Creating soundtrack : magic tips from Merlin or just mathematics?

What the talk is about

Taras Terletskyi shares practical advice on creating game soundtracks. His central point is that in-game music loops, so an arrangement should start and end at moderate dynamics, avoid sharp solos, and not overload the track with instruments. He recommends a break every 30–45 minutes, not mixing or mastering for too long in one go, and re-checking results the next day. He also covers mixing: matching reverb across sample libraries, using EQ to fight masking (kick vs. bass, guitars vs. vocals), leaving headroom when bouncing, applying compression with care, and trusting your ears over formulas. Finally, he discusses adaptive music: layering stems like a sandwich and crossfading between sections, including with FMOD and Wwise. Useful for composers, sound designers and indie developers who write their own game music.