Pre-College Music & Sound Design for Games

Audio professionals play an important role on any game production team. Whether composing the musical score that sets a game’s mood or recording the sound effects that give players moment-to-moment gameplay feedback, it’s a job that requires both musical knowledge and technical expertise. During this four-week program, you will get to experience what student life is like for DigiPen college students who are studying to become audio professionals through DigiPen's Bachelor of Music and Sound Design. By focusing on the theory, history, and techniques of music and sound design, students in this program gain an understanding of what elements make a video game’s soundtrack and sound effects a compelling experience.

The students in this track take three (3) core academic classes plus the game project lab that involves all of the students from all of the Pre-College tracks to work together to complete a game:

• MTM: Music Theory and Musicianship
• MHL: Music History and Literature (includes Lab)
• FMSD: Fundamentals of Music and Sound Design (includes Lab)
• GAM: Game Project Lab

Prerequisite:

• While there is not an absolute requirement for you to have any prior musical training or experience, to get the most benefit from this program, it is recommended that you have some experience with playing a musical instrument.

• Participants must be entering their Junior or Senior year of high school, or have graduated high school within the last 18 months. 

Schedule:

• Each day, students will take 2 academic courses, plus the game project studio in the afternoons.

Technical Requirements:

Students must have access to a computer as well as additional hardware and software. Some programs or courses may indicate additional technology requirements, and not all programs are Mac compatible.

• Windows PC or Mac computer
• Display with a minimum resolution of 1024 x 768. While it is not mandatory, it is recommended to have a second monitor connected to the computer to extend the desktop. This allows the student to more easily follow what the instructor is demonstrating while concurrently being able to see the software environment that the student is working within.
• Headset with microphone
• Three-button mouse
• Broadband internet connection
• Current, major internet browser (Chrome, Firefox)
• Latest version of Adobe Reader
• Printer