“Writing & Recording for Video Games”
at HMW in Baden & Vienna Synchron Stage

with AUSTIN WINTORY

July 14 -19, 2025

 

Are you a composer interested in learning about the process of writing and recording for
games?

Composer AUSTIN WINTORY will lead an intensive workshop at the Hollywood Music Workshop and walk students through the steps of scoring a game from a blank page, to a fully-realized orchestral recording session at Vienna Synchron Stage.

Students will be given a game music writing assignment at the beginning of the workshop and have the opportunity to record it with a world-class scoring orchestra at the end. The assignment will be built around real-world specs required in the game industry, giving students a true taste of what it’s like.

The goal is, rather than to simply learn abstract lessons and then record a piece of generic demo reel material, to instead gain a realistic and grounded understanding of what it takes and walk away with material to show for it.

Each ACTIVE participant will be given 25 minutes of professional recording session time. During the workshop, participants must be able to write, orchestrate and create parts for their piece inside of 4 days’ time. Writing rigs are not provided as part of this program.

PASSIVE participants will attend & take away the benefits of the entire lectures & the recording process, but will not record their piece.

 

There will be an Application process to fill the limited spaces* for this course:
Recordings of three compositions by the applicant together with the conductor scores must be submitted with the application.

The application is supposed to include 3 pieces:

• Mockups or recordings
• Score
• Playback from notation software is acceptable mockup; the writing is what’s being analyzed.
  Also instrumentation should be orchestral, irrespective of our assignment.  

  Please also make sure you are comfortable and confident making parts for your piece in the short turn around.
  

   

  Your files can be submitted via e-mail to: rolf.gustavson@outlook.com

   

  *We will accept max. 12 ACTIVE and 12 PASSIVE students.
  ! PLEASE NOTE: Applications for ACTIVE participation will CLOSE on APRIL 15th, 2025 due to the preparation process !

 

 

What you will learn

✅ Practical Knowledge on Film & Media Scoring
The workshop will highlight deep “case studies” of Austin Wintory’s prior work, as well as those from his colleagues to offer very specific analyses of how the games were approached and scored.

✅ Guidance from a veteran composer
Austin Wintory will give feedback and guidance on students’ music through the lens of aesthetics, orchestration, mix/production and overall approach.

✅ Hands-On Experience at Synchron Stage
Record your music, designed to industry- realistic specs, with world-class musicians in an acoustically pristine environment.

✅ Career discussion and networking 
Beyond writing game music itself, there will be lots of discussion about how careers are made and sustained.

AUSTIN WINTORY is a veteran composer of the game industry, with nearly 20 years of experience spanning over 50 titles.

These projects range from groundbreaking innovators like Journey, ABZU, The Pathless, Stray Gods: The Roleplaying Musical, flOw, The Banner Saga trilogy, and Absolver, to massive blockbusters such as Assassin’s Creed Syndicate, Aliens: Fireteam Elite, and LEGO Fortnite. AUSTIN has also made contributions to games such as Hades, Hades II, League of Legends, Counter Strike Global Offensive and The Order 1886.

He has received 3 GRAMMY nominations, 7 BAFTA nominations (among them 2 wins), 46 Game Audio Network Guild award nominations (19 wins), 4 Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences’ DICE Awards nominations (1 win), and 7 ASCAP Composers’ Choice Awards nominations (2 wins).
He has recorded his work in all the major recording hubs in the world and frequently collaborates with unique and noteworthy soloists to create expressive, experimental final results.