Arnaud Noble: creating immersive experiences through audio with Sennheiser

The combination of the MKH 8030 and MKH 8040 microphones Sennheiser allows sound designer Arnaud Noble to create immersive experiences aimed at premium video games and other interactive experiences.

Sound plays a fundamental role in video games, as it shapes the player experience, enhances the atmosphere and deepens the immersion. The nuances of environments, las you of the characters and sound effects Action-inspired games not only create a believable world, but also offer essential information that guides players through complex narratives and gameplay.

Noble He has contributed to numerous acclaimed projects in the video game industry. His work reveals the audio transformer power to shape the user experience: "Capturing unique and original sound sources to create engaging soundscapes is essential to the game pre-design process. It allows the team and I to explore the textures and nuances of the original sounds. These recordings are the raw material necessary to build the sound palette of a game. They lay the foundation for the entire pre-design creation process," he explains.

For his latest project, Noble turned to a condenser microphone MKH 8030 and a MKH 8040 in one medio-lateral stereo configuration. This combination allows the designer to record both ambient sound and specific audio sources, such as sound effects or prop manipulation. In his own words: “The MS setup allows me to adjust the stereo width during post-production, which is a significant advantage, while the wide frequency response of the MKH microphones makes it easy to manipulate audio sources during the sound design process, from pitch adjustment to fine-tuning.”

Easy to transport and designed to withstand harsh outdoor climates, Sennheiser They came in handy during Noble's field recording trip to Japan, where he used the combo microphone to capture various urban and natural soundscapes. "When capturing audio for video games, I record up close to capture the most intricate details in a controlled environment and silences. Working at 192 kHz allows me to record a wide spectrum of frequencies, which facilitates extensive and precise sound manipulation later," explains Noble, one of those people who greatly enjoys his work: "Sometimes, simply slowing down a sound source creates magic: unexpected textures are revealed, adding surprising depth and character. I think capturing original sounds and experimenting with them is "Essential, as it gives rise to these distinctive textures that enrich my sonic palette and perfectly enhance my design work, which often relies on layering. For this purpose, the MKH 8030 and 8040 are my go-to tools. The combination provides exceptional detail and an incredibly convincing stereo image, making them ideal for this type of creative work."