What keeps a game audio studio going for twenty years? The finished soundtrack is only part of the answer. At Sonic Days 2026, Tobias Norman will share the people, working relationships and lessons behind two decades of audio outsourcing at Red Pipe Studios.
His talk follows the studio from its beginnings to work on major games, including the successes and the projects that taught difficult lessons. For sound designers, studio owners and people considering a career in game audio, it connects the creative work with the business and collaboration that allow it to happen.
A studio built around sound, music and voices
Red Pipe Studios was founded in 2006 and is based in Stockholm. Its work spans sound design, mixing, music, game audio and voice production. Tobias is a founder and the studio’s Head of Production, bringing a perspective that reaches across both the sound itself and the organisation of the work.
The studio’s portfolio gives a sense of that range, with game projects alongside film and other audiovisual productions. Game audio also means working within development systems and adapting to the requirements of different teams. The relationship with a developer is part of the production process, from understanding an intention to making the material work in an interactive setting.
What makes an outsourcing partnership work?
Tobias will draw on behind-the-scenes experiences with developers and actors to consider what makes a partnership successful. His account includes failures as well as achievements, allowing the conversation to move beyond the polished credits of a completed project.
That makes the session relevant on both sides of an outsourcing relationship. A studio offering audio services and a developer bringing in external specialists depend on a shared understanding of what the work needs to achieve. Hearing how those relationships develop over time offers a useful perspective on building a sustainable practice.
The stories behind the work
The session is deliberately personal: audio, people, relationships and, naturally, coffee. It offers a chance to hear how professional judgement develops across many projects and how running an audio business shapes the way a studio collaborates.
Before the talk, explore Red Pipe’s official portfolio to see the breadth of the studio’s work. The Sonic Days presentation will focus on Tobias’s experience and lessons from the studio’s twenty-year journey.
Join the session
20 Years Of Running A Game Audio Studio – Stories Behind The Work
Wednesday 18 November 2026 · 14:00–15:00 CET
Room 3.26 — Audiokinetic
Track: Game Audio
Sonic College, Kolding
Register free and add the session to your Sched programme. Sonic Days takes place on 18–19 November 2026, with a warm-up programme on 17 November.
Continue exploring the Game Audio track, or browse the full programme in Sched.
Session details and campaign artwork prepared from the Sonic Days programme and the campaign’s existing visual material.