I am an audio designer and engineer passionate about creating immersive soundscapes and compositions. With experience ranging from game audio design to film scoring, I thrive on crafting original audio content that elevates user experiences across multiple platforms such as indie games and promotional videos. Currently, I am developing an audio-based 3D puzzle game aimed at enhancing awareness of visual impairment. I enjoy leveraging tools like Unreal Engine, Unity, Wwise, and various DAWs such as Reaper and Ableton Live to bring sound to life. My background includes internships at Tencent Games and NYU CREATE Lab, as well as founding my own audio design company, NexTone Audio LLC. Collaboration and continuous learning are key values I hold to ensure quality and innovation in sound design.

Kaiyang (Kai) Zhao

I am an audio designer and engineer passionate about creating immersive soundscapes and compositions. With experience ranging from game audio design to film scoring, I thrive on crafting original audio content that elevates user experiences across multiple platforms such as indie games and promotional videos. Currently, I am developing an audio-based 3D puzzle game aimed at enhancing awareness of visual impairment. I enjoy leveraging tools like Unreal Engine, Unity, Wwise, and various DAWs such as Reaper and Ableton Live to bring sound to life. My background includes internships at Tencent Games and NYU CREATE Lab, as well as founding my own audio design company, NexTone Audio LLC. Collaboration and continuous learning are key values I hold to ensure quality and innovation in sound design.

Available to hire

I am an audio designer and engineer passionate about creating immersive soundscapes and compositions. With experience ranging from game audio design to film scoring, I thrive on crafting original audio content that elevates user experiences across multiple platforms such as indie games and promotional videos. Currently, I am developing an audio-based 3D puzzle game aimed at enhancing awareness of visual impairment.

I enjoy leveraging tools like Unreal Engine, Unity, Wwise, and various DAWs such as Reaper and Ableton Live to bring sound to life. My background includes internships at Tencent Games and NYU CREATE Lab, as well as founding my own audio design company, NexTone Audio LLC. Collaboration and continuous learning are key values I hold to ensure quality and innovation in sound design.

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Experience Level

Expert
Expert
Expert
Intermediate
Intermediate
Intermediate

Language

Norwegian
Fluent
English
Advanced
Chinese
Advanced

Work Experience

Founder/Audio Designer at NexTone Audio LLC
May 1, 2025 - Present
Completed sound design, film scoring and music production tasks according to clients’ needs. Created original audio content for the company’s social media accounts.
Freelance Sound Designer at Rareform Audio
January 1, 2025 - Present
Created a high-quality cinematic sound effects sample pack. Completed the mixing and mastering independently for the sound effects.
Audio Engineer Intern at Mansion Recording Studios
March 31, 2025 - July 23, 2025
Maintained studio environment and equipment. Provided diverse services to recording engineers and clients to complete the recording or mixing sessions.
Sound Design Intern at Tencent Games
August 31, 2024 - July 23, 2025
Responsible for audio design and resource integration for game projects. Contributed to sound design, music composition, editing, and mixing for CG sequences and promotional videos for Need for Speed Mobile and GKART Mobile. Participated in sound design and mixing for champions and exclusive skins in Honor of Kings: Breaking Dawn. Maintained effective communication and collaboration with project teams, enhancing product experience through sound modules.
Sound Design Intern at NYU CREATE Lab
May 31, 2024 - July 23, 2025
Designed and implemented audio assets for projects including music & sound effects for research in Virtual Reality and R&D initiatives. Provided input in creative design and brainstorming sessions.

Education

Master of Music at New York University (NYU)
September 1, 2023 - May 31, 2025
Bachelor of Arts at Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU)
September 1, 2019 - June 30, 2023

Qualifications

Wwise-101 Certified
January 11, 2030 - July 23, 2025

Industry Experience

Gaming, Media & Entertainment, Software & Internet, Education
    paper Sound Design Reel


    Sound design demo reel created by Kaiyang Zhao, containing redesign for Diablo 4, Valorant, League of Legends, and Call of Duty: Black Ops 6, in addition to my official sound design for the GKART(QQ Speed) Mobile CG clip.