Steve Pardo: The Ins and Outs of Gaming Audio

With over 16 years supporting award-winning games and culturally-recognized franchises, Steve Pardo composes and directs emotional and expansive music and audio for linear and interactive media. He is co-founder of game music & audio production house SkewSound, Composer/Music Manager at ProbablyMonsters, founder/game developer at The Pardo Brothers, and an active saxophone/woodwind recording and performing artist in Nashville, TN. With a background in jazz, and a professional career that began at legendary music-game studio Harmonix Music Systems, Steve brings his professional background in generative audio to his love for rich and inventive soundtracks for games.

In addition to his creative and audio direction contributions to the world’s most recognizable music gaming titles, such as Rock Band VR, Dance Central, Fantasia: Music Evolved, and Fortnite Festival, Steve has composed the interactive soundtrack for games such as Cypher 007, Moonbreaker, Gigantic, Signs of the Sojourner, Farthest Frontier, Grim Dawn, Chariot, Fated, Beat Sports, and The Magic Circle, and has scored music for networks such as Netflix, Adult Swim, and IFC. He has collaborated on generative and/or AI-driven projects for partners such as Mastercard, Warner Music, Youtube, Tribeca Film Festival, Lollapalooza, and Universal Music Group. As a game developer, Steve released the music-album-platformer DOS and is developing the VR comedy-simulator game SAXOPHONE.  

Steve studied at the University of Miami, FL, where he received a bachelor’s degree in Studio Music and Jazz, and master’s degree in Studio Jazz Writing.

IN THIS EPISODE YOU’LL LEARN:

• How to get into the gaming music industry
• The different jobs available in gaming music
• Understanding how audio is programmed for games
• The revision process
• Interactive vs. generative music systems
• AI’s role in game audio production
• When and where to use real vs programmed instruments
• File organization

To learn more about Steve Pardo, visit: https://www.stevepardo.com/

Looking for 1-on-1 feedback and training to help you create pro-quality mixes?

Check out my coaching program Amplitude and apply to join:

https://masteryourmix.com/amplitude/

Want additional help with your music productions?

For tips on how to improve your mixes, visit: https://masteryourmix.com/

Download your FREE copy of the Ultimate Mixing Blueprint: https://masteryourmix.com/blueprint/

Get your copy of my Amazon #1 bestselling books:

• The Recording Mindset: A Step-By-Step Guide to Creating Pro Recordings From Your Home Studio: https://therecordingmindset.com
• The Mixing Mindset: The Step-By-Step Formula For Creating Professional Rock Mixes From Your Home Studio: https://masteryourmix.com/mixingmindsetbook/

Check out our Sponsors:

Download Waves Plugins here: https://waves.alzt.net/EK3G2K

Subscribe to the show:

• Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/master-your-mix-podcast/id1240842781
• Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5V4xtrWSnpA5e9L67QcJej
• Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/@MasterYourMix

Have questions you’d like answered on the show?

Send them to questions@masteryourmix.com

Please leave a rating and review:

https://masteryourmix.com/review/

Thanks for listening!