GDC 2019 - The Sound for 'Predator: Hunting Grounds'

[Corporal Hicks]

https://schedule.gdconf.com/session/the-sound-for-predator-hunting-grounds-building-on-the-movies-legacy/869123

The sound for Predator (1987) is legendary, from the unique creature vocalisations to the vivid thermal vision sounds, the film is full of iconic sound work which still inspires sound designers and thrills viewers over 30 years later. Steve Whetman, Audio Director with the Illfonic team was entrusted to build upon the sonic legacy of the original film. In this talk Steve will take the audience through how the team unpacked some of the original sound design and how they built on them in a sympathetic and authentic way, to bring the classic Predator sonic aesthetic to Playstation in 2020. Topics will include analysing and recreating the vocalisations, Predator weaponry and gadgets, using real-time processing to recreate the thermal vision effect, and giving weight to the Predator with foley and processing. Lastly, a look into expanding the iconic minigun sound, which entailed a weapons recording session in a forest.
Takeaway

To inspire sound designers showing how an iconic aesthetic can be built on to support a modern Playstation title, with a methodical approach to analysis of reference, understanding layers and defining processes.
Intended Audience

Sound designers from graduate to senior level, and audio directors. An understanding of basic audio processes such as time stretching, chorus, delay.

[Voodoo Magic]

Illfonic is just doing all the right things, aren't they.

[molasar]

Hopefully a footage from it will appear on youtube at some point.