Today we’re bringing you a very special broadcast where we’ll be having some important guests: Blanktone! They’re the team responsible for Tuned In’s music and sound design, and since this is something that is usually not talked about when discussing development, we thought we could give them the spotlight so they could tell their experience working on the game. We also think you’ll find this very interesting! So without further ado, here’s what they had to say:
“Working on Tuned In was thrilling on every level. We got to collaborate with an experienced team behind some genuinely great games, and that pushed us to match their level of production.
The horror genre is also one we hold dear, because sound is truly part of the gameplay. We started by composing the music, using it to suggest an artistic direction. Among all the tools that went into Tuned In's soundtrack, two instruments stand out as ones I especially love: the Touché by Expressive E and the Seaboard by Roli. Both let me shape organic textures that build tension and release it just as naturally.
The game's 80s visual direction gave me the idea of making a slightly out-of-tune keyboard the lead instrument. From there I built a more modern arrangement around it, with synthesizers and touches of orchestra, since we didn't want to lean entirely on that vintage choice. The result is a hybrid score that draws players into Tuned In's story.
As for the sound design, right from the prologue, we wanted to heighten the supernatural quality of the television: an organic, deliberately unrealistic white noise, a satisfying sonic progression as you work through the TV's controls, and a clear distinction between the sounds coming from the television and those that seem to step out of it and become real, so that sound itself would reinforce the TV's hold on June. This approach gave us a solid foundation for sound that serves both the gameplay and the game's very distinctive atmosphere.”
As you can see, they worked very hard on bringing the atmosphere of Tuned In to life, and we think they did an incredible job! We hope you enjoyed reading about this less known aspect of videogame development. If you want to experience their work for yourself, you can do so now by playing the prologue! Don’t forget to leave a review if you like it as well, to help us spread the word about Tuned In and to check out our social media for more content and updates.