Mixing%20It%20Up%20The%20Last%20Great%20Challenge%20For%20Game%20Audio

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Mixing It UpThe Last Great Challenge For Game
Audio

• Garry Taylor
• Audio/Video Manager
• Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

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Overview

• Introduction
• What Is Mixing?
• Getting The Tools
• Monitoring
• Case Studies
• Summary

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Introduction

• Lots of money spent on recording/acquiring audio
  assets
• Implementation of those assets is just as
  important
• In the past, mixing has not been given enough
  attention

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What Is Mixing?

• The technical answer
• Achieving clarity
• The artistic answer
• Focusing and manipulating the player

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What Is Mixing?

• Active Mixing
• Triggering changes in the mix through in-game
  events
• Passive Mixing
• Routing and the configuration of dynamics
  processors and how they interact with each other

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Getting The Tools

• Prioritization of Sound Effects
• Effective Sub-Grouping
• The ability to save mixer snapshots and recall
  them via in-game events
• Dynamics processors

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Routing Example
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Monitoring

• Ideally, you should mix your game in a critical
  listening environment
• If you dont have a suitable room, hire one!
• Consumer surround systems are very variable.

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Case Studies
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Case Study

• 12 Vehicles
• 12 Surfaces
• Mix states for each type of event (i.e. Heavy
  Collision)
• Configurable transition times between states

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Case Study

• Maximum of 192 Voices
• Maximum of 31 Subgroups
• 3 main mix groups Music/Dialogue/SFX
• Mixer zones specified within Maya correspond to
  mixer snapshots
• Cutscenes have their own mixer snapshots

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Summary

• A good mix is extremely important
• Mixing clarity and focus
• Invest in the right tools
• Monitor in an accurate environment