How to Compose Video Game Music Fast for Indie Developers

In this video, I give a simple three step plan for composing a game soundtrack fast. This video focuses particularly on preparation: preparing a track list, preparing your necessary resources, and preparing musical ideas for composition. This preparation based approach requires more upfront work, but saves an enormous amount of time later. I highly recommend this approach to indie game developers looking to write their own soundtrack(s) and new composers alike!

Interested in original music for your game? Check out my website:

Game footage from @dadako_ltd

Music used in this video:
© 2023 Matthew Ivic

[MatthewIvic]

What's your favorite thing about entering data into spreadsheets?

[gwythinn]

My jaw dropped at 5:49 you cut from "ask the game dev what inspired them" to gameplay footage from the game that most influenced my own game development aspirations. :D

[GreenBlueWalkthrough]

4:27 If you want an sound for an game sure but if you want your sound for your games... The free game dev aligned programs I used are far to limiting like I suggest getting a free DAW you like and fill it will free plug ins I found it much easier to use and your not limiting your self.

[satosinis]

Hey! I really enjoyed the video :D, I really enjoy music in general, but I'm not to keen to composing. Your video made me feel like it isn't an impossible task, I'll consider seeing the rest and hopefully trying to do it and improving. Practice makes perfect after all. With this content I hope and think your channel will continue to grow :)

[mistery]

what's a big city chord progression? What are some of your videos that focus on composing? What resources would you recommend to someone who has close to no composing experience?

[Aileen-mxio]

Great tips! I especially like the part about excel 😊

[InnerMotionMusic]

Great advice. I'd be also interested to hear your thoughts about how to get work as a game composer.

[GreenBlueWalkthrough]

2:24 sounds good for a simple game... but what about a complex one? Like I would need to make the spreed sheet at the end of development when I have the game finalized. So what is wrong with making music as it's needed and polishing it later?