GAME AUDIO FUNDAMENTALS - 2027/8

Module Overview

Sound is an essential component of video games, enhancing the immersive and emotional experience for the player. This module will begin by introducing you to the fundamental principles of sound and digital audio signals that underpin work in gain audio. You will explore approaches to analysing sound design in video games, and gain an awareness of the game audio pipeline. Practical activities will introduce you to the processes of creating sound and music assets for games, as you explore techniques for recording, editing, digitally manipulating and sequencing sounds. Having created sound assets, you will also explore the implementation of these in a 3D game engine, testing, mixing and refining an immersive game audio demonstration which brings your work in sound together. By the end of this module you will have gained a strong foundation in game audio, enabling you to incorpoate sound in your game design plans and projects.

Module provider

Music & Media

Module Leader

WEINEL Jon (Music & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 2

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

N/A

Module content

Indicative content includes: 

• The game audio pipeline
• Decibels and audio signals
• Microphones 
• Digital audio interfaces 
• PCM digital audio 
• Recording, editing and manipulating sound 
• Sampling and synthesis 
• Digital audio workstations and sequencers 
• Analysing sound design for games 
• Implementing 3D sound in game engines 
• Mixing audio in game engines

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

N/A

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide you with the opportunity to demonstrate and develop your knowledge and understanding of game audio fundamentals. It is designed to assess both your theoretical and practical work based on the topics covered on the module.

Assessment 1: Weekly Lab Tasks

Students will complete a range of lab tasks related to different areas of the game audio pipeline, providing a small portfolio of work which will be submitted for assessment.

Assessment 2: Game Audio Project and Report

You will be challenged to create a demonstration project using a 3D game engine, which tests your ability to implement and mix sound to produce professional results.

Throughout this module feedback will be available from the tutors. During the labs, tutors will ask students to share work-in-progress and give feedback which helps students to refine and improve their work.

Module aims

• Enable you to analyse examples of sound design in video games and gain an awareness of game audio pipelines.
• Allow you to explore processes for creating and processing sound and music assets for video games.
• Gain experience in the tools and workflows used for implementing 3D sound in modern game engines.
• Develop an understanding of fundamental audio principles and terminology.

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to develop your knowledge and understanding of game audio fundamentals. Students will be introduced to theoretical concepts that underpin sound design for games, and will have the opportunity to put these into practice through a range of practical tasks, allowing them to gain familiarity with a range of sound design tools and practices. The module will challenge students to implement sounds in a game engine, providing scope for originality and independence in their work. 

The learning and teaching methods include lectures and lab tasks. Lectures will cover the theoretical background to each of the topics covered, and will incoporate in-class activities and discussion. The lab sessions will focus on practical work, allowing students to explore tools and techniques in a structured and supportive context where individual feedback is available from the tutors.

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: DMA1022

Other information

The Department of Music and Media is committed to developing graduates with attributes encompassing Employability, Digital Capabilities, Global and Cultural Capabilities, Sustainability, and Resourcefulness and Resilience. 

Employability: This module enables students to actively design and development of game audio projects. This will prepare students for industry roles related to game audio, and other types of roles where being able to communicate and work with sound designers is beneficial. 

Digital Capabilities: Students are introduced to a wide range of industry-standard tools for sound production and game audio. This develops their experience in creating and manipulating sound using digital tools, which is useful in game audio and other creative industries where sound is used.

Global and Cultural Awareness: Students will explore game audio projects drawn from a variety of global and cultural contexts, broadening their perspective with regards to the wide range of international uses for game audio technologies. 

Sustainability: Where relevant, the module encourages students to investigate ethical considerations and sustainability issues as they relate to sound. 

Resourcefulness and Resilience: Students are guided to reflect, evaluate, adapt, and respond flexibly to feedback on their game audio work on this module, addressing technical and design challenges and improving their work iteratively based on feedback.

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2027/8 academic year.