I’m gearing up to start a new tabletop RPG campaign and I’m interested in incorporating more technology into my games, particularly with music and sound effects. I’m not sure how to get started with setting something up on my laptop that can handle these elements. If anyone has any suggestions, links to articles, or YouTube tutorials that could guide me through the process, I would really appreciate it!
6 Answers
Listen, I thought adding audio would be fun, but here are a few things I learned the hard way:
1. It’s a lot of extra prep work. Looking for tracks and setting up playlists can be overwhelming, especially when your players veer off the main quest! You don’t want silence when they improvise.
2. Switching tracks can disrupt the flow of the game. Tech glitches can happen, and managing volume levels is tough.
If you’re set on it, I’d suggest creating a Spotify playlist with downloaded tracks to avoid Wi-Fi issues or using a soundboard app like RPGSounds for easy access to your music and sound effects!
When I played online, I found https://www.kenku.fm/ really helpful for managing my sounds. It made a big difference for me!
I usually stick to music and background noise rather than sound effects. I have several playlists ready according to game moods, such as Combat, High Tension, General, and Relaxed. I mainly use video game soundtracks since anything else with lyrics can get distracting. Keep it simple and focused!
I’ve been using YouTube playlists through a Bluetooth speaker. It works for me, and sometimes I ask one of the players to manage the audio, which has been super helpful!
I used to play around with sound effects but found it too much work for my group. Now I just focus on playing low background music and ambient sounds to set the mood. Just make sure to keep the volume low; if it’s too loud, players might tune it out. For online play, try .ogg files with Foundry VTT or stream with VLC on Discord. If you’re in person, using Tabletop Audio is a great option!
I appreciate everyone’s input! Just to clarify, I’m mainly looking for ambient sounds like crowds or weather rather than sound effects.
Totally agree! Just a touch of background music can do wonders. I also like to start with a prologue track to set the scene and bring everyone into the vibe.