The document discusses various techniques for designing realistic gunshot sound effects for video games. It covers topics like recording real gunshots, extracting individual elements from recordings, applying layers and processing to gun sounds, techniques for playing back gunshot sounds in games, and how sounds should change based on factors like first-person perspective versus third-person. The goal is to create gunshot sounds that are realistic enough to provide feedback to the player but not so realistic that they become annoying when heard repeatedly in a game.

2. Charles Maynes

3. Weapons sound aesthetics- Real?, HYPER Real?, or just REDONKULOUS? Only your producer knows for sure.....

4. Do all guns sound the same? NO......... but actually they sort of do.......

5. Real world defining conditions for weapons recording Weapon Caliber Location Barrel Length Microphone type Construction Materials Mic placement Ammunition type Pads and Limiting

6. Other location issues Weather / Wind / Rain Site Security Activity Pacing

7. http://vimeo.com/20869893

8. Chuck Russom

10. Guns Give The Player Feedback

11. The Player’s Gun Needs To Be Bad-Ass

12. NPC Guns Shouldn’t Sound Cooler Than The Player’s

13. Gun Foley and Shell Ejects Make A Gun Feel Real

14. Every Gun In The Game Needs A Unique Sound

15. Don’t Forget The Tail/Decay Of The Gun

17. Onions Have Layers Ogres Have Layers Sound Design Has Layers

18. Player Gun Sound Layers Mech Body Punch Mix

21. Need To Convey a Sense of Danger

23. Processing EQ Compressor Limiter/Volume Maximixer Transient Tape Saturation Bass Enhancer

24. Chris vs Reality “ ” 17

25. Chris vs Reality Recording session with Charles Maynes Weapons that have a unique sound Building Blocks 18

26. Chris vs Reality Giving your weapons a unique voice Using unusual non literal elements 19

27. Chris vs Reality Brink Silenced Pistol breakdown elements 20

28. Chris vs Reality Brink Silenced Pistol final versions 21

29. Chris vs Reality Brink Sniper Rifle breakdown elements 22

30. Chris vs Reality Brink Sniper Rifle final version 23

31. Chris vs Reality Ironsights sonic not realistic but who cares!? This blends in when weapon in ironsights Creates player focus Non Weapon source elements 24

32. Chris vs Reality Choir of not just guns philosophy Design with harmony in mind 25

34. Recap + + + Recordings Elements Sound Design Plugins/Mastering = WIN?

35. Playback Systems Original Recording 6 Shot Burst 3 Singles

36. Playback Systems Monophonic > Pros •Simple To Implement •Uses Only 1 (or 2) Voice(s) •Works For Singles And Burst •Change Fire Rate Without Pitching Cons •Looses Character Of Burst Fire •Can Sound Flat •Usually Frame Rate Dependent •Hard To Use Burst Source

37. Playback Systems Polyphonic > Pros •Simple To Implement •Can Limit Voice Usage •Works For Singles And Burst •Change Fire Rate Without Pitching Cons •Loses Character Of Burst Fire •Can Sound Flat •Usually Frame Rate Dependent •Hard To Use Burst Source

38. Frame Rate vs Fire Rate 30FPS 30FPS Original 1177 RPM Un Quantized Shot Every Frame 1800 RPM Quantized Shot Every Other Frame 900 RPM Quantized Is Firing / Is Not Firing Binary Switch On / Off

39. * Playback Systems Looping > Pros •Fairly Simple To Implement •Preserves Burst Character •Independent Of Frame Rate •Quick To Edit And Place Markers Cons •Single Shot Can Lack Full Punch •Changing Fire Rate Changes Pitch •Can Be Repetitive •Loop Release Needs Care * Birotron - Similar to a Mellotron, but uses tape loops, allowing sounds to play indefinitely

40. Playback Systems Granular > Pros •Per Grain AM,FM And DSP •Preserves Burst Character •Independent Of Frame Rate •Change Fire Rate Without Pitching Cons •Harder To Implement •More Sample Editing Required •Works Best For Bursts •Requires Some Thought

41. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” Body Tail

42. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where

43. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where

44. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where

45. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where Urban Indoor Large Open Indoor Small

46. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where Urban Indoor Large Open Indoor Small

47. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where Urban Indoor Large Open Indoor Small

48. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where Urban Indoor Large Open Indoor Small

49. Surgery + > Burst Fire “All In” What Where Urban Indoor Large Open Indoor Small

50. Where is the What? Body Layers Environment Weapon Wear Swell/Energy Build Up Low Ammo Emotional e.g. Slow Mo Overheating

51. Where Is The What? 0P vs 1P vs 3P vs Far vs First Person Third Person

52. Where Is The What? 0P vs 1P vs 3P vs Far vs First Person Third Person

53. Where Is The What? 0P vs 1P vs 3P vs Far vs First Person Third Person

54. Where Is The What? 0P vs 1P vs 3P vs Far vs vs First Person Third Person “Far” Person

55. Where Is The What? 0P vs 1P vs 3P vs Far vs vs First Person Third Person “Far” Person

56. Where Is The What? 0P vs 1P vs 3P vs Far vs vs vs Zeroth Person ‘Iron Sights’ First Person Third Person “Far” Person

57. Where Is The What? 0P vs 1P vs 3P vs Far vs vs vs Zeroth Person ‘Iron Sights’ First Person Third Person “Far” Person

58. Really Real Realness vs Distance ‘Unrealness’ Distance from Listener

59. Really Real What Does Real Sound Like? News ‘Unrealness’ Youtube Film FAR Distance from Listener

60. Really Real Up Close DIY Recording ‘Unrealness’ Sample Libraries Pro Recording 3P FAR Distance from Listener

61. Really Real Up Close And Personal OTT Film ‘Unrealness’ SUB Foley 3P FAR 1P Distance from Listener

62. Really Real Unreal ‘Unrealness’ ? 3P FAR 0P 1P Distance from Listener

63. Runtime DSP Gelling Together In The World IR Reverb Distance Filtering Angular Filtering HDR Emotional EQ Ducking/Mixing Obstruction/Occlusion

64. La Fin + = WIN! FrostBite 2

65. Questions? Thanks For Listening