After a brief hiatus, the independent sound effects roundups are back – and let’s start out with this look at some new libraries that can be used as literally or as radically as you’d like:
You will find strange contact mic recordings of computers and cars, sounds of handguns, sniper rifles and machine guns, dry ice that screams and whines on metal. You’ll also find European and Latin American birds, quintessential Halloween sounds, metal hitting metal, rain and thunder in stereo and 5.1, and the clanging and ringing of a noisy fairground.
So whether you’re creating a scene with these locations or in someone’s imagination, these libraries are sure to inspire you.
'Inner Ambience' by Protosfx captures reality and twists it into peculiarity. This library features everyday objects like fences, bridges, computers, and cars, but with a twist - they were recorded with a contact mic. These droning, buzzing and wailing sounds each have a 'Twilight Zone' feel perfect for Cold War-era games, dream sequences, and anything needing an internal, lo-fi edge. With almost an hour and a half of content, this library's intriguing sounds may even inspire you to purchase a contact mic yourself. For sounds that evoke feelings of retro-futurism and uncanniness, check out 'Inner Ambience'.
'Birds Extension' by JMV features birds both flightless and flittering from Mexico, Finland and France. The stars of this library are the harsh and throaty chachalaca, the talented Foley-like grackle, the smart and peaceful Nestor Kea Parrot, the beautiful and user interface-inspiring Motmot Turquoise Sourcils, and the instantly recognizable Yucatan Woodpecker. The library also includes more common birds like crows, geese, hens, roosters, macaw parrot, and Harry Potter's favorite - the snow owl.
Also included is a big collection of excellent seagull recordings, featuring lots of vocalizations such as calls, screams and screeches. Both single close-up recordings and some large group recordings are covered.
For local authenticity or new sounds to manipulate, check out 'Birds Extension'.
'Dry Ice Metal Resonance' by Glad Sound Libraries is a work of sonic creativity at its finest. This library features the interesting and crazy sounds of dry ice as it resonates on metal. For those unfamiliar with this interaction, this description may not even call a sound to mind! To give you an idea of what to expect, you will hear sounds of screeching, whining, creaking, and what sounds like air coming out of a balloon as well as mutant bees caught in a tunnel. And with 42 minutes of over 250 sounds, this library has more gems to share. 'Dry Ice Metal Resonance' is one you must hear to believe!
'Fairgrounds' by Airborne Sound is a pack of sounds from one of our favorite summertime family activities. This library includes 70 ambiences from fairgrounds including sounds of games with trick shooting, bingo calls, buzzers, rings, and announcers. It also includes crowds and children as well as fair rides like the bumper cars, ferris wheel, and The Zipper, a ride that spins you 'round and 'round on several axes for suspense and unpredictability. Whether you're working on a fair-themed zombie film, a creepy clown horror movie, or just a plain old fair scene, check out 'Fairgrounds'.
'Handgun Essentials' by Glad Sound Libraries features lots of akimbo action. These sounds come from six handguns such as the Colt 1911, Glock 19 and the .22 Long Rifle. It features body handling sounds and shots from a revolver, BB gun, 9mm pistol and more for a collection of almost 100 sounds. These high quality sounds also allow you to stretch them into larger weapons, and their variations of handling sounds make them perfect for interactive use. For a well-rounded pack of handgun sounds, check out 'Handgun Essentials'.
'Metal Contact' by Soundholder is a metal-on-metal cornucopia. This library features sounds of dozens of metal objects - buckets, pans, sinks, grills, coins, doors and more - as they are banged, rubbed, shifted, hit, scraped, shook, and manipulated with blenders and magnets. This massive collection includes nearly four hours of sounds that range from ten seconds to nearly five minutes, and they are created with editors in mind with their different intensities and speeds for easy implementation. For sounds that are both practical and experimental, give 'Metal Contact' a listen.
If you didn't see this library in our Halloween roundup, then here's another chance to hear the classic haunted house sounds of 'Halloween 101' by Soundopolis. This library has the archetypal sounds of our favorite holiday scenes with insane laughter, portent birds, chainsaw-wielding murderers, ghostly voices, zombies, gore sounds, and ritualistic language. It also includes ambiences of spooky weather, creaking doors, and breaking glass to help you create whatever scenario you'd like. For a great mix of frightening and fun, listen to 'Halloween 101'.
'Gun Sound Pack' by Gamemaster Audio is a booming library with locked and loaded gunshots. This collection features eight different weapons ranging from a compact pistol to a big ol' machine gun with powerful sniper rifle shots, a semi-auto rifle dry firing, and sounds of handling a pistol, loading a shotgun, and cocking a revolver. Plus, it features sounds of selector switches, unloading magazines, and long beautiful reverb tails. If you need a collection that quickly covers the bases of gun shots and body sounds, give 'Gun Sound Pack' a listen.
'Thunder & Rain' by JP Belliard features two storms that boom across urban skies. This library features over 40 sounds of thunder as it booms and cracks from both across the city and building-shakingly close by. The library not only includes stereo recordings but also Mid-Side and upmixed 5.1. Plus, you receive the de-noised and raw files to meet your workflows and experimentation styles as well as sounds of wind and rain for fleshed out soundscapes. For a great pack to start your storm collection, give 'Thunder & Rain' a listen.
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