If you’re a musician or burgeoning music producer, and also a lover of video games, then it’s only natural that those two interests might fuse as a potential path for you. From triple-As to indies, the video game market has exploded, with hundreds, if not thousands, going out every year. All of them need music, so what does it take to get your compositions into those games?
Study The Craft
First and foremost, you have to keep working on your music production skills. Even if you think you have what it takes already, keeping up at a professional level means consistent dedication to the art form. This includes learning how to work tools like Digital Audio Workstations, as well as focusing on essential musical theory, such as scales and chords. Building a wide library of inspirations, from other video composers to the wider world of soundtracking in movies, games, and anime, and constantly experiencing music in new genres can help you build a diverse style, too.
Know The Role Of Music In Games
Music is video games is not just supposed to fade into the background. The most memorable tracks of games past, present, and future can set the scene and act as a key signifier of locations, characters, and atmospheres. They can drive emotions during cutscenes and climactic moments. Some of the best soundtracks stand out as some of the most memorable aspects of the games that they are in. You have to fundamentally understand the role of music in games, working alongside visuals, storytelling, and gameplay to know how to make your compositions part of the player’s journey.
Set Up With The Tools You Need
Mastering a DAW is an essential step for being able to put compositions together, but working with a variety of instruments, digital and analog, can help you build your vocabulary for the sounds that you produce, as well. For instance, if you’re working on dark fantasy or horror games, then a Black Metal MIDI pack might be the right tool for the job. If you’re going for more retro-inspired games, then chiptune packs can help you create a more immersive and fitting sound. Building a library of samples can help you incorporate an even wider world of sounds, as well.
Working With Developers And Designers
Music in video games is becoming more and more integrated into the moment-to-moment gameplay experience. Working with developers and creative directors is important, so communication skills and a good understanding of game design, such as how music should change to fit levels, fights, and narrative beats. Working with interactive tools like FMOD, for instance, can help you learn how to integrate your music with in-game triggers, creating dynamic scores that evolve as the players play.
Becoming a video game music composer takes determination, dedication, and creativity, but it’s a role that is increasingly opening up for those who want to make their mark on the premier art form of the 21st century. The tips above can hopefully help you find your way.
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