GDC 2013 Audio Track highlights Walking Dead, Dear Esther, Dead Space 3 talks

GDC 2013 organizers are highlighting notable Audio track lectures, including Rod Abernethy on the art form of game audio, Dear Esther's approach to mixing live and digital instruments, Dead Space 3's interactive mixing, The Walking Dead's episodic sound design and production, and Double Fine's 'Audio Production Survival Guide.' These talks are part of the Audio Track for GDC 2013's Main Conference, which will take place Wednesday-Friday, March 27-29 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco, CA. This in-depth track is available for All-Access and Main Conference pass holders, as well as holders of the special lower-cost Audio Track Pass. Looking at highlights from the Track, Sean Vora and J. White of Visceral Games / EA will outline their process for 'Interactive Mixing in Dead Space 3.' Attendees "will gain insight into ducking mixer hierarchy design, and methods that incorporate state-based mix functionality into location-based game systems." thechineseroom's Jessica Curry will share how live musicians merged with digital instruments in 'The Music of Dear Esther: Creating Powerful Scores with Limited Resources.' She will also explain the compositional process for the IGF 2012 Excellence in Audio finalist (pictured), "including specific examples of the score's thematic content, emotional aims, and technical process." In 'Staying Alive and Walking Dead,' panelists will share unique challenges faced when producing the voice, sound, and music for the award-winning episodic game. Jared Emerson-Johnson and Julian Kwasneski of Bay Area Sound will join Jack Fusting and Lazar Levine of Telltale Games for this hour-long panel. Elsewhere, in 'Double Fine's Audio Production Survival Guide,' studio audio director Brian Min promises "a feel good story with lots of practical takeaways" and "proven tips to help you be more productive and fulfilled than ever before." Lastly, award-winning composer and musician Rod Abernethy (Tera, Rage) will make a case for how game music and sound has become an art form in 'The Art of Music and Sound Design for Video Games.' He will draw parallels between the rise of video games to the rise of cinema as art and will aim to provide attendees inspiration to think "out of the box." The schedule builder of GDC 2013 is available online for attendees to plan their week of can't-miss lectures and tutorials, including those just highlighted, with the full Audio Track line-up viewable now. GDC still offers over $100 discounts to select pass purchases made by March 20th, at 11:59pm EST, with prices increasing for onsite registration. GDC 2013 itself will take place March 25-29 at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. For more information on GDC 2013, visit the show's official website, or subscribe to regular updates via Facebook, Twitter, or RSS. Gamasutra and GDC are sibling organizations under parent UBM Tech.