Game Music and MIDI- The MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) and the Interactive Audio Special Interest Group (IASIG)

The MIDI Association

What Is Interactive Audio

Game Music is incredibly unique because unlike almost every other form of music which is based on a linear temporal framework (a song starts and plays uninterrupted from begin to end), game music is inherently interactive because it depends on the user’s game play to decide what music plays at what time. If you are doing well in the game and increasing from one level to the next, the music will build and generate added excitement. But when you fail to move forward and the games ends, completely different music is triggered. More money is spent on developing games than is spent on developing movies and there is a very active group of dedicated game audio professionals who also use MIDI.

What is Interactive Audio?

“Interactive Audio” is audio for interactive media such as video games, AR/VR environments, and websites… anywhere the audio changes according to listener input. The term “Interactive” is used to distinguish it from “linear” forms of audio (such as in films and in cut scenes in games) where the audio is decided in advance and always is the same no matter who is listening. The creation and delivery of Interactive Audio involves specialized skills and tools, and the close cooperation of composers, musicians, sound designers, programmers, educators, and software/hardware developers

by Interactive Audio Special Interest Group (IASIG)

What is the IASIG?

The IASIG is an organization that brings together experts to share their knowledge and help improve the state of the art in audio for games, websites, VR content, and other interactive performances. Our members share tips and techniques, study trends, and create reports and recommendations that game developers, tool makers, and platform owners use to create better products.

by IASIG

The IASIG was born out of the Audio Town Meeting at the Computer Game Developers conference in April of 1994. The group first met in June of 1994 to discuss a means for improving audio development tools and upgrading multimedia audio performance. Initially called the AIAMP (Association of Interactive Audio and Music Professionals), the MIDI Manufacturers Association (MMA) assumed responsibility for the group in August of 1994.

The IASIG operates as an autonomous group supervised by the MMA, with its own advisory board, steering committee and working groups. The majority of activity is in discussion of various topics of interest to the members, which is conducted via private Internet mailing lists. As is often the case in groups like this, every participant is free to choose their own level of contribution, though naturally participants are encouraged (and needed) to work on creating issues and solutions, not to just sit back and review everyone else’s work. The process, in general, is geared towards gaining consensus, and the wider SIG membership is given ample opportunity to comment on the progress of each Working Group through reports given at regular physical meetings as well as via e-mail, fax, or regular mail (as the case may be).

IASIG activities are independent of MMA activities, and membership in one organization does not entitle the member to services of the other. IASIG recommendations will be forwarded to the MMA and all other interactive audio industry groups as necessary to complete the IASIG mission to positively influence the development of interactive audio hardware and software.