Jory Prum (January 31, 1975 – April 22, 2016) was an American audio engineer and recording professional known for his work in both film and interactive entertainment. Based in the San Francisco Bay Area, he operated his own recording studio, providing services that ranged from location voice capture to final mix and mastering. His career bridged traditional post‑production for picture and the specialized needs of episodic, narrative video games.
Career and notable projects
Prum collaborated with a mix of independent creators and established studios to create clear, emotionally resonant audio for performance‑driven titles. He is widely associated with several high‑profile games that emphasized voice acting and storytelling:
- The Walking Dead (Telltale Games) — extensive dialogue recording and audio post‑production for episodic releases
- The Wolf Among Us (Telltale Games) — cinematic voice capture and mixing
- Brütal Legend (Double Fine Productions) — game audio engineering and mixing
Beyond those headline credits, Prum contributed to soundtracks and sound design elements for film and independent game projects, often adapting techniques from music and film production to meet the technical demands of interactive media. He worked on recording, editing, mixing and, when needed, on-location production for voice talent.
Methods and professional practice
Prum’s studio practice combined traditional recording room techniques with tools specific to game development. Tasks frequently included dialogue editing, noise reduction, layering effects for interactive playback, and preparing stems for adaptive audio systems. As an engineer he was valued for clarity of dialogue, consistency across episodic releases, and a collaborative approach with directors and game audio directors. His work exemplified how sound design and engineering contribute to narrative impact.
He built a reputation in the Bay Area community as a reliable technician and creative partner who could manage both the technical constraints of game engines and the artistic needs of actors and directors. That combination made him a frequent choice for voice‑first, story‑led productions that required careful attention to performance nuance and playback fidelity.
Prum died in a motorcycle accident in San Francisco on April 22, 2016, at the age of 41. His passing was noted across the game and audio communities; colleagues remembered him for his technical skill, professional ethos and support of storytellers working in interactive and cinematic media. His work remains a reference point for engineers and designers interested in blending film-quality production values with the interactive requirements of modern games.