Editing Sound effect (section)

== Video games ==

The principles involved with modern [[video game]] sound effects (since the introduction of sample playback) are essentially the same as those of motion pictures.  Typically a game project requires two jobs to be completed: sounds must be recorded or selected from a library and a sound engine must be programmed so that those sounds can be incorporated into the game's interactive environment.

In earlier computers and video game systems, sound effects were typically produced using [[sound synthesis]]. In modern systems, the increases in storage capacity and playback quality has allowed sampled sound to be used. The modern systems also frequently utilize [[positional audio]], often with hardware acceleration, and real-time audio post-processing, which can also be tied to the 3D graphics development. Based on the internal state of the game, multiple different calculations can be made. This will allow for, for example, realistic sound dampening, echoes and Doppler effect.

Historically the simplicity of game environments reduced the required number of sounds needed, and thus only one or two people were directly responsible for the sound recording and design.  As the video game business has grown and computer sound reproduction quality has increased, however, the team of sound designers dedicated to game projects has likewise grown and the demands placed on them may now approach those of mid-budget motion pictures.

Some pieces of music use sound effects that are made by a musical instrument or by other means. An early example is the 18th century [[Toy Symphony]]. [[Richard Wagner]] in the opera ''[[Das Rheingold]]'' (1869) lets a choir of anvils introduce the scene of the dwarfs who have to work in the mines, similar to the introduction of the dwarfs in the 1937 Disney movie ''[[Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937 film)|Snow White]]''. [[Klaus Doldinger]]s soundtrack for the 1981 movie ''[[Das Boot]]'' includes a title score with a sonar sound to reflect the U-boat setting. [[John Barry (composer)|John Barry]] integrated into the title song of ''[[Moonraker (film)|Moonraker]]'' (1979) a sound representing the beep of a [[Sputnik]] like satellite.