Welcome to
SugarbirdSounds
Welcome to my website! My name is Ailsa Smith and I’m a sound designer for video games with a background in experimental electroacoustic composition, audio post-production, and video game sound design and implementation.
Sound Design Demo Reel
Audio Implementation Demo Reel
About Me.
Ailsa Smith is a sound designer passionate about bringing worlds to life through audio. They hold a Bachelor's degree in Music Technology from Keele University, a Master’s degree in Sound Design for Video Games with Thinkspace Education, and has completed a Post-Production Sound for Film, Games, and TV industry course at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance (ICMP) in London.
Now, Ailsa continues to refine their skills through sound redesign projects, game jams, and engagement with game audio communities such as Into Games, AirWiggles, and Discord servers.
The name Sugarbird originated as a playful nickname from a typo, but has since come to represent the calming and melodic qualities found in their approach to sound.
Skills & Knowledge
➡ Sound Design
➡ Audio Editing & Mixing
➡ Audio Integration (Wwise & FMOD)
➡ Game Engines: Unity & Unreal
➡ VO/ADR/Field/Foley Recording
➡ Music Composition
➡ Video Editing
Games I Like
➡ Stardew Valley
➡ Persona 5 Royal
➡ Baldur’s Gate III
➡ Tiny Bookshop
➡ Balatro
➡ Mini Motorways
➡ Cat Mail Co.
Video Game Projects
‘Badlands’ 3D Audio Environment Sound Design & Implementation : Unity & Wwise
A 3D exploration-focused audio environment designed and implemented in Wwise and Unity. Walkthrough features state-driven music systems (day/night, interior/exterior) and spatial audio using emitters and environmental scripting to support player navigation and immersion.
‘Special Agent’ 3D Audio Environment Sound Design & Implementation : Unity & Wwise
A 3D audio environment for a stealth FPS infiltration game, designed and implemented in Wwise. Walkthrough combines 2D and spatial audio techniques to support gameplay narrative and environmental immersion.
Cosy Sci-fi Sim-life Sound Design/Music Implementation : FMOD
An audio system constructed using FMOD for a cosy sci-fi sim-life game that includes ambience, weather, fauna, interactables, and music that all use parameter and state behaviour to function to conventional mechanics within the genre.
To the Moon Sound Re-Design
A re-design of the sound of a short section of To The Moon by Freebird Games (Gameplay footage credit to Father/@nikolasines on YouTube). I also composed the chiptune music that is featured in this clip. Most sounds are original recordings or synthesised.
Kaiju Creature Sound Design
A demo video of creature sound design work for the initial designs of the enemies in a Kaiju monster game.
Mobile Game UI Sound Design : Unity & Wwise
A demo video using Wwise to design and implement the UI audio system for a mobile battle royale game.
Tower Defense Sound Design & Music Implementation : Unity & Wwise
A project using the Unity and Wwise to implement provided music stems with state-based behaviours (health and number of waves) and replace sound design elements.
Overwatch 2 Sound Re-Design
A re-design of the sound of one of the ult abilities and player of the game animations from the game Overwatch 2 by Blizzard Entertainment.
Turn-Based Combat Sound Design : Wwise
A project using the Wwise Soundcaster to demonstrate three stages of three different spells being cast for a turn-based video game in a similar style to Baldur's Gate 3.
Animation, Film & TV
WALL-E - Sound Re-design
My submission for a fun sound design challenge to redesign a clip of the character Mo from the film WALL-E. I used mostly sound synthesis with the use of Vital paired with some foley recordings.
Compositions
Adrift
Solo piano composition exploring the theme of feeling lost and adrift within life.
Zen
Composition for piano inspired by musical minimalism and impressionism.
Looming
Looming of the unknown. Electroacoustic composition project from Composing with Sound music university module.
Here you’ll find a selection of my work. Explore my projects to learn more about what it is I do.
My Portfolio
I'm always available to talk about work or to chat about sound. You can leave me a message here or send me a quick email at:
sugarbirdsounds@gmail.com