The Hidden Power of a Great Sound Library for Game Audio Teams

For professional sound designers, the right tools can make or break a project – but it’s not always about the latest plug-in or technique. We asked acclaimed game audio sound designer Akash Thakkar (Hyper Light Drifter, Outer Wilds: Echoes of the Eye, Destiny) to share his thoughts on an often-overlooked key to successful communication, team workflow, & sound design: a great sound effects library.

In this video, Thakkar explores how using the CORE 6 from Pro Sound Effects transforms the workflow for game sound designers. From rapid prototyping and iterating to seamless team collaboration and onboarding new hires, a reliable sound library isn’t just about efficiency – it’s a creative catalyst. Having a core set of familiar sounds makes communication faster, sparks new ideas, and allows teams to focus their energy on custom recording where it matters most.

Whether you’re working solo or as part of a large team, investing in the right tools can elevate your craft. Watch the full video to see how a great sound library can unlock hidden benefits in your game audio workflow – and grab a free curated sound pack from Pro Sound Effects to get started.

0:00 – Introduction: Why Communication is Key in Game Audio

Game sound design isn’t just about crafting cool sounds, it’s about communication. Whether it’s within your audio team or across an entire game development studio, clear communication makes or breaks a project.

As an accomplished sound designer, Akash knows this firsthand. In this video, he shares a surprising tool that can dramatically improve communication and workflow: a well-curated, high-quality sound library.

1:07 – A Sound Library as a Communication Tool

Game development is often chaotic – tight deadlines, shifting creative direction, and vague feedback are all part of the process. A shared sound library helps audio teams stay on the same page by:

• Providing a consistent sound palette to work from.
• Enabling faster prototyping and iteration.
• Making it easier to explain creative decisions to non-audio team members.

A high-quality, well-organized sound library serves as a shared language between designers, developers, and creatives.

1:50 – The Role of Sound in Prototyping & Ideation

While early game development focuses on concept art and level design, sound is often left behind. But having a strong set of core sounds allows sound designers to experiment earlier, leading to better creative decisions.

With a shared library:

• Sound designers can test out ideas quickly without recording everything from scratch.
• The entire team can give feedback earlier, avoiding costly revisions later.
• Everyone uses the same core sounds, reducing miscommunication.
  
  

3:09 – Iteration: The Power of Organized Libraries

A well-organized sound library with strong metadata makes the iterative game design process much smoother by:

• Enabling quick searching and categorization of sounds.
• Providing multiple variations of the same sound to ensure creative flexibility.
• Preventing workflow slowdowns caused by scattered, untagged sounds.

Pro Sound Effects’ CORE 6 Library is designed with game audio workflows in mind, featuring multiple variations of sounds to ensure adaptability in dynamic environments so sound can be continuously refined through planning, prototyping, playtesting, and evaluating.

4:14 – Onboarding New Team Members Faster

Bringing a new sound designer onto a project can be time-consuming. But when a team shares a common library, onboarding becomes much easier:

• Existing team members develop a mental map of the library.
• New hires learn faster by using the same core set of sounds.
• Collaboration is smoother, reducing the need for extensive training.
  
  

5:09 – Freeing Up Mental Energy for Custom Recording

While recording original sounds is crucial for unique projects, not every sound needs to be custom-recorded. A great sound library allows designers to:

• Focus on recording what truly matters to the project.
• Spend less time searching and more time creating.
• Use high-quality base sounds as building blocks for custom design.

Thakkar explains how working on Hyper Light Breaker required a mix of library and custom sounds due to a larger team, tighter deadlines, and a more ambitious scope.

6:02 – The Hidden Benefits of a Great Sound Library

Beyond just convenience, a professional-grade sound library offers:

• Faster prototyping & ideation – Try out concepts quickly.
• Better team communication – A shared set of sounds fosters collaboration
• Creative inspiration – Pre-existing sounds can spark new ideas.
• More efficient custom recording – Focus on what’s most important.
• Easier onboarding – New hires integrate faster with a familiar library.

Whether you're looking for a full library or just starting out with a free game audio pack, investing in the right tools can elevate your workflow.

6:41 – Get Started with Pro Sound Effects

Want to experience these benefits firsthand? Access our Exclusive GDC Offers for Game Audio Teams, with offers including:

• Free PSE Game Audio Sound Pack – Download 100+ high-quality sounds curated for game audio design.
• Giveaway Entry: Win 1 Year of CORE Complete – One lucky winner will get full access to the entire PSE sound library for their team (1-5 users).
• Exclusive Discounts – Unlock limited-time offers for teams and individuals.
  
  

 Access Exclusive GDC Offers