The Interactive Audio Special Interest Group

Welcome to the Interactive Audio Special Interest Group— a member-driven organization in partnership with the International Game Developer’s Association (IGDA), and The Midi Association (TMA).

Humbled by the technical art of creating and delivering interactive audio, The IASIG offers agency among the highly specialized tools required for composers, designers, and programmers to succeed in such unique development environments. Comprised of industry experts, we share knowledge to improve accessibility, and the state of the art in audio for games, websites, XR, and other interactive performances.

Your membership through the IGDA provides community resources created and published through IASIG since 1994. As a member, you’re incited to participate in research and reports with ongoing papers and working groups. We celebrate our members’ involvement and encourage you to recommend tips, tools, and techniques within our community.

We are excited to have you with us and would love for you to join The Midi Association— it’s free!

You can also join our newsletter mailing list here.

To join the IASIG as a member, become an IGDA member, and select ‘Audio’ as your ‘Primary Interest Group’.

You’re input is highly valued so be sure to follow and engage with your fellow community! View IASIG Linktree.

The Interactive Audio Special Interest Group extends appreciation to our sponsors for their continued support.

Origin Story

The IASIG is an organization in partnership with the International Game Developer’s Association (IGDA) and MIDI Association (TMA) that brings together experts to share their knowledge and help improve the state of the art in audio for games, websites, VR content, and other interactive performances. Our members share tips and techniques, study trends, and create reports and recommendations that game developers, tool makers, and platform owners use to create better products.

The IASIG was born out of the Audio Town Meeting at the Computer Game Developers conference in April of 1994. The group first met in June of 1994 to discuss a means for improving audio development tools and upgrading multimedia audio performance. Initially called the AIAMP (Association of Interactive Audio and Music Professionals), the MIDI Association (TMA) assumed responsibility for the group in August of 1994.

The foundation of the IASIG are Working Groups, which operate as explained in The IASIG Working Group Process. Working Groups are supervised by The IASIG Steering Committee. The Steering Committee ultimately serves the General Membership of the IASIG.

In addition, the IASIG may convene an Advisory Board. The Advisory Board members are not involved in the day to day management of the organization. As the name suggests, they serve to advise the Steering Committee in areas of specialized expertise, and as ambassadors for the IASIG to specific industry segments.

General Operation, & Mechanics

The IASIG is a partner of the International Game Developer’s Association (IGDA) and the MIDI Association (TMA).

The IASIG operates as an official SIG of the IGDA, & under the auspices of the MIDI Association, with its own advisory board, steering committee and working groups. The majority of activity is in discussion of various topics of interest to the members, which is conducted via private Internet mailing lists. As is often the case in groups like this, every participant is free to choose their own level of contribution, though naturally participants are encouraged (and needed) to work on creating issues and solutions, not to just sit back and review everyone else’s work. The process, in general, is geared towards gaining consensus, and the wider SIG membership is given ample opportunity to comment on the progress of each Working Group through reports given at regular physical meetings as well as via e-mail, fax, or regular mail (as the case may be). IASIG recommendations will be forwarded to the IGDA, MIDI Association and all other interactive audio industry groups as necessary to complete the IASIG mission to positively influence the development of interactive audio hardware and software.

Join Us At GDC!

The 38th annual Game Developers Conference (GDC), taking place March 18-22 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco, delivers the game industry’s greatest source of content and connections—with innovative exhibitors, awe-inspiring technology, and powerful talks led by game developers who live and breathe this industry.

Game developers and industry experts who attend GDC 2024 can expect the return of many activities and events that make the Game Developers Conference the place to be for game developers. Attendees can attend a comprehensive selection of lectures, panels, and roundtable discussions, tour the GDC Expo to check out companies’ latest products and solutions, and head to the GDC Play area to try the newest indie sensations before they come out.

In addition, the Independent Games Festival and the Game Developers Choice Awards will take place live on Wednesday, March 20—with a simultaneous broadcast in the event app and on the GDC Twitch channel.