The Complete Guide to Game Audio: For Composers, Musicians, Sound Designers and Game Developers FROM THE PUBLISHER
This comprehensive guide gives readers with basic music compositional skills the information they need to become commercially viable artisans. In addition to providing a foundation of prerequisite technical skills, including basic audio considerations and sound file formats, the book teaches the business skills needed to work successfully as an audio technician in the game development business. How-to features take the reader step-by-step, from purchasing the right equipment, understanding the various game platforms, and composing music and creating sound effects specifically for games, to the ins and outs of marketing, producing demo reels, determining fees, bidding projects, and negotiating contracts.
SYNOPSIS
Turn your musical passion into a profitable career with this essential guide to the business and technical skills you need to succeed in the multi-billion dollar games industry. Step-by-step instructions lead you through the entire music and sound effects process - from developing the essential skills and purchasing the right equipment to keeping your clients happy. Learn everything you need to:
Find the jobs. Identify your niche, implement a business and marketing plan that includes a great demo reel, and plug into the established network to find clients.
Make the deals. Make the bidding and contract process work for you by knowing the standard industry terminology, understanding how to set fees, and employing non-confrontational negotiating tactics to reach sound agreements that establish acceptable boundaries for change orders, reworks, payment options, and other essentials.
Create music and sound effects for games. Master the exacting specifications for composing music and creating sound effects on the various gaming platforms and systems.
The companion CD-ROM features audio and cinematic examples, demos of useful sound editing and sequencing programs, and sample business contracts.
FROM THE CRITICS
Booknews
A gameography lists the computer games Marks has created music for. Assuming readers to be musicians and composers with little or no background in computers, he explains such aspects of the trade as essential skills and tools, getting organized, finding and landing jobs, bidding, creating the actual music and sound effects and blending them together, game platforms, and other topics. The disc contains samples, demonstrations, interviews, forms, and other material. Distributed in the US by Publisher Group West. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)
WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING
Jennifer Olsen, senior editor, Game Developer magazineAn exhaustive and indispensable resource for game audio from initial concept to cashing the royalty checks. — Jennifer Olsen
Jack Buser, computer and game initiative engineer, Dolby LaboratoriesAaron is truly a game audio expert and a great teacher. This book will help anyone aspiring to succeed in the biz.
— Jack Buser
Greg O'Conner Read, founder and editor, Music4Games.netAaron Marks' experience and insight into the inner workings of the game audio world make this book an invaluable resource. — Greg OConner Read
Chance Thomas, game composer and president, HUGEsoundSomebody gag this guy! He's giving away all our secrets! — Chance Thomas
You've written a great book that has completely shown me the light. It's shown me how I can take that desire to create and actually make a living. — Jonathan Brickley
... I actually had tears in my eyes a couple of times because lately I feel like I'm so close, and now with this book, I think it's what I needed. — Adam DiTroia
I'm in awe at the amount and caliber of the content! Bravo! — Dave Miner
ACCREDITATION
Music had always been a part of Aaron Marks' life. But it wasn't until 1995, when his overgrown hobby became On Your Mark Music Productions, that he began selling it to the world. He started with the local radio and television scene, composing jingles and scoring public service announcements. With his sights set firmly on Hollywood, he bumped into the games industry. Ever since that fated redirect, he has been cranking out music and sound effects for games. His credits include a PlayStation 2 game, five CD-ROM game projects, 56 on-line casino games, a dozen touch-screen arcade games, and numerous multimedia projects. As an occasional diversion, Aaron sidelines as a writer for Game Developer magazine, Gamasutra.com, and Music4Games.net.
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