Video Game Audio Articles
by Leonard J. Paul (MSc Game Audio)
Leonard Paul attained his Master's Degree in Game Audio with CNAM in Paris, France in 2017. He received his Honours degree in Computer Science at Simon Fraser University in BC, Canada with an Extended Minor in Music concentrating in Electroacoustics. He began his work in video games on the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System and has twenty plus year history in composing, sound design and coding for games working for companies such as Electronic Arts, Backbone Entertainment, Radical Entertainment, moderngroove entertainment, Rockstar Vancouver and Black Box Games. He has worked on over twenty major game titles totalling over 6.4 million units sold since 1994, including award-winning AAA titles such as EA's NBA Jam, NHL11, Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2, NBA Live '95 as well as the indie award-winning title Retro City Rampage.
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News: via @VideoGameAudio on mastodon.gamedev.place/@videogameaudio
Music:
Video Presentations:
Presentations and Writings:
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2024 | LA, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Talk - Exploring Interactive Music: CS:GO, NBA Jam, Eco, Sim Cell - [Web] |
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2024 | Online | Air Wiggles: AirCon24 Online Conference | Visual Scripting for Game Audio - [YouTube] |
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2023 | LA, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Panelist - [Web] |
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2023 | Online | Audio for Eco | Developer Talk - [YouTube] |
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2022 | Oslo, Norway | Game Audio Conference Oslo | Game Audio Visual Scripting - [YouTube] |
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2020 | LA, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Talk - Game Audio for Game Jams - [Web] |
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2020 | Online | Audio for Eco | Developer Talk - [Web] [Video] |
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2020 | San Francisco, USA | TAC Online Festival | Invited Talk - Pure Data + Game Audio - Sessions with Austin Wintory, Barry Threw, Clipping., Holly Herndon, Jonathan Mayer, Matmos, & Tim Davies - [Web] [Video] [PDF] |
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2019 | LA, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Talk - Highly Dynamic Game Audio Using Pure Data - [Web] |
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2019 | Vancouver, Canada | VRGE | Presenter - Making Music for the Sega Genesis [Twitter] [Presentation] |
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2019 | San Francisco, USA | GDC | Panelist - Game Audio Education [Video] |
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2018 | Angoulême, France | G4F Prod | Invited Talk and Roundtable - Music for Video Games - [Web] |
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2018 | LA, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Talk - Generative Music - [Web] |
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2018 | Surrey, BC | School of Interactive Art and Technology : SFU | Guest Lecture - Videogame Audio - [PDF] - [Audio] |
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2017 | Vancouver, Canada | Sound Designers Meetup | Presenter - Using Pure Data for Music, Sounds and Games [Web] |
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2017 | San Francisco, USA | GDC | Presenter - Audio Bootcamp - Different Approaches to Game Music [Web] + [MP3] + [PDF] + [Examples MOV] + Mentor - Audio Bootcamp - Different Approaches to Game Music [Web] |
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2017 | London, UK | Procedural Audio Now | Presentation + Q&A - The Music of Beep |
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2016 | Montréal, Canada | Montréal International Game Summit | Presentation - Procedural Game Audio with Pure Data - [Web] |
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2016 | Banff, Canada | Banff Centre | Informal Chat - Introduction to Game Audio - [PDF] |
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2016 | SF, USA | San Francisco Conservatory of Music | Informal Chat - Introduction to Game Audio - [PDF] |
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2015 | NYC, USA | AES #139 | Speaker - Using Pure Data as a Game Audio Engine - [Web] |
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2015 | NYC, USA | AES #139 | Panelist - Game Audio Education Panel—New Opportunities for Students - [Web] |
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2015 | Troy, USA | Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Speaker - Introduction to Game Audio - [Video] [PDF] [MP3] [Web] [Newspaper .PDF] [Newspaper Link] |
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2015 | Vancouver, Canada | Full Indie | Speaker - Game Audio Middleware (Wwise, FMOD Studio, Fabric & Pure Data) - [PDF] [MP3] |
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2015 | Stanford, USA | Stanford University | Invited Speaker - Advanced Topics in Video Game Audio - [Web] |
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2015 | San Fran, USA | California College of the Arts | Invited Speaker - Introduction to Video Game Audio - [Web] [Slides] [.MP3] |
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2015 | London, UK | Queen Mary University | Invited Speaker - Advanced Video Game Audio - [Web] |
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2015 | London, UK | AES for Games 2015 | Invited Speaker - The Generative Music of Sim Cell - [Web] |
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2015 | London, UK | Procedural Audio Now! Meetup | Invited Speaker - Working and Playing with Procedural Audio - [Slides] [Video] |
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2014 | LA, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Talk - Visual Scripting with Pure Data for Game Sound Design - [Web] |
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2014 | LA, USA | AES 2014 #137 | Lecturer - The Procedural Sound Design of Sim Cell - [Web] |
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2014 | LA, USA | AES 2014 #137 | Panelist - Next Gen-Game Audio Education - [Web] |
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2014 | Banff, AB | Film and Media Guest Lecture | Introduction to Video Game Audio - [.PDF] - [MP3 1.5hrs] [Workshop MP3 3.5hrs] |
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2014 | Oxford, UK | OUP | Oxford Handbook of Interactive Audio - Book Chapter - For the Love of Chiptune - [Chapter] - [Book] |
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2014 | San Francisco, USA | GDC 2014 | Invited speaker - Game Educators Rant - [Open Source Pure Data Presentation] |
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2014 | Newcastle, UK | RTV 2014 | Invited speaker and performer - Real-time Visuals with Pure Data talk - [Web] |
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2013 | NYC, USA | AES 2013 #135 | Panelist - Game Audio: A Primer and Educational Resources - [Web] [MP3-Middleware] [MP3-School] [MP3-Q&A] |
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2013 | London, UK | AES | Presenter - Going Old School: Chiptunes and Trackers in Games - [Web] [PPT] [MP3] |
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2013 | London, UK | Queen Mary University | Invited Speaker - Advanced Video Game Audio - [Web] [PPT] [MP3] |
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2012 | Toronto, CA | Gamer Camp 2012 | Invited Presenter - Video Game Audio - [Web] [PDF] [MP3] |
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2012 | Seattle, USA | PAX Dev 2012 (at PAX Prime) | Panel Presenter - Retro City Rampage Chiptune Frenzy! Panel - [Web] [PDF] |
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2012 | Vancouver, BC | Vancouver Retro Gaming Expo 2012 | Panelist - Retro City Rampage Panel - [Web] |
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2012 | San Francisco, USA | GDC 2012 | Invited Speaker - The Dynamic Audio of Vessel - [Web] [MP3] [PDF] |
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2011 | Vancouver, BC | Canadian Electroacoustic Society | Invited Talk - CEC 25th Anniversary - Electroacoustics in Video Games - [PDF] [Web] [Event] |
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2011 | San Fran, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Talk - Procedural Audio in Vessel - [Web] |
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2011 | Toronto, Canada | CBC Spark Radio Interview | Interview - [Web] |
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2011 | Mexico City, MX | DevHour 2011 | Lecture - [MP3] [PDF] [Web] - Roundtable - [Part 1] - Workshop - [MP3] |
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2011 | São Paulo, Brazil | Instituto de Áudio e Vídeo Workshop - Brazil | Workshop - [PDF] [.XLS-Details] [MP3-4hrs] |
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2011 | São Paulo, Brazil | AES 2011 Brazil | Keynote Speaker - [Video] [Article] [Interview] [PDF] [PDF-Portuguese] [Web] [MP3] |
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2011 | London, UK | AES 2011 for Games | Invited Poster - Granulation of Sound in Video Games - [PDF] [Web] |
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2011 | Beacons- field, UK | Audio for Visuals 2011 | Invited Speaker - Sound Design for Games - [PDF] [MP3] [Web] |
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2010 | San Fran, USA | Game Sound Conference | Invited Lecturer - Procedural Sound Design - [Web] [Presentation [.PDF]] [MP3] |
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2010 | Bogotá, Columbia | AES | Invited Speaker - Video Game Audio - [Web] - [Open Office Presentation [.ODP]] - [Presentation [.PDF]] [MP3] |
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2010 | Vancouver, BC | ECUAD | Invited Speaker - Remix: Composing Structures 4 Play and Performance - [Web] - [Open Office Presentation [.ODP]] - [Presentation [.PDF]] - [Video [.MP4]] |
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2010 | Seattle, WA | Pax 2010 Conference | Indie game selected as one of the 'PAX 10' with Retro City Rampage - [Web] |
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2010 | Banff, AB | Interactive Screen 1.0 | MOD Music Presentation on Retro City Rampage and Audio Mentoring - [Presentation] - [Mentoring] |
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2010 | Vancouver, USA | Guest Workshop | Workshop - Interaction Design - Audio - [Overview] [MP3] [Example Patch] |
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2010 | Surrey, BC | Open Sound 2010 | Speaker - Artist Statement for Game Boy Advance : Core Dump v3.0 - [MP3] - [Website] - [Open Office Impress [.ODP]] - [Presentation [.PPT]] - [Exhibition [.PDF]] |
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2010 | Berlin, Germany | A MAZE Festival | Lecturer, Seminar & Roundtable - Droppin' Science: Video Game Audio Breakdown - [Roundtable] - [Vimeo] - [MP3] - [MP3 (German)] - [Website] - [Lecture] - [Workshop] - [Workshop [.PDF]] |
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2009 | Surrey, BC | School of Interactive Art and Technology : SFU | Guest Lecture - Videogame Audio - [Flash Video] - [PPT] - [Open Office Impress] - [PDF] |
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2009 | San Fran | Game Sound Conference | Invited Moderator and Lecturer - State of the Art Panel and Interactive Sound Design Lecture - [Web] - [PPT] - [Open Office Impress] - [PDF] |
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2009 | Vancouver, BC | Vancouver Computer Music Meetings | Invited Speaker - Video Game Audio Prototyping with Half-Life 2 : Granulation - [.PPT] - [Web] - [FLV] |
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2009 | Vancouver, BC | Digital Kung Fu 2009 | Special Guest - An Overview of Interactive Audio - [Flickr] |
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2009 | Vancouver, BC | Futureplay 2009 | Invited Speaker - Game Audio Education Panel - [Web] |
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2009 | Vancouver, BC | GDC Canada 2009 | Invited Speaker - Game Audio Finalling Panel - [Web] - [MP3] |
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2009 | London, UK | AES | Invited Speaker - Introduction to Synthesis for Interactive Applications - [Web] - [.PPT.ZIP] - [.PPT] - [Open Office Zip] |
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2008 | Angoulême, France | ENJMIN | Invited Lecturer - Video Game Audio - [PDF] |
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2008 | Chapter | Book chapter - Transdisciplinary Digital Art. Sound, Vision and the New Screen - Chapter: 'Video Game Audio Prototyping with Half-Life 2' - [Web Google Books] |
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2008 | Chapter | Book chapter - From Pac-Man to Pop Music - Chapter: 'An introduction to granular synthesis in video games' - [Web] - [Review] |
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2007 | Lyon, France | GDC | Lecturer - Procedural Sound Design - [Web] - [PDF] |
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2007 | Victoria | Interactive Futures | Lecturer - Video Game Audio Prototyping with Half-Life 2 - [FLV] - [Web] |
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2007 | San Fran | GDC | Lecturer - Advanced Granular Synthesis for Next Generation Games - [Web] [PPT(Slides)] - [MP3] |
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2006 | Portalegre | Games 2006 | Video Game Audio Prototyping - Keynote speaker, committee member, invited paper and workshop - [Web] - [PDF] |
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2006 | Zürich | Digital Art Weeks | Performer and installation art - [Web] - [PDF] - [Photos] - [XVID] |
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2006 | Online | Gamasutra | Establishing an Aesthetic in Next Generation Sound Design (w/ Rob Bridgett) - [PDF] |
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2006 | San Jose | GDC | Lecturer - Granular Synthesis for Next Generation Games - [Web] - [PPoint] - [PDF] - [MP3] - [AudioMulch] - [Pure Data] |
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2006 | Victoria | Interactive Futures | Lecturer, performer and installation art - [Web] - [MP3] - [PDF] - [(Performance)XVID] - [Installation(FLV)] |
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2005 | Porto | Olhares Outono | Featured lecturer, performer and workshops - [Web] - [PDF] - [FLV] |
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2005 | Vancouver | DiGRA | Senior Scholar Mentorship in Game Audio - [PDF] |
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2005 | Banff | Bodies in Play | Small vs. Big Audio - [PDF] - [D64 (C=64 Disk Image)] - [MP3] - [FLV] |
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2005 | Surrey | Electronic Folk Art | The Demoscene - [PDF] - [D64 (C=64 Disk Image)] |
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2004 | Banff | Banff Interactive Screen | Teaching Audio for Games - [PDF 1] - [PDF 2] |
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2003 | Banff | Banff Interactive Screen | Interactive Design - [PDF] - [.ASX (Pt.1)] - [.ASX(Pt.2)] |
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2003 | Online | Gamasutra | Audio Prototyping with Pure Data - [PDF] - [MP3 ZIP] - [PD ZIP] |
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2003 | Online | GDC | Game Audio: Coding Vs. Aesthetics - [PDF(Paper)] - [PDF(Slides)] - [MP3] |
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2001 | Online | Gamasutra | Game Audio Postmortem: Moderngroove - Ministry of Sound Edition - [PDF] - [Web] |
Additional:
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2011 | Canada | Canadian Game Development Talent Awards | Canadian Interactive Academy Juror - [Web] |
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2008 | Beijing | CyberGames 2008 | Technical Committee Member - [Web] |
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2007 | Manchester | CyberGames 2007 | Technical Committee Member - [Web] |
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2007 | Surrey | Cultural Mashups | Bhangra, Bollywood + Beyond - [PDF] |
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2006 | NYC | Machinima Festival | Judge - Video Game Audio - [Web] |
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2006 | San Jose | IN[ ]EX - Container Culture | Vancouver Art Gallery, Speaker - [Web] - [MP3] |
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2006 | Surrey | Youth Remixx Project | REMIXX sur.RE - [Web] | Lecture (5MB-MP3)] |
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2005 | Vancouver | DiGRA 2005 | Canadian Content in Video Games - [PDF (Paper)] - [PDF (Slides)] |
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2004 | Vancouver | New Forms Festival | Canadian Content in Video Games - [PDF (Paper)] - [PDF (Slides)] |
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2004 | Online | Horizon Zero | Canadian Electronic Music History Timeline - [TXT] |
Patches:
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2013 | Pure Data Extended | 10 Procedural Sound Design Patches | Power down, fat synth, spaceship, whoosh, robot blabber, missile, alising scream, alien blast, computery, explosion and bonus synth cat meow sound [Pure Data] |
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2012 | Pure Data Extended | 16 Emily Carr Student Interaction Design Patches | Facial tracking, video games, visualizations, real-time internet audio streaming, motion detection, 3D object manipulation, spring physics models, game controller input, menu systems, interactive novels and more... [Student PD Patches Page] |
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2010 | Pure Data Extended | 14 Emily Carr Student Interaction Design Patches | Multi-area motion detection, colour tracking, live audio looping, live video looping, collision detection, real-time video effects, real-time audio effects, 3D object manipulation and more... [Student PD Patches Page] |
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2009 | Pure Data Extended | Surround Granulation V4.0 | Sampled sound granulation in surround 5.1 [Pure Data] |
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2009 | Pure Data Extended | Adaptive Music Patch V1.0 | A basic adaptive music patch that can be extended to surround 5.1 and three songs [Pure Data] |
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2003 | Pure Data | Audio Prototyping with Pure Data Patches | The Pure Data patches referenced in my article for "Prototyping with Pure Data" Gamasutra article which are no longer available via Gamasutra. NOTE: Run PD at 11025Hz so samples play back correctly. [PD ZIP] [PDF] |
Select Game Credits:
Shakedown Hawaii (Vblank Entertainment) In Development
Sim Cell (Strange Loop Games, Android/iPad) 2013
Retro City Rampage (Vblank Entertainment, 360/Wii/PS3/PS4/Vita/PC/3DS/OSX/DOS/Linux/PSP) 2012
Vessel (Strange Loop Games, PC/PS3/Linux) 2012
NBA Jam (EA Canada, Wii/PS3/360) 2010
NHL 2011 (EA Canada, 360/PS3) 2010
Bugsy (Glass House Games, iPhone) 2009
Puffins Island Adventure (Other Ocean, NDS) 2009
Facebreaker (EA Canada, 360/PS3) 2008
Monster Lab (Eidos, PS2/Wii/NDS) 2008
Sonic Rivals 2 (Sega, PSP) 2007
Death Jr. 2: Science Fair of Doom (Konami, NDS) 2007
Max Payne 2 (Rockstar, PC) 2003
Need for Speed: Hot Pursuit 2 (EA Black Box, PS2, GC) 2002
Midway Hitz 2k3 (Midway, PS2/NGC) 2002
moderngroove: Ministry of Sound Edition (Ubisoft Europe, PS2) 2001
NBA Basketball 2000 (Radical Entertainment, PS1) 1999
NBA Live 2k (EA Canada, N64) 1999
NBA Live 95 (EA Canada, Genesis) 1994
FIFA International Soccer (EA Canada, SNES) 1994
Music:
Billboard Magazine: "A soundtrack composed by Canadian artist Leonard J. Paul which was entirely produced using the open source visual scripting language Pure Data."
Contact & Info:
Click to email Leonard J. Paul for further information
"AudioInvader" custom logo for VideoGameAudio.com designed by LARGEMASSIVECOLLECTIVE [the3ug3reeder]
"AudioInvader" custom logo for VideoGameAudio.com designed by LARGEMASSIVECOLLECTIVE [the3ug3reeder]