An audio engineer creates soundtracks for games including music, sound effects, voices and ambient noises. There is no set career path but experience with sound recording, editing and mixing is important. Graduates and those with a portfolio of music and sound engineering work can enter the field. Audio engineers must have strong communication and organizational skills to work with designers and other teams to understand requirements and manage complex sound projects on schedule. Formal qualifications are not required but courses in audio engineering and sound technology are beneficial.

1. The Audio Engineer creates the soundtrack for a game. This might include music; sound effects to
support the game action, such as gunshots or explosions; character voices and other expressions;
spoken instructions; and ambient effects, such as crowd noise, vehicles or rain.
Career Routes
There is no set route to becoming an Audio Engineer in the games industry, but a musical
background is essential as the role usually involves composing and performing music. Experience
of sound recording, editing and mixing is also required.
Most new entrants to the games industry are graduates, but there are also opportunities for
individuals with a talent for music and sound engineering, demonstrated through a personal
portfolio.
Recruiters will be looking for creativity, resourcefulness, a range of styles and a love of games,
rather than competence in specific technology and tools.
Knowledge and Skills
Game production is a collaborative process. Audio Engineers need excellent communication and
interpersonal skills to be able to understand what designers and producers want from them and to
keep up with any changes. They also need to communicate effectively with the programming and
art department teams.
The Audio Engineer must also be able to work independently and manage their schedule. They
need good organisational skills to deal with the amount of sound effects and music required for
games and to co-ordinate recording sessions.
Training and Qualifications
There are no specific qualifications required for this role, but a degree or other higher education
qualification in sound engineering is useful.
Courses are available throughout the UK, from HND to degree level, in sound technology, audio
engineering, acoustics, and music recording. There are also short courses available. Creative
Skillset’s regional training partners can advise about local opportunities.
An example of work as an Audio Engineer:
Gustavo Santaolalla is an Argentine musician, film composer and
producer. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in
two consecutive years, for Brokeback Mountain in 2005, and Babel in
2006. Most recently, he composed the music for the video game The Last
of Us. Gustavo composed the score for The Last of Us.
Troy Morrissey - Creating music and sound design for 13 games at the
local game jam TOJam, enabled Troy to make the leap to audio for indie
game developers full time. With 15 years working as a audio engineer,
Troyʼs game jam experience helped him to hone his craft in
understanding the needs of indie game developers. It has also inspired
him to spearhead organizing the Toronto Global Game Jam. Troy is a
member of the IGDA and Hand Eye Society and has spoke at several
events about game jams, audio and indie game development over the
past few years.
AUDIO ENGINEER - COMPUTER GAMES