Most commonly reported Work Activities

• Interacting With Computers Using computers and computer systems (including hardware and software) to program, write software, set up functions, enter data, or process information.
• Thinking Creatively Developing, designing, or creating new applications, ideas, relationships, systems, or products, including artistic contributions.
• Making Decisions and Solving Problems Analysing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
• Establishing and Maintaining Interpersonal Relationships Developing constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintaining them over time.
• Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
• Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
• Controlling Machines and Processes Using either control mechanisms or direct physical activity to operate machines or processes (not including computers or vehicles).
• Documenting/Recording Information Entering, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
• Identifying Objects, Actions, and Events Identifying information by categorising, estimating, recognising differences or similarities, and detecting changes in circumstances or events.
• Monitor Processes, Materials, or Surroundings Monitoring and reviewing information from materials, events, or the environment, to detect or assess problems.

The Work

A Sound Designer chooses and shapes the sounds that a player will hear as they play a video game. They do this to help to set the mood, make interacting more fun, and communicate what’s going on to the player.

The sounds they design could include:

• Menus and buttons — including hovering and pressing sounds, and opening and closing menus.
• Movement in the world — including footsteps, bumping into things, and jumping.
• Taking actions — such as opening a door, swinging a sword, or buying an item.
• Environmental sounds — such as running water, singing birds, or a distant storm.
• State changes — such as entering danger, discovering something new, or the sound of victory or defeat.

For all of the above, the Sound Designer must consider volume, pitch, and many other factors to make sure that each sound fits into the overall experience.

In some cases, a Sound Designer will need to record new audio for a game. This might be important if the game takes place in an unusual location, or if sound is important for a particular scene.

The video game Unpacking has over 14,000 sound files for placing various items onto different surfaces.

Otherwise, they may purchase libraries of sound effects. For example, many games use footstep sounds, but players don’t pay much attention to them. So why not buy those pre-packaged, and put time towards something more creative?

Many companies specialise in producing and selling sound libraries. In the past these would focus on radio and TV; now there are also companies which specialise in sound for games.

A Digital Audio Workstation (DAW) will often be used to alter raw sound files into a more refined audio asset.

For example, the sound of people talking in a room might be edited so that it loops, allowing a player to stand around for a long time without hearing a gap in the conversation.

Depending on the team sise, a Sound Designer might be responsible for all audio in a game, including composing music and coordinating voice acting.

Sound designers are game designers, and can have a valuable contribution to the creative direction of a game if they’re involved early. Unfortunately, many game studios treat sound design as an afterthought. While it’s far from ideal, sometimes Sound Designers have to come into a project late “to add sound” and make sure a game can be shipped.

Work tasks...

• Establish the overall “feel” for the audio in a game project, and ensure this is well-documented and can be applied across the entire game.
• Record custom sound effects using a microphone, and purchase existing libraries to ensure the game has the sounds it needs on-time and on-budget.
• Modify audio files using a digital audio workstation to best suit the game project.
• Implement sounds into a game engine using a middleware tool such as FMOD or Wwise.
• Collaborate with game designers and programmers to ensure that audio is as immersive as possible, making use of 3D spatial audio, ducking, and other techniques.

Most commonly reported Work Tasks

• Record speech, music, and other sounds on recording media, using recording equipment.
• Confer with producers, performers, and others to determine and achieve the desired sound for a production, such as a musical recording or a film.
• Separate instruments, vocals, and other sounds, and combine sounds during the mixing or postproduction stage.
• Regulate volume level and sound quality during recording sessions, using control consoles.
• Set up, test, and adjust recording equipment for recording sessions and live performances.
• Prepare for recording sessions by performing such activities as selecting and setting up microphones.
• Keep logs of recordings.
• Mix and edit voices, music, and taped sound effects for live performances and for prerecorded events, using sound mixing boards.
• Synchronise and equalise prerecorded dialogue, music, and sound effects with visual action of motion pictures or television productions, using control consoles.
• Reproduce and duplicate sound recordings from original recording media, using sound editing and duplication equipment.

This occupation is typically suited for people with the following Career Interests:

Realist

Realists are usually interested in 'things' - such as buildings, mechanics, equipment, tools, electronics etc. Their primary focus is dealing with these - as in building, fixing, operating or designing them. Involvement in these areas leads to high manual skills, or a fine aptitude for practical design - as found in the various forms of engineering.

Realists like to find practical solutions to problems using tools, technology and skilled work. Realists usually prefer to be active in their work environment, often do most of their work alone, and enjoy taking decisive action with a minimum amount of discussion and paperwork.

Creative

Creative people are drawn to careers and activities that enable them to take responsibility for the design, layout or sensory impact of something (visual, auditory etc). They may be atrracted to the traditional artistic pursuits such as painting, sculpture, singing, or music. Or they may show more interest in design activities, such as architecture, animation, or craft areas, such as pottery and ceramics.

Creative people use their personal understanding of people and the world they live in to guide their work. Creative people like to work in unstructured workplaces, enjoy taking risks and prefer a minimum of routine.

Gaining experience in sound design will require familiarity with a range of digital and analog tools.

These will be available to students of Audio Design and Production courses in any suitably equipped college. By developing solid foundations in audio, a student should be well-positioned to take a conversion course into audio for games, or simply dive in with practical experience.

Another option is to study a Game Development course, taking the opportunity to work on audio during projects. This will help with growing a portfolio, and understanding the purpose of sound within the context of games.

Game audio often requires expensive software, which is frequently available for free with a student license

Ultimately, a showreel, a clear understanding of the relevant digital tools, and a clear ability to communicate about design choices and how they were made under the constraints of the project will be deciding factors in finding an entry-level role.

Further info...

• IntoGames — Game Sound Designer
• ScreenSkills UK — Game Sound Designer

Last Updated: January, 2023

Salary Range (thousands per year)* €30k - €55k

Salries vary based on employer, location, role, duties, and experience. Salary can be sessional based on project work.

Data Source(s):
Blake & Filip/ Indeed/ Payscale/ Prosperity.ie

Last Updated: July, 2024

* The lower figures typically reflect starting salaries. Higher salaries are awarded to those with greater experience and responsibility. Positions in Dublin sometimes command higher salaries.

View Salary information from Indeed.ie
Note: data not aways available

This information has been derived from the Solas National Skills Bulletin (2023).

Employment grew strongly between 2021 and 2022, with an additional 7,300 persons employed. As illustrated in the CSO Census data below, employment is spread across a number of roles; since 2016, the strongest growth, in absolute terms, was for graphic designers and authors, writers and translators.

New employment permits issued for this occupation in 2022 were primarily for film/TV and animation/visual effects (VFX) roles but also for linguistics experts in the ICT sector. There was also a high volume of recent job hires in line with the recent employment increase. The data does not point to overall issues with recruitment for these roles.

• Imirt Irish Game Makers

  • [email protected]
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• Ardan

  • Cluain Mhuire Wellpark Road, Galway City, Ireland, H91 WP9K
  • 091 770 748
  • [email protected]
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• Animation Ireland

  • The Association of Animation Producers in Ireland Ltd, 14 – 16 Lord Edward Street, Dublin 2, D02 YC63
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• Animation Skillnet

  • Animation Skillnet Office Furthr, Suite 34 GEC, Taylor’s Lane Dublin 8
  • 087 2487391
  • [email protected]
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• Screen Ireland

  • Click Here