Amanda Laven
@alavenmusic.bsky.social
Thoughtful Audio for Memorable Games - I help ambitious teams with sound and music thoughtfully designed to highlight their most creative features. Lover of cats, yarn arts, sour candy, movies, and games. SLEEP AWAKE, Narcalid, DQ 2, THPS 1+2, Diablo IV.
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Amanda Laven
@alavenmusic.bsky.social
· Oct 27
Hey there! I'm Amanda, I make music and sound for video games. I've done AAA audio QA (THPS 1+2, Diablo IV,) contract sound design (Narcalid, Defenders Quest 2, unannounced game at Eyes Out,) and in-house music and sound (unannounced game at House of How.) I love cats, yarn art, movies, and games.
Before I became a sound designer, palette was a means to an end - just there to get the musical ideas across. I'd been primarily doing sound design for a couple years when I wrote this, and it shows - the writing is secondary, and the palette is the star. Soundcloud: tinyurl.com/9dhssj7n
December 17, 2025 at 6:10 PM
Before I became a sound designer, palette was a means to an end - just there to get the musical ideas across. I'd been primarily doing sound design for a couple years when I wrote this, and it shows - the writing is secondary, and the palette is the star. Soundcloud: tinyurl.com/9dhssj7n
Wanna know how a few minutes saved weeks of time reporting and fixing skate loop bugs on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2?
One of the sound designers taught the audio tester (me) how the system worked so I could test and report the issues as early as possible, to the right devs, with the necessary info.
One of the sound designers taught the audio tester (me) how the system worked so I could test and report the issues as early as possible, to the right devs, with the necessary info.
December 15, 2025 at 5:23 PM
Wanna know how a few minutes saved weeks of time reporting and fixing skate loop bugs on Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 1+2?
One of the sound designers taught the audio tester (me) how the system worked so I could test and report the issues as early as possible, to the right devs, with the necessary info.
One of the sound designers taught the audio tester (me) how the system worked so I could test and report the issues as early as possible, to the right devs, with the necessary info.
December 13, 2025 at 7:11 PM
Failure Friday!
...but not really. This sketch of a shop theme for 5th Cataclysm isn't what we need, but that doesn't make it bad. I'll find a use for it at some point, maybe in another game.
Same with job rejections, btw - not being the right fit for a role doesn't mean bad or unqualified.
...but not really. This sketch of a shop theme for 5th Cataclysm isn't what we need, but that doesn't make it bad. I'll find a use for it at some point, maybe in another game.
Same with job rejections, btw - not being the right fit for a role doesn't mean bad or unqualified.
December 12, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Failure Friday!
...but not really. This sketch of a shop theme for 5th Cataclysm isn't what we need, but that doesn't make it bad. I'll find a use for it at some point, maybe in another game.
Same with job rejections, btw - not being the right fit for a role doesn't mean bad or unqualified.
...but not really. This sketch of a shop theme for 5th Cataclysm isn't what we need, but that doesn't make it bad. I'll find a use for it at some point, maybe in another game.
Same with job rejections, btw - not being the right fit for a role doesn't mean bad or unqualified.
The importance of modularity in game design cannot be overstated.
Start with something manageable, leave the door open for future features, and allow the game to take shape naturally. Save time and effort through reuse. Harness the power of constraint to enhance creative thinking.
#gamedevelopment
Start with something manageable, leave the door open for future features, and allow the game to take shape naturally. Save time and effort through reuse. Harness the power of constraint to enhance creative thinking.
#gamedevelopment
December 9, 2025 at 9:29 PM
The importance of modularity in game design cannot be overstated.
Start with something manageable, leave the door open for future features, and allow the game to take shape naturally. Save time and effort through reuse. Harness the power of constraint to enhance creative thinking.
#gamedevelopment
Start with something manageable, leave the door open for future features, and allow the game to take shape naturally. Save time and effort through reuse. Harness the power of constraint to enhance creative thinking.
#gamedevelopment
Yesterday I went to the Boston Festival of Indie Games for the first time. So many of the games felt nostalgic, either directly inspired by older games or toys from childhood, but made new again. Maybe some things are just timeless, or it's like fashion - everything cycles back around eventually.
December 8, 2025 at 9:38 PM
Yesterday I went to the Boston Festival of Indie Games for the first time. So many of the games felt nostalgic, either directly inspired by older games or toys from childhood, but made new again. Maybe some things are just timeless, or it's like fashion - everything cycles back around eventually.
Game development is at the intersection of logic and creativity.
Games are software - their functions are logically driven and making them is highly technical.
Games are art - they evoke emotional reactions and aesthetics are a big part of the experience.
That's why I love working on games.
Games are software - their functions are logically driven and making them is highly technical.
Games are art - they evoke emotional reactions and aesthetics are a big part of the experience.
That's why I love working on games.
December 5, 2025 at 5:05 PM
Game development is at the intersection of logic and creativity.
Games are software - their functions are logically driven and making them is highly technical.
Games are art - they evoke emotional reactions and aesthetics are a big part of the experience.
That's why I love working on games.
Games are software - their functions are logically driven and making them is highly technical.
Games are art - they evoke emotional reactions and aesthetics are a big part of the experience.
That's why I love working on games.
I'm increasingly drawn to roguelite games. It's appealing to learn the gameplay and play in short bursts with enough randomness to stay interesting.
But I do miss being able to fire up a game and get lost in it for a day or two at a time. That's the beauty of games - there's something for everyone.
But I do miss being able to fire up a game and get lost in it for a day or two at a time. That's the beauty of games - there's something for everyone.
December 4, 2025 at 11:37 PM
I'm increasingly drawn to roguelite games. It's appealing to learn the gameplay and play in short bursts with enough randomness to stay interesting.
But I do miss being able to fire up a game and get lost in it for a day or two at a time. That's the beauty of games - there's something for everyone.
But I do miss being able to fire up a game and get lost in it for a day or two at a time. That's the beauty of games - there's something for everyone.
Most of my recent work is under NDA (that's games for ya!) but this horror bootflow/main menu track inspired by some of my favorite spooky scores from the N64 era is not, so I can share it!
soundcloud.com/alavenmusic/...
soundcloud.com/alavenmusic/...
Grave Summons
Envisioned as the accompaniment to a horror game bootflow building to the main title and then fading to an unsettling ambient track with individual elements playing at random as the player sits on the
soundcloud.com
November 27, 2024 at 1:51 AM
Most of my recent work is under NDA (that's games for ya!) but this horror bootflow/main menu track inspired by some of my favorite spooky scores from the N64 era is not, so I can share it!
soundcloud.com/alavenmusic/...
soundcloud.com/alavenmusic/...
I got to make a neato cluster of sounds yesterday - a perfect opportunity to use my favorite free plugin, Valhalla Space Modulator. It excels at turning recordings into digital nightmares or fantastical sci-fi computer sounds. (Not affiliated) #gameaudio #sounddesign valhalladsp.com/shop/modulat...
Valhalla Space Modulator: Flanger Plugin | Valhalla DSP Plugins
Earth Shattering Kaboom. ValhallaSpaceModulator is our take on flanging. Eleven algorithms allow you to get through-zero flanging, barberpole flanging, detuning, doubling, strange echoes, reverbs, an...
valhalladsp.com
November 12, 2024 at 1:29 PM
I got to make a neato cluster of sounds yesterday - a perfect opportunity to use my favorite free plugin, Valhalla Space Modulator. It excels at turning recordings into digital nightmares or fantastical sci-fi computer sounds. (Not affiliated) #gameaudio #sounddesign valhalladsp.com/shop/modulat...
Editing some voice recordings from a very sweet up and coming voice actor later today. She doesn't take direction very well yet, but really what can you expect from a seven month old baby?
November 3, 2024 at 6:59 PM
Editing some voice recordings from a very sweet up and coming voice actor later today. She doesn't take direction very well yet, but really what can you expect from a seven month old baby?
Just spent a solid few minutes slapping a metal plate slathered with hand lotion. What sound do you think I'm working on? #gameaudio #sounddesign
October 29, 2024 at 8:44 PM
Just spent a solid few minutes slapping a metal plate slathered with hand lotion. What sound do you think I'm working on? #gameaudio #sounddesign
Hey there! I'm Amanda, I make music and sound for video games. I've done AAA audio QA (THPS 1+2, Diablo IV,) contract sound design (Narcalid, Defenders Quest 2, unannounced game at Eyes Out,) and in-house music and sound (unannounced game at House of How.) I love cats, yarn art, movies, and games.
October 27, 2024 at 2:38 AM
Hey there! I'm Amanda, I make music and sound for video games. I've done AAA audio QA (THPS 1+2, Diablo IV,) contract sound design (Narcalid, Defenders Quest 2, unannounced game at Eyes Out,) and in-house music and sound (unannounced game at House of How.) I love cats, yarn art, movies, and games.