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From DAWs to Dungeons

What I Wish I Knew Before Switching To Game Audio Programming

00:00 - 00:00 UTC | Monday 9th November 2026 |
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced

Both pro audio and game audio devs write C++ on real-time threads for a living, yet the two careers can diverge in surprising ways. This talk is the briefing I needed before I made the jump from pro audio to gaming. Starting with my own path from plugin and DAW development into shipping game titles and building audio tools for internal studios, I'll break down what game audio programming actually involves, then map out where the two disciplines overlap and where they sharply diverge. I'll close with a practical roadmap for any audio developer who wants to get into game audio: the books to read, the engines and middleware to learn, and what kinds of projects, conferences, and connections can be your way in, including a look at where the game audio engineering profession is heading.

Collin Canard Schupman

Senior Software Engineer

Riot