: amzn.to/3e9P13h
RØDE Vlogger Kit: amzn.to/3gie86xz
Rechargeable Batteries (+ Charger): amzn.to/32pA3ke
Sony Alpha6000 (Camera): amzn.to/3een75Y
LOM Microusi Pro: tinyurl.com/Microusi
Zoom F8: tinyurl.com/ZoomF8
00:00 - Intro
00:27 - How I Started
00:58 - What Do I Need To Learn?
01:55 - Formal Education
02:28 - Develop Your Skills
03:08 - Network
04:29 - Demo Reel
05:06 - Attend Game Jams
05:32 - Finding Indie Games To Work On
06:17 - Being Ready For Opportunities
06:57 - Recap
07:20 - Outro

[@AftertouchAudio]

Making friends has to be the best way to get jobs within the industry. Awesome video man!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thanks for the kind words and definitely agree! All of my jobs I got through friends either by recommendation or meeting the person hiring me through them.

[@TankyFrank]

Great video and thanks for the great links!

[@samwain584]

Really liked your advice! Keep making videos x

[@maciekkk123]

Thanks Man. Great video and resources.

[@pierrebraibant1846]

Thanks for this video! It's really motivating!

[@lorenzomasta]

Great content dude! Happy to see audio folks sharing helpful tips to join the industry. Keep it up!!

[@vkmusicz8160]

Thanks a lot for the help buddy . Appreciate it❤️

[@harrynixonaudio2464]

Really good video! Thanks for the info.

[@daltonroperez9296]

This is helpful. Thank you brother!

[@Curiacity]

This is all really good advice, and I can't wait to try the game jam stuff out my self in the future

[@Dmodockii]

Thank you for this video! It was very informative and motivating. I will definitely be revisiting this video for future purposes!

[@dakuyaofficial4731]

Hi! Insightful video! It definitely gave me a guide on what to learn as I'm also on my final year of electronic music production in uni. Hopefully you could make more videos as it's hard to come across Game Sound Designers that show design sessions in KZbin. I would definitely love to watch some workflow advices/design techniques!

[@styledcinema9714]

Great video mate!

[@kp8564]

you're a life saver. im fed up with my corporate job and im a hobbyist musician and a gamer since childhood. I now want to pursue music and audio as a career. Game Audio Designer is where I want to be in the end. thanks for making such videos. please make more of em.

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thanks for the kind words!

[@adamwhitlam6766]

Really helpful tips! Subbed, thank you! 😁

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thank you Adam! :)

[@AryaMewadaMusic]

great work man !! thank you so much!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thanks for watching!

[@RareEarCandy]

WOW! This is exactly what I needed! Thanks for sharing those awesome tips, not to mention all the resources you included in the description-it was all SUPER helpful! Networking is really hard for me right now because I don't personally know anyone in the game industry and I haven't really attended any game-related events before. But I appreciate how you emphasized the importance of focusing on making friends while networking, so that's something I'm definitely gonna work on. Thanks again for the awesome video!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thank you for your kind words, I'm really glad that the video helped you and wish you all the best on your journey!

[@adsrlab2823]

very helpful video my friend!🤘🤘🤘

[@nickitchet3403]

Extremely cool and organic video, thank you bud! :)

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thanks a lot! :)

[@rainfeedermusic]

I like to game, I am into basic sound production knowing to play few instruments. Sound design for games is really fascinating for me but somehow i cannot find much content in the internet for people to pursue this. This is probably one of the few resources out there talking about a track.

[@aidanpilato]

Thank you for creating this video! All of the tips and information that you gave are extremely helpful. I have been fascinated with video game soundtracks for quite a while now, and always wondered how to actually begin pursuing this career. In the past, I've messed around in old Sonar software to make my own soundtrack music, but unfortunately my technical knowledge of sound design is very limited. I appreciate you taking the time to inform your viewers how to work their way towards a career in that field.

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thank you so much for the kind words, really glad that you found the video helpful! :)

[@kaisalmon1646]

Great video, hope it finds those it will help

[@lh2227]

Wow thank you so much for sharing!!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Appreciate the kind words, right back at ya :)

[@mooseybaby278]

thank you very much, helpful

[@yashrachelkar1]

amazing video thanks alot ! very helpful brother ! :D

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Glad you enjoyed it and thanks for the kind words! :)

[@harrisonjohn4301]

Hey man I appreciate this video. This couldn’t have come at a better time, as I’m having a bad day filled with doubts about whether I can get a job doing this. But, I’m doing everything you’ve mentioned....it just might take longer to get a job than I’d like, which sucks because I’m 29...so my age kind of works against me to some degree. Still in the process of learning what I need to learn and hone my skills. Thanks for the tips on demo reels and working on some games, as I’m getting closer to that part of the journey. Appreciate it!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey Harrison, glad you enjoyed the video. Don't put yourself down, everyone needs to start somewhere and this industry is very competitive but it's growing at a fast paste meaning more jobs are becoming available every day! If you shift your view then your age can be a great advantage as you have lots of life and previous job experience. Working as a sound designer requiresuch more than just one skill. In your previous jobs you have probably honed yiur communication, leadership and organisational skills among many others. Write them down, it's all great experience that your future employers will value. Good luck on your journey, if you have any more questions, want to talk or me to have a look over your work feel free to shoot me an email at contactgreglester@gmail(dot)com

[@ajryangameaudio]

Great video Greg, awesome tips, thank you - have subscribed!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thanks Andrew, that's very kind!

[@ajryangameaudio]

@@GameAudioAnalysis you’re welcome Greg, looking forward to checking out your other stuff!

[@hitsquadfuze6196]

Love this Video!! I am currently Going to Berklee and I Know this my Endgame! Thank you for the fire you put on my pathway to an epic future in Sound Design!!! I can't wait to make new friends in this community!

[@nickreinert1]

Me too, what is your instagram?

[@zoundbiestudio4021]

You sir are a true seer. How did you know I was gonna ask about the toilet paper? Also, from a super novice game audio peer that´s just starting out, I see your take on this subject is spot on. First job I got was thanks to a gamejam team member I befriend on my first jam, so... to anybody who's in doubt: Be social, be nice, and put your face and name out there!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Great story, thanks for the comment and kind words and best of luck on your journey!

[@FrancescoPirrone]

Awesome!

[@AndrewWithana]

Great video my friend! ☺

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thanks a lot! :)

[@AndrewWithana]

@@GameAudioAnalysis Could you pass me your email address? I would like to write to you about some information.

[@yashkummar]

Hi man! Just came across your youtube while researching. I am also applying for a job but they need a showreel. Your vid has given me hope and guidance to pursue my dream. Thanks.

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Super happy to hear that! Best of luck on your journey, my inbox is always open for questions. :)

[@yashkummar]

Thank you...I will be in touch. Thanks

[@yashkummar]

@@GameAudioAnalysis Happy New Year to you. All the best.

[@f_c_r_]

This was a great video but we gotta know what you're doing with that roll of toilet paper behind you lolol

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hahah I was waiting for this comment, surprised it didn't come earlier. And I have a pretty bad allergies 🤧 to numerous things (like dust mites) that make my nose go a bit mental so a pack of tissues is never enough 😄

[@f_c_r_]

@@GameAudioAnalysis I have a pretty bad dust mite allergy too! I started carrying a handkerchief for that reason but I totally agree that a pack of tissues never quite cuts it haha. Relatively small audio nerd KZbin channels with dust mite allergies unite? 😅🤣🤣

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

@@f_c_r_ now that's a coincidence 😄 and a handkerchief is actually a great idea!

[@sharonsalazar8137]

thnks!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Not sure where to start learning Sound Design and Game Audio? Here's a great resource to help you get started: gameaudiolearning.com/

[@merlinthieme9325]

Wow man you literally spoke to my prayers... I've joined the sound industry through studying in 2019 really wanting to be an artist, and I still am very interested in making music but had and continue to have the hard realization that it doesn't pay much or count as a real job. I want to move countries and get a work visa for Canada, something to do with sound design would be epic and gaming was a big thing for me growing up. Do you know of it being at all common or even a thing to get an intern as a game sound designer? As I just want to learn and create. But first hand.

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Thanks for the kind words :) There are definitely internships available, they can be tricky to get into but the opportunity is there! I recommend just doing some research on what studios are near the place you want to move to and if they have any internship opportunities. (It never hurts to reach out and ask as long as you're friendly)

[@Rivessound]

I feel I resonate with you man. I have my toiletpaper the same spot as you! Easy to grab out for before its too late! 😂🤷🏼 Besides that, great content. Really usefull! 👍

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hahahah love to hear it!!! :D

[@rolex6041]

Thank You....

[@clydetripoux5041]

Thanks for your video, i found it particularly helpfull. You talked about this plateformer game you made from scratch. I think it's very interesting to do in order to practice implementation of sound with middlewares. Any advice to create a simple game when your not a game dev ? Thanks again for your video !

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Super happy that it helped you out! :) I would say: 1. Don't be too ambitious, make something really small and simple (platformers work especially well to learn the basics and get some nice sound into) the important thing is that you learn, have fun and actually finish it. 2. Don't be afraid to ask for help, I've had a lot of people help me and teach me while I was creating this game and learned loads. 3. Don't get frustrated when things don't work, you learn from your mistakes and from the things that go wrong, embrace it cause it will happen. 4. The internet is your friend! You can invest in a course on Udemy to have a more guided experience or simply watch some free tutorials both options are completely valid and will lead you to the same end result. 5. HAVE FUN! Don't stress yourself and enjoy the experience :) Good luck!

[@clydetripoux5041]

@@GameAudioAnalysis These are a great bunch of advices ! I've done a little bit of web developpment, learning on the web. I'll follow the same path for this project then. I wish you the best for your channel, and wait for your next video. Cheers !

[@floralcircuit5737]

Great video man, thank you for forwarding me to a certain direction. I have a question well, what do you write in your Resume or CV in terms of video game sound designer?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Happy to hear that :) It's all part of the learning roadmap, here's a link: guava-gold-ceet.squarespace.com/knowledgebase/how-to-write-a-resume-and-cover-letter-for-game-audio

[@floralcircuit5737]

@@GameAudioAnalysis Yea thank you, checked your latest video just after commenting. Thank you for doing all of this :)

[@lorenagonzalez6791]

Hi, nice video! and super usselful recopilation of audio game resources, thank you very much for that. But one question, how is the school of video game audio courses, is for beginners or can help for some mid and senior sound design? and do you know about other courses?? Thanks!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey there, thanks for the kind words. I believe that the school of video game audio is more for entry-level sound designers but you would have to write them as I haven't completed the course myself so I can't make a fair judgement. It depends on what you want to learn if you're looking to improve your sound design skills then I recommend just experimenting and practising a lot by doing redesigns as well as watching tutorials on how to get the most out of your plugins (eq, compression, reverb, etc.) If you want to learn how to implement audio then there are lots of resources on the actual website pages like the Wwise 101 course. Unfortunately, I don't know of a lot of sound design for game audio specific courses so I can't really recommend.

[@fragileyouth4302]

Hey! I'm newly subscribed, and I love your content. I just about to graduate this year with a sound engineering degree and my dream is to work for a studio as a sound designer. Content like this is really helpful in making it feel attainable for me. So thank you. I was curious though, do you have any recommendations for job posting websites? Are their any special job posting websites that cater to sound design at all? Also what are your thoughts on using something like artstation as a sound designer?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey Joseph, thanks for the kind words! Here are some websites that are good for finding jobs: DevBrada Games Jobs Direct Work With Indies IndieDB That's an interesting thought regarding artstation for sound design. In what context would you be thinking of using it? :)

[@fragileyouth4302]

@@GameAudioAnalysis thanks for the links! And yeah like in place of a website for your portfolio

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

​@@fragileyouth4302 No problem! I'd say that it's pretty important to have your own website but an artstation for sound design would be very cool!

[@solomonl2680]

I'm looking into sound design in games and if it was something I'm wanting to pursue, so this was a perfect video for an introduction to the actual industry. When it comes to game engines then where or what do suggest starting with for someone without any knowledge on them? what kind of hardware would someone need for these engines to run? and what sort of resources are easily available for these engines (for example, pre-made games which I could mess around with)?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

First I would start with honing your designing skills and once you're confident with the basics of sound design move on to learning how to use game engines. I would recommend learning either Unity or Unreal Engine as they are both free and most commonly used in the industry. As for hardware, you'll need a reasonably decent computer to run audio programs and game engines along with a lot of free storage space. Learning by doing is the best way so I would set yourself a very very simple goal of making a small 2d platformer game where your character jumps from platform to platform and tries to reach a certain endpoint. Then look up tutorials on how to do each step and familiarize yourself with the process. I've put together a game audio learning resources list here. Just look for "Unreal Engine or Unity" under the "Type" section. docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1fcuhGEesLC_PWCwY3dIwLgF774sKswOwIcZECWiH7Xo/edit#gid=0 If you want to dive in very deep I can also recommend Udemy courses which are structured and will give you a good understanding of the fundamentals. Best of luck and if you have any other questions feel free to reach out!

[@solomonl2680]

@@GameAudioAnalysis Thank you. greatly appreciated. I'm currently in my first year of college, in the UK, and universities were mentioned in the music technology class, so I was wonder if you would say the cost for University is worth paying for the education you got? or is it worth it more for the networking aspect?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

I would say it was worth it for me personally as it also allowed me to get a good understanding of some of a lot of the fundamentals of microphone, recording and mixing theory. You make some great friends and you have enough free time to actually just practice your skills in sound design! Plus it's an inspiring environment to be in.

[@harveyjones4002]

Thanks for the tips, great video! out of interest, why do game studios always ask for Reaper specifically over other DAWs? Is there some sort of engine integration that Reaper does that other DAWs can't?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Reaper has many benefits for game audio including the option to write custom scripts which can automate tedious processes. Additionally, you can exports hundreds or even thousands of files with elaborate Ming conventions incredibly easily. It also integrates directly into Wwise. Those are just some of the reasons Reaper is loved so much by the game audio community.

[@Simjeon]

Hi! Thank you so much for that video! I'm still studying Audio at SAE, however game sound didn't got taught that detailed, so i wanna learn it myself to get into the industry. I can't really find the link with the list of all the ressources you talked about at the beginning, or is it the link to that game audio learning portal? Again thank you for this great summary of steps :)

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey Simjeon, it's the link to the Game Audio Learning portal! I recommend you follow the Learning Roadmap it will help you get started with all the important information you need!

[@Simjeon]

Thank you! So the portal is the "better" version of the list you showed in the video? :)

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

@@Simjeon Yes!

[@whocares4O4]

Where can i find the Gaming audio learning resources mentioned in the video ?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

www.gameaudiolearning.com/

[@HeliMarjut]

Hi, thanks for the video! I have a question about the school of video game audio. Do you have to be 'present' for the online classes or do you just get the material and study at your own pace? I'm working so it would be hard to be able to attend classes. Thanks!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey! Unfortunately I have never attended the school of Video Game audio and can't answer your question. Best to write to them directly :)

[@HeliMarjut]

Thanks for the reply, I actually got the answer for this already. So apparently you get a new assignment every week which you can complete at your own pace during that week. :)

[@alexraven6295]

Hi, would you have any advice for a Sound Designer looking to work with sort story film creators?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

I would say follow the same advice but instead of game dev groups and meetups join film groups, attend film related events and rather than learning audio implementation learn how to mix for surround sound.

[@DonovanGG__]

So I have to learn to actually program the sounds I create into the game? Like is that a requirement for most video game composers? Or is it just something that makes you more valuable that you can do both make the music and actually program the music into the game? I know this may seem like a dumb question but I’m new to music composing so I’m a bit overwhelmed by everything lol

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

As a composer it's mainly understanding how your music will be played back in the game so you can make sure your compositions and the way you deliver the cues will translate well. Composers usually don't need to do any implementation themselves :)

[@dna393]

Goggogo

[@DebashishMallick]

Hi awesome video but I have a doubt. I live in India and I don,t have freinds who is in gaming music industry, so can I apply online, work from home for any company? Can you make a separate video about it? How to make it through?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey Debashish, thanks for the kind words! Definitely don't get discouraged by that. There are definitely possibilities to work remotely and in the beginning of your career where you work on smaller projects you will work from home anyway. I recommend you to take part in some of the online game jams and join some discord and slack communities for sound design for example the asoundeffect discord or the blipsounds discord which you can just type into Google and should be able to find! You'll be able to make friends there, get lots more advice on working remotely. Start looking online if there are any game studios near to where you live and maybe you can see if you can contact one of the studios and do a tour and meet some of the people. Best of luck!

[@miguelalexandresimoesneves8660]

Hey! How can one practice Wwise without being hired? Do you have any suggestion?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey, I recommend doing the Wwise training courses which are follow along tutorials that teach you the basics of how wwise works and how to implement audio into a game. Once you have a good understanding of the basics I recommend taking the Unity or Unreal demo levels and doing an audio replacement.

[@3dormsdown]

Why is your monitor in front of your right speaker?

[@alexander_al]

I am a hobby jazz/salsa musician (with a good theory base though) and a long term gamer too. Does it make a good mix for sound design?) Should I try to learn it? I'm sick of my corporate paper job too, tried to learn app development and then QA testing... It didn't work out, nobody want a guy with zero actual experience in these occupations.

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Hey! Sound design is a very technical professional which requires a lot of practise and training and it can take a long time to pick up the necessary skills to get a junior position. I'd definitely encourage you to check out the learning roadmap (link in the pinned comment above) and you'll get a better idea of what the skills are that you will need to learn. It's a great career path but definitely requires you to be passionate about it and it can take a very long time and a lot of hard work to get a job. That being said anyone can get into this industry if you work hard and stick with it so I totally encourage you to try it out :)

[@alexander_al]

@@GameAudioAnalysis thank you for sharing! I'll consider trying... Cheers 👍🏻

[@fpl8681]

couldnt find the google sheets file link

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

it's been updated :) www.gameaudiolearning.com/resources

[@someluck9354]

I have a toilet paper in my room too :D

[@maricel6470]

Can you recommend an online course for that? I am a podcast editor but want to be a sound designer.

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

an online course for sound design in general or is it something specific that you want to learn?

[@IAmAMartialArtist]

Is learning Programming languages like C++ and DSP important for being a Sound Designer?

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

It's definitely not a requirement but it can definitely be useful to know the basics of coding.

[@yogen7576]

I was advised to do so when I transitioned from music to game audio. I was lucky enough not to be too busy on the work side of things (lol) and took it really seriously for about 3 months. Here is what resulted from this investment after one year. -I learned C# basics following tutorials, enough so I could experiment with it myself, at a very humble level, and understand the mindset behind this activity. -I messed around with Unity and even made a few small (very small) games. I discovered other very interesting fields like arts and animations, UI design... -After 3 months, I attended implementing the entirety of my sounds and adaptive music logic during the global game jam and it was hard, but with the help of friendly devs around me I could do it and it felt truly rewarding. -Today (1 year later), I've completed a couple game cycles and am currently nearing the end of a third one. I participated in three game-jams and even made some UI and basic code here and there to save my devs time and energy. PROS: - It truly makes you a powerful ally in small teams, especially when time is running out in game-jams or at the end of a sprint. -You can undertake the entire logic of your audio, knowing exactly what is possible to do and how, because you can read your dev's code and understand how the game works. -Your journey to learning code and game making, in general, will give you a taste of what everyone in your team is working on and how they do their job. -It is a strong selling point for small indie games as a freelancer, even though you extremely rarely have to actually write code on a gig. -I've been able to write my own scripts to automate some of my production workflows, learning basic JavaScript on the fly (the vocabulary and syntax are very close to C#), something I couldn't imagine myself doing beforehand. CONS: -The learning curve gets very very steep past the first week or so. You will spend 4h being stuck for every 5 minutes of progress you make. But every dev I've ever met or worked with has told me that it doesn't get easier the better you become. So in the end it's kind of a good thing to have experienced it once yourself. -If you go away from programming for too long, having to dive back into it on a deadline is super stressful. -You will actually barely ever use this knowledge in professional situations. Conclusion: I wouldn't bother if it was only to increase your chances of getting a job. But if you are genuinely interested in the journey, go for it, it's definitely worth it. If you spend time in small teams making games, you will probably end up learning a lot of this stuff on the job anyway, at least that's what others told me and I can believe that. I hope this was helpful!

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

@@yogen7576 Thanks for taking the time to write this great summary of your experiences! Absolutely agree with you, on smaller teams where you are wearing many different hats it can be a lifesaver to know the basics of coding but when working on bigger projects there are dedicated audio programmers who are experiences programmers and you'll never be allowed to touch the code in AAA unless you're an actual programmer.

[@koriimusic499]

ahhhh why is he so cute :P

[@gamenovice4928]

Why is there toilet paper in the background?

[@TheWagola]

Hello, I sent you a message on Instagram

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Replied :)

[@pedro.camacho]

Why is there toilet paper in the background? :))

[@timeltdme4355]

it's cheaper and more practical than tissues

[@pedro.camacho]

@@timeltdme4355 I know! I was just joking with him :)

[@GameAudioAnalysis]

Yep, spot on!

[@pedro.camacho]

@@GameAudioAnalysis Very nice video, congrats :)

[@sarge3294]

Directly applying to game studios is damn near a complete waste of time.

[@jeanbeaumarchand1526]

Why do you have toilet paper on ur desk ?

[@Fantasiesunfulfilled1]

Thanks for this video. I’m getting to following this advice NOW! Lol