1. Audio
Engineer
An
Audio
Engineer
designs
the
soundtrack,
sound
effects,
and
oversees
the
voice
actors
recording
their
lines
in
a
video
game
project.
Depending
on
the
engineer
&
Creative
Director’s
preference,
they
may
begin
work
early
on
in
the
game’s
production,
and
adapt
as
the
game
changes
and
takes
shape,
or
they
may
choose
to
come
in
after
production
on
the
game
is
complete.
The
composer
for
The
Last
of
Us,
Gustavo
Santaoalalla,
chose
to
begin
work
early
on
in
the
game’s
production.
Audio
Engineers
work
for
development
studios.
The
size
of
the
audio
department
depends
on
the
company,
but
can
consist
of
just
one
or
two
people
who
are
sometimes
required
to
work
very
long
hours.
Audio
Engineers
also
work
for
specialist
outsourcing
companies
and
localisation
services
that
‘re-­‐version’
games
for
different
territories.
The
main
qualities
for
being
an
Audio
Engineer
include
being
able
to
compose
and
perform
music
first
and
foremost;
you
must
also
have
sound
engineering
skills
and
knowledge
of
the
relevant
tools
and
technology.
An
Audio
Engineer
must
also
possess
“aural
skills”
and
a
sense
of
timing.
It
is
also
essential
they
have
an
understanding
of
the
game’s
theme
and
atmosphere.
A
Creative
Director
may
decide
that
he/she
does
not
like
a
sound/
soundtrack
during
production,
and
the
Audio
Engineer
will
then
have
to
tweak
it
(working
with
the
Creative
Director)
to
a
point
they
both
agree
on.
There
is
no
set
route
you
can
take
to
become
an
Audio
Engineer
in
the
games
industry.
A
musical
background
is
essential
as
the
role
usually
involves
composing
and
performing
music.
You
will
also
need
experience
of
sound
recording,
editing
and
mixing.
You
will
need
to
show
creativity,
resourcefulness,
a
range
of
styles
and
a
love
of
games,
rather
than
skills
in
specific
technology
and
tools.

2. Audio
Engineer:
Gustavo
Santaoalalla
Santaoalalla
began
his
music
career
in
1967,
when
he
co-­‐founded
the
group
Acro
Iris.
Santaoalalla
began
working
on
film
soundtracks
in
the
1990s,
and
in
2006
won
the
Golden
Globe
award
for
his
soundtrack
Brokeback
Mountain.
In
2013
he
composed
the
soundtrack
for
The
Last
of
Us,
this
was
his
first
soundtrack
he
composed
for
a
video
game.
Santaoalalla
began
work
on
the
score
early,
using
the
concept
art
for
inspiration,
he
played
around
with
a
variety
of
instruments
including
unorthodox
ones,
to
create
a
soundtrack
that
gave
the
game
a
tense
atmosphere.