The Job of the Audio Lead

Musician, Manager, Public Relations, Human Resources, and Technician are just a few of the responsibilities of the Audio Lead. Gamasutra has an article entitled The Three Rs of Audio Leadership. This is an a column that was published in Game Developer magazine and was written with the help of LucasArts' Jesse Harlin. The Three Rs that the article talks about are Resources, Representation, and Responsibility. 

Resources deals with the audio lead needing to interview and hire additional sound designers. These designers, depending on the scope of the project, could be on site employees or they could be an outside team contracted for the game. Resources also deals with the physical technology that is used in the studio. Hardware and software alike must fulfil the needs of the audio team. The lead must look and see what technology is already available in the studio, then determine if it is sufficient or if additional technology must be purchased. The lead also needs to do all the administrative work, from e-mail, to signing required documents and time cards, to providing a road map of what the audio team is doing. Lastly the lead is responsible for making sure the team gets properly paid for the hours they work.

Representation is the public relations aspect. The lead is responsible for representing the audio team at meeting, relaying messages to other departments, and being the visible face of the team. They are the person that anyone goes to if they have some inquiries about the audio progress.

Responsibility is the last, but certainly not any less important R. The lead is responsible for everything that comes out of the speakers. They are responsible for delegating tasks, making sure the team is on track, and making sure the employees have a positive attitude.

Being responsible for everything that comes out of the speakers means no longer simply safeguarding your own reputation, but being entrusted with the reputations of your audio staff, your development team, the game title, and your company.