Had fun tonight getting some flame sounds  with the Sound Devices. I would totally recommend to anyone planning a fire recording session to get some protective clothing. Even standing a metre away it was unbearably hot!  After about 30 minutes of recording I had to take a break because my hands were starting to blister from the heat. I came back with a good set of  gloves and  an old welders mask which allowed me to get much closer to the flames without feeling like  I was being cooked alive! See a little snippet of the recording below (:  

Last year I was lucky enough to be accepted into the Audio Mentoring Project (click here for details)​​  and I undertook a very enriching mentorship that helped me grow a lot as a Sound Designer . 

What is the AMP you ask?   Well the AMP is a collection of seasoned practitioners and developers in the Game Audio Industry.  Together these professionals have volunteered their time and energy to form a council to help pair upcoming and   aspiring Sound Designers with veteran  professionals already in the industry  . 

 The AMP aims to pair you with a mentor that really  suits  your needs based on your application.  As an example, I am very passionate about  AAA shooter games and I aspire to work in the AAA scene (DICE PLZ) . I was therefore lucky enough to be paired with an Audio Lead   from one of the large AAA companies. 

My mentor really helped me learn a lot about the AAA pipelines and get a broader understanding about the  workflows of large AAA Studios.  We also worked on a small demo level SCI-FI shooter together using  screen share   to work within the  UNREAL 4 and WWISE during our calls.  I learnt a lot about  profiling and troubleshooting during these sessions and  as well as the best practices and naming conventions. 

I also got feedback on two showreels and  some super valuable advice in regards to my freelance business.  

So what advice can I give   to anyone  that is considering applying ? 

1. Firstly .... JUST DO IT:
   
     Honestly apply and you will not regret it . My  personal experience was highly enriching and inspirational to say the least. 
   
   
2. It's okay to be nervous but don't stress about your first call:
   
    My first  skype call was terrifying.  ..  for about 30 seconds.   It's easy to place  people on a   pedestal but I soon      realized that my mentor was a  super friendly  down to earth person   that was   here to help me.
   
   
3.  Respect  your mentor and appreciate the opportunity:
   
   The AMP is built around volunteers and  community.  Your mentor has given up their time to help guide you so please  value their time and understand what a valuable FREE resource you have been gifted with. 
   
   
4. Communicate: 
   
   My biggest regret during my mentorship was  that I didn't communicate with my Mentor as much as I could have.   Make sure to  engage with your mentor and let them know how you're doing. 
   
   
5. Have goals and questions ready for your mentor:
   
   I don't think our calls would have been quite so productive if I didn't have a list of  questions ready for my mentor before hand. 
   
   
6. Be open to feedback: 
   
   As in the real world of Sound Design  you are going to occasionally be critiqued or  given advice on better ways to achieve a Sound or goal. Don't take it personal!  Instead listen and take on board the feedback you're given! 

In summary I would highly encourage anyone to apply! If you're vested  in Game Audio it is too good of an opportunity to turn down! Regardless if you've been freelancing for years or perhaps fresh out of College the AMP will have a mentor to fit your level ! 

 I'd like to thank the AMP and my mentor for the opportunity and with that I will  leave you with a small snippet of the level we worked on (: 


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