Original Game Scoring
Full-length original scores for games of any size, from short indie titles to long campaigns. The core offering, billed per finished minute of music.
Services & Pricing
No quotes hidden behind contact forms.
Pricing is published upfront. Rates scale with project size, with optional add-ons for live ensembles. Use the calculator below to estimate your project, or read on for what each line item includes.
Original Music for Games & Media
Adaptive Music Systems
Music that responds to gameplay, layering and transitioning between states without jarring cuts. Add-on to any project.
Live Recorded Ensembles
Real string ensembles or full symphonic orchestra sessions for projects that need the warmth and presence only live performance can provide.
Media & Short-Form
Podcast themes, trailer cues, jingles, and other short-form work. Same per-minute rates apply, starting at one finished minute.
Estimate Your Project
Tier: Small (1–14) — $650 / min base
Ensemble
Project Total
$6,500
10 min × $650 / min
Estimate only. Final scope and price agreed in writing before any work begins.
Start a ConversationPer-Minute Pricing, Plainly
Rates step down as project size grows. The base rate covers MIDI and soloists. Live ensembles are priced per minute on top of the base.
Base Rate by Project Size
- 1 — 14 finished minutes$650 / minute
- 15 — 44 finished minutes$600 / minute
- 45 — 89 finished minutes$550 / minute
- 90+ finished minutes$500 / minute
Ensemble
- MIDI + SoloistsIncluded
- String Ensemble+ $250 / minute
- Symphonic Orchestra+ $425 / minute
Full production, mastering, stems, and additional formats are included in every project and discussed at the beginning of the process. Revisions are part of each milestone.
From First Email to Final Delivery
Five steps. Payments are structured around production milestones rather than charged upfront, designed so you never pay for work you have not approved.
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Initial Conversation
You fill out the contact form with your project details: what the project is, what kind of music you imagine, your timeline, and your scope. Austin will get back to you shortly. The first call is a real conversation, not a sales pitch. If Slade Audio is not the right fit for your project, you will hear that honestly.
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Written Scope and Quote
Based on the conversation, you receive a written scope of work covering: the agreed minutes of music, the ensemble, any add-ons like live recording, the production timeline, payment milestones, and the deliverables you will receive. Full production, mastering, stems, and the formats your engine needs are all included.
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Kickoff and Creative Brief
An initial milestone payment secures your project slot in the production calendar. Before any writing starts, you and Austin align on creative direction: musical references, the emotional arc of the score, instrumentation, and any pieces of gameplay or story that should drive specific cues.
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Composition and Review
Music is delivered in stages, not all at once. Each milestone includes a round of revisions so the score stays on brief as your project evolves. Payments are tied to milestone approval, meaning you only pay for music you have heard and approved.
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Final Delivery and Ownership
You receive fully mastered tracks, stems, and any additional formats your engine requires. Implementation guidance is included; hands-on integration in FMOD, Wwise, or directly in engine is available if needed. The final balance is due on delivery. You own the music outright, free to use it in the game, in marketing, in trailers, and on soundtrack releases without further fees.
FAQ
How much does it cost to hire a composer for an indie game?
Slade Audio publishes per-minute rates that scale with project size. Smaller projects (under 15 minutes of music) are billed at $650 per finished minute. Rates step down as scope grows, reaching $500 per minute at 90+ minutes. Add-ons like live ensembles are priced per minute on top of the base rate. The calculator on this page returns the exact total based on your inputs.
What is adaptive music and do I need it?
Adaptive music changes dynamically with what the player is doing. A combat layer enters when a fight starts, an exploration layer fades back in when the player escapes, all without jarring cuts. It is one of the most emotionally effective tools in game audio and is a core Slade Audio specialty. Whether you need it depends on your game: action and exploration games tend to benefit most, while a linear puzzle game or visual novel may be fine with traditional looped tracks.
How long does it take to score a game?
Most projects run between two and six months of active composition, depending on scope and complexity. Shorter projects (a few minutes of music) can be finished in weeks. Larger projects with adaptive systems or live recording sessions take longer. A clear timeline is built into the written scope you receive after the initial conversation.
Do you work with small teams or solo developers?
Yes. Slade Audio is built specifically for indie and small-team budgets. The pricing is sized for independent projects, not AAA studios, and the process is designed to fit alongside a small team's production workflow.
What is the difference between MIDI/soloists, string ensemble, and full orchestra?
MIDI and soloists means high-quality sampled instruments combined with real recorded solo performances where appropriate. It is the standard offering, suitable for most projects, with no upcharge. A string ensemble adds a real recorded string section, bringing warmth and human nuance that samples cannot fully replicate, at +$250 per minute. A symphonic orchestra is a full live orchestral session, used for the most cinematic scores, at +$425 per minute.
Do you handle music implementation in the game engine?
Every project includes implementation guidance and documentation, along with stems and files in the formats your engine needs, so your team has clear direction for integrating the music. If you would prefer hands-on integration in a tool like FMOD or Wwise, that can be arranged on request. Slade Audio works with experienced audio engineers who can handle implementation directly, with their rate scoped per project and folded into the written agreement before work begins.
What rights do I get to the music?
You own the music. Slade Audio composes work-for-hire, and full ownership transfers to you on final delivery. You can use the music in your game, in marketing, in trailers, and on soundtrack releases without further fees.
Do you offer payment plans?
Yes. Payments are structured around production milestones rather than charged upfront. The plan is designed to protect you: you never pay for work you have not approved, and you never pay for material that is not yet delivered. Specific terms are agreed on as part of the written scope.
Ready to Talk Through Your Project?
Send over the details and you will hear back shortly. No pitch, no hard sell, just a straight conversation about whether Slade Audio is right for what you are making.