Users' questions

How much does it cost to hire a composer for a game?

How much does it cost to hire a composer for a game?

For indie game music composers with a fair amount of experience and a decent credit list, most will tend to have prices within the range of $200-$1000 per minute of music. The more experienced and in demand a composer is, the higher they are likely to charge for their music and time.

How much do game music composers make?

The salaries of Video Game Composers in the US range from $10,193 to $268,601 , with a median salary of $48,891 . The middle 57% of Video Game Composers makes between $48,891 and $121,917, with the top 86% making $268,601.

Where can I find video game composers?

UpWork/Freelancer Sites like UpWork and Freelancer have the potential to present good ‘quality vs cost’ composers for low budget games. They also give you excellent protection when working over the internet regarding payment for completed work.

How do you become a music game composer?

Although a college degree isn’t required for a Video Game Composer to put on their resume, he or she does need to have a solid understanding of traditional music scoring techniques such as orchestration and composition. They must also have a good handle on popular recording software like Logic and Protools.

How much should I charge for composing music?

You basically charge per minute of finished music composition. Rates usually run from $50 to $1000 per minute of finished music. Of course there are rumors that Hollywood composers like Hans Zimmer are able to charge over $50,000 per minute of finished audio.

Do game composers get royalties?

You will receive NO performance royalty payments; you won’t receive any more money for your work on the game. That’s because, in the normal course of someone purchasing and playing a video game, there is no ‘public performance’ occurring. Therefore, composers don’t receive performance royalties.

Who is considered one of the most famous video game composers of all time?

Martin O’Donnell (1955-) These were his first steps into the world of game music, and it led to him writing the one of the most well-known video game’s music of all time.

How do you become a videogame sound designer?

Most sound designers earn a bachelor’s degree in audio engineering or a related field. Although this is an entry-level position, it’s not an easy one to get, and requires an impressive portfolio. After working in the field for some time, experienced sound designers may be eligible to work as audio directors.

Is it hard to compose music?

Composing takes a lot of hard work. In fact, you have to have some serious intestinal fortitude to make it through. But the payoff is great at the end. Discipline will also allow you to write a lot of music, which is a key ingredient to becoming a better composer.

Who is the best video game composer in Japan?

12 of the Greatest Japanese Video Game Music Composers 1 Koji Kondo. 2 Yuzo Koshiro. 3 Nobuo Uematsu. 4 Takashi Tateishi. 5 Akira Yamaoka. 6 Yoko Shimomura. 7 Hirokazu “Hip” Tanaka. 8 Junichi Masuda. 9 Hiroshi Kawaguchi (Outrun) 10 Masafumi Takada.

How did Ken Uematsu get his start in music?

Best known as a composer for the Final Fantasy video game series, Uematsu began teaching himself the piano when he was 12. He studied at Kanagawa University and was a keyboardist with local bands before getting his break composing music for radio commercials after sending out demo tapes.

What games has Masato Nakamura composed for?

He is one of video game music’s great collaborators, working with other composers on a slew of classics including the Nintendo titles including Super Smash Bros. Brawl and Kid Icarus: Uprising. The unforgettable theme to the first ever level from the first ever Sonic game is the work of Masato Nakamura.

How did Yuzo Koshiro change game music?

Better known as ‘The Genius of FM Synth’, Yuzo Koshiro revolutionised game music on two levels. Firstly, he was a genius programmer able to get the unlikeliest of sounds from rudimentary technology, conjuring up the sounds of rock guitars and drums in ways that blew the minds of listeners.