I don't have any background or experience with music in general. Never played nor learned an instrument before and don't know much about audio other than that stereo is to have sound coming from different places, usually Left/ Right, while mono is to have all the sound coming from both sides, or through all audio devices or all audio only from one at the same time. Sorry if it seems silly, it's just a part of my life that I really never thought of delving into.

But as I get more into independent game development as my life hobby, and currently my only main goal - 

- the more I see that if I intent to follow this path alone, to do smaller, more concept like projects, I will have to be a one man team, learning and sharping different skill sets. So I ask you guys:

Where should I start? What software do you recommend(open source or only free would be nice)? Any place interesting to hang around to learn? Any good Articles?

Thank you in advance.

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Look, I understand the importance of audio in general, both for engineering and for music, I am not underrating it. I really never had the opportunity, when I was younger, to learn, and never really got much interest into it. I am really fond of music and I hear it a lot, every day, the classics like Vivaldi, and even modern music(apart from pop). Audio is also one of the most important things when it comes to enjoying a play-through. But I don't really think I want to focus all my learning resources on it, I am also not looking into a technical degree or building a big music focused portfolio.

As I've stated before, I want to learn the basics, so I can have a base ground to finish my projects without having to use free audio or without doing something ugly and wrong.

I am not looking into professional, just amateur basic stuff to get me started.

Thanks, that helps a lot.

3 hours ago, nsmadsen said:

It's fine if you WANT to be a one man team but if you're doing everything else, then surely you can find a young(er) composer that would be willing to work for you. At cheap or even free with an exchange of services kind of deal. 

I never really thought of looking for a younger composer that would be willing to work for me. I am pretty sure there would be many willing to do the work for the experience and fun of it. As my goal is really not earning money which I wouldn't decline I am not inclined to pay for the art and this has lots of repercussions, I - for example - can't expect to have someone always eager to work when they are not going to be paid. There is also going to be real like work and other life issues behind the schedule. I also wouldn't have the control I'd like over the style of the music and audio in general.

So I would say I'd prefer to be a one man team, as this is more of a hobby thing which I usually spend more than 10 hours a day. 

I've read a little about Music Theory, learned a bit or two about notes, and noticed that it wasn't really what I was looking for, although no less interesting. Digital Audio Theory was what I was looking for. I wanted to learn about Decibels, Hertz, Amplitude, Wavelength, etc... in my previous project every audio was completely different from each other. I've made the audio for the enemies using Audacity, and I didn't keep a look for a common Amplitude or etc... so there was a lot of code done just for rearranging audio, it was really a pain. Music Theory is also important as I intent on making my own music, nothing fancy, but I'd like to at least follow the rules of music and learn as I walk.

About the DAW, I am still searching for something unfortunately I've been stuck with a 16kbps connection for the past 10 days. I've downloaded FreePiano and had LMMS and other software like FamiTracker and Bosca Ceoil wich I love for its simplicity.

30 minutes ago, nsmadsen said:

So my personal mantra is if no one gets paid - work for free. If someone gets paid, everyone should get paid. It's just my personal mantra but I'm throwing it out there as something for you to consider if you begin collaborating with other composers on your projects.

I see. I think the same way. I would never do such a thing and that is why I wouldn't like to hire someone. For now It's a hobby thing, that's why I like the control and I'd like to see something 100% made by me first, I also don't know if I would have the ability to transform this into something profitable. But if I would, I would 100% hire someone to do something really nice.

There are many types of audio that I know, so you need to go to the audio forum and ask them.

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