Streamline Studios recently announced the opening of Streamline Sound, the first sound studio in the Netherlands region focused on both the interactive and traditional entertainment industries.

Streamline Sound, which is the only studio in the region specifically designed for Dolby® Digital 5.1, offers music and audio creation and recording services as well as an online database of sound and music available for use in games and other entertainment projects. The studio is headed up by noted recording engineer and producer Tom Pearce, a longtime veteran in the music industry who has worked with legends including Elton John, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Jimmy Page, Beatles producer George Martin, and the London Symphony Orchestra.

Game developers are becoming increasingly aware that audio music sound effects and environmental sounds are just as important to players as the images they see on their screen. Beautifully crafted visuals become even stronger when supported by stirring sound effects dialog and music and vice versa.

Recognizing this fact Streamline Studios has become one of the first independent developers to create our own state-of-the-art audio studio adding audio capabilities to our already strong suite of visual digital content service solutions. The fully purpose-built 5.1 Dolby® Digital surround sound studio offers music and audio creation and recording services as well as an online database of sound and music available for use in games and other entertainment projects. The studio is based in the media heart of Holland a short drive from Streamline’s Amsterdam headquarters and is run by noted engineer and producer Tom Pearce.

Streamline Sound as the studio is known makes Streamline one of the few developers worldwide to offer a full in-house recording studio. We have all the services a client needs in-house—whether it’s visuals audio or design that you’re looking for Streamline can put provide an end-to-end service solution to fit your needs.

Tom started designing sound effects for the game industry nearly three years ago specializing in Foley recording for Streamline’s HoopWorld game. His tailor made sound FX and music for HoopWorld came about by working closely alongside the design and coding teams.

“The process of creating sound FX for example is not ‘just something that you can throw together in a day or two’ with the help of a few sound FX CDs” says Tom. “In fact using ready-made FX from CDs is usually counter productive and you run the risk of losing the unique feel that any new game should have from day one.”

“Here at Streamline Studios and Streamline Sound we work as a close-knit team with the music and sound design as an integral part of that. Everything from the overall feel of an environment to the individual sounds for each specific character is discussed with the whole development team.

“Let’s take footsteps for example; we look at how every character impacts on each environment. Body size and weight clothing – especially shoes – and physical characteristics are all taken into account and then assessed for the surface on which he or she will walk run jump slide stumble and fall. It is an ongoing process. As the character art and animation advances the FX are reviewed to ensure that we are all still on track. Test game play is a critical factor for us as it is only here that we can really be sure that we have captured the essence of a character and his environment as well as fulfilled the project’s requirements.”

Download full press release (1 MB)

Also read the press release on Gamasutra
Read an interview with Tom Pearce and Alexander Fernandez on GameDaily