A white sphere wears over-the-ear headphones. Asbjoern Andersen

Posted by Adriane Kuzminski in Sound community highlights


Autumn is here (or spring for some), and if you like to enjoy the transitional weather by taking a stroll and listening to a podcast, then we have some great recommendations for you.

In this roundup, you can listen to a chapter from DROIDMAKER about how Lucasfilm revolutionized film sound, learn about enhancing audio description with Gavin Kearney, go deep into gear and Chicago gigs with Timothy Chan, hear about David Housden’s work on Thomas Was Alone, The Lost Words, and QUBE2, learn about the career of house engineer Fela Davis, discover why classic cartoon SFX have endured 90 years, explore Dehumaniser and Reformer Pro, and grasp the basics of compression with Joe Gilder. Happy listening!

DROIDMAKER – Chapter 13 – Sound and Vision:

Episode outline: ‘Author M.H. Rubin started his career at Lucasfilm in the 1980s. In 2012, he wrote DROIDMAKER, a detailed history of Lucasfilm as it transitioned from film to digital video. Now, he has been reading his book chapter by chapter for your listening pleasure.’

Hear the episode:


 

Immersive Audio Podcast – Ep 15: Gavin Kearney

Episode outline: ‘Today, Oliver was joined in studio by Dr. Gavin Kearney, Senior Lecturer in Audio and Music Technology at the University of York. Gavin received an honours degree in electronic engineering from Dublin Institute of Technology, in 2002 and M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in audio signal processing from Trinity College Dublin in 2006 and 2010 respectively. He subsequently worked as a Postdoctoral Research Fellow on game audio, while lecturing on the Interactive Digital Systems and Music and Media Technology masters courses at Trinity College Dublin.

He was appointed Lecturer in sound design at the Department of Theatre, Film, and Television at the University of York in January 2011 where he currently teaches both bachelors and masters level courses on spatial audio and surround sound, audio engineering and sound production and postproduction methods. Gavin also continues to work in the audio industry as a sound engineer and designer.

In this episode, Gavin focuses on ongoing research, industry practice standards and enhancing audio description.

Audio extracts are taken from the first-person drama Pearl, a film produced at the University of York with Binaural enhanced audio, and a music recording session from Abbey Road Studios featuring Nova Neon.’

Hear the episode:


 
Soundbytes Podcast:EP 23 – Dehumaniser 2 & Reformer Pro

Episode outline: ‘We’re very excited to bring you this month’s episode with the kind help of our friends at Krotos Audio. Krotos us provided with some copies of their wonderful plugins, to check out and share with you in the episode. Barney had a look at Reformer Pro, and Derek had a play with Dehumaniser 2. We also talked about Derek’s recent move to working with Reaper, and answer a listener question.’

Hear the episode:



 

Location Sound Podcast – Ep 16: Timothy Chan

Episode outline: ‘Timothy Chan is a location sound mixer based out of Chicago, Illinois. He uses a Zoom F8 mixer/recorder, Lectrosonics wireless, Sennheiser MKH415T shotgun mic, Oktava MK012 mic and Tentacle Sync for timecode.’

Hear the episode:



 

The Sound Architect UK – David Housden

Episode outline: ‘Last month Sam Hughes caught up with David Housden, after his recent work on The Lost Words, QUBE2 and more!

David came to be one of the most promising young talents, after his work on the soundtrack for Thomas Was Alone. The game received a BAFTA nomination for Best Original Music and is highly regarded as an indie hit. He then rejoined Mike Bithell for his next game Volume, a respin of the classic Robin Hood stories. His music changed direction with more of an orchestral, rock score and worked alongside Riva Taylor on the vocals for the game.

“Drawing upon his garage rock band days, Housden creates melodic, original music scores which illuminate imaginary worlds with real emotion and immersion.”

They discuss advice for composers, current state of the industry and beyond!’

Hear the episode:


 

Popular on A Sound Effect right now - article continues below:


Trending right now:

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    Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects CIRCUS Horror Strings Play Track 180 sounds included $0

    Strident and Demonic

    Expand the timbre of your horror violins and cellos with CIRCUS, a sinister sample pack featuring 180 WAV sounds of screeching or high-pitched string noises, perfect for horror music and dark sound design.

    Creative Tension

    This collection offers a curated selection of screeches, high-tension tremolo, heavy jeté strokes, dark demonic textures, finger patterns, chaotic string elements, clock loops and bow accents.

    Haunting and Experimental

    Create haunting atmospheres, perfect for horror, thriller or experimental soundtracks. Every element has been designed to unsettle and disturb, blurring the line between music and noise.

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  • Ultimate Medieval Sound Effects
    Ultimate Medieval Sound Effects
    Animal Sound Effects Ultimate Medieval SFX Bundle Play Track 1200+ sounds included $59

    Take a journey back in time with Ultimate Medieval SFX Bundle! Find the true sound of it with Vadi Sound Library.

    About Ultimate Medieval SFX Bundle

    With this collection you will have access to a carefully curated collection of Medieval Warfare, Medieval Town and Green Witch’s Cauldron sound effects. It covers your most essential historical needs with 1.200+ sounds, recorded and designed professionally.

    You can find rope stressing sounds, listen to the rain on a beach from a bush perspective, bottle up potions, and hear a soldier as he gets ready for a battle. Listen to barn animals, horses, weapons and tools; town ambiences, mine, blacksmith, tavern, field, church bells; dried seeds and herbs, defensive spells and transfiguration spells. Go ahead and check out the contents of these three different collections included in the Ultimate Medieval SFX Bundle one by one and start imagining a story already!

    You’ll find yourself first on a brutal battlefield, then come back to the busy town a little. Don’t be afraid to ask for some healing magic from the Green Witch! Travel back to the Middle Ages and take Ultimate Medieval SFX Bundle with you!

    These sounds are available in 24-bit / 96kHz, were recorded delicately with DPA 4060s and Neumann KM184 pairs, have clarity and room for further sound design with the flexible texture of the sounds for customization.

    About Medieval Town SFX Pack

    400+ sound effects from a simple town’s parts such as; barn, field, grassland, tavern, blacksmith, carpenter, library, church, graveyard, mine, and many more a medieval town could offer. With the Medieval Town Sound Effects Bundle you will have access to dressage sounds, kitchenware sounds, church bells, town ambiences, medieval mechanical devices, mining sounds, animals, tools, weapons and more. Medieval Town Sound Effects Bundle was recorded and designed delicately for all your historical needs.

    What’s Inside
    Medieval, Town, Ambience, Object, Church, Bell, Bird, Animal, Duck, Food and Drink, Lake, Horse, Blacksmith, Hammering, Fire, Tool, Metal, Nail, Chest, Materials Wooden Metal Iron Fire objects chest, iron bell vegetation nail tools bench firewood coin opening action closing creaking hammering breathing dropping ringing shaping picking rolling breaking church bell sunny peaceful weather with and without animals lake fire castle locations barn blacksmith church lake campsite animals actions birds chirping, flying ducks quaking cows mooing horse eating hay, from trainer’s hand, breathing, licking, chewing, bridle clicking perspective texture middle distant close very close heavy breaking pile ceramic tress rattling wallet heat blade shovel sand pebble doorbell saddle cart earthquake farrier book cough cloth cricket kitchen pottery frog mechanical winch copper lock rock axe mining pouring sailing boat rooster footstep rope tavern treasure water light.

    About Medieval Warfare SFX Pack

    Medieval Warfare Sound Effects Pack brings the most realistic 350+ medieval sound effects that you may need for your game/film/creative projects. It includes sound effects of; warriors, explosions, barn animals, horse sound effects, medieval life sound effects, weapons, and tools, human voices, and many more to find out.

    You will have access to weapon sound effects, animals, horse items, ambiences, medieval life items, sword hits, catapult, crossbow, arrow whooshes, battle cries, castle gates, foley sound effects and more. Medieval Warfare Sound Effects Pack is specifically designed for all your historical needs, with the texture of the sounds flexible for customization. Plus, you get the usual Vadi Sound craft and attention to detail!

    Great for film, video, game, advertisements, Foley and suitable further as sweeteners outside of the medieval genre as well.

    What’s Inside
    Medieval war warfare armor impact scrape leather punching footstep rattle arrow whoosh axe breaking bone gore hitting carriage castle gate chain catapult fire drag & drop ground rumble crossbow Leonardo style attack dagger sword destruction explosion flag wind flapping gate opening stabbing mechanical knife hammer hitting horse galloping concrete sand mud metal mount katana male grunt angry textile step chest inhale exhale hurt pain yell falling pushing laughter scream strong leg prisoner siege town arrow falchion buzzing shaking throwing shield clanking.

    Green Witch’s Cauldron SFX Pack

    Green Witch’s Cauldron brings you the 450+ sounds of healing white magic and spells of a playful and sometimes wicked witch. It includes collecting and drying herbs, bubbling boiling potions, bottling, casting spells with elemental magic, and many more you can find in a cauldron. With this pack, you will have access to cat sounds, witch reactions, dried seeds, dried herbs, defensive spells, attacks, transfiguration spells, whooshes and transitions and elements.

    Green Witch’s Cauldron Sound Effects Bundle was recorded and designed exquisitely for all your magical needs and covers all sound effects needs for any white magic, potion-brewing, voices and subtle sounds of a witch’s life for the relevant projects and games that you are working on.

    These meticulously recorded sounds have clarity and lots of room for further usage and sound design with the flexible texture of the sounds for further customization. With 24-bit / 96kHz Wav format and easy to navigate naming, you can now set the bar higher for all your film, game, motion and video projects, advertisement, animation and all witchy projects.

    What’s Inside
    Medieval, town, ambience, fantastic magic magicka object, witch cauldron maddening opponent laughter mind air attack destruction burst element transition whoosh crackle wall braking hiss bubbling potion zinc bowl fireplace sizzling animal cat angry reaction eating food meowing attack basket dried seed plant falling shell braking boiling metal burning chained bush rustle stone glass chemical reaction glass lid bottle coin purse crumbling lavender palm wooden finger defensive shield destructive hand dusting off sprinkles creature pass by roaring cork casting healing glittery spice earth vacuum pouring acid pebble leaves leaf shaking shiny tree branch squeezed shuffling stirring grinder water bending ladle summoning teleporting time travel transfiguration imitating groaning laughing screaming wicked giggle eerie.

    What else you may need
    You may also want to check out our Gore for warfare, Essential Magic for darker magic and spells and All About Games Master Collection for a mega collection of 23 different packs for game audio sound effects.

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  • Destruction & Impact Sounds Wood Impacts Play Track 1671 sounds included $65

    Wood Impacts features a large number of organic-sounding wooden crunches, impacts, metal+wood clashes and wood fiber explosions.

    The sounds are organized into 10 different categories such as Hits, Movements, Digs, Cracks, Mangles – giving you lots of great and versatile material for your sonic arsenal!

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  • Funny / Comedy / Cartoon Baby Sounds Play Track 160 sounds included, 85 mins total $39

    Baby Sounds library includes 160 HQ (24bit/96kHz) indoor recordings of newborn, infant, toddler laughs, sighs, screams, whimpers, giggles, and cries. All captured in real-life conditions, over a 14-month period.

    Apart from the profound pre-speech vocalizations, you’ll also find cute recordings of a suckling pacifier, baby farts, breathing, breastfeeding and sneezing that will help your foleying character become more realistic and lifelike. Overall, the collection caters to projects in need for authentic newborn/ infant/ toddler boy vocal expressions.

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Latest releases:

  •
    Train Sound Effects Train Life Bundle Play Track 160 sounds included, 329 mins total $125

    The Train Life Bundle includes three Train Libraries, Train Life, Train Life 2, and Train Life 3.  In both these collections there’s a number of Exterior Freight Train Recordings with various speeds, perspectives, and locations.  Rumbling Trains in the Desert, Industrial, and Urban Areas. Horns Close and Distant, Passenger Trains, Rail Yard and Track Ambiences, and an assortment of other Train related sounds.

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  • Train Sound Effects Train Life 3 Play Track 28+ sounds included, 37 mins total $30

    Train Life 3 is the third library in the ever evolving sonic journey of recording trains.  I can’t quite explain it, but trains are just downright fun to record and those old industrial rail yards and tracks seem to always be calling.

    This collection includes newer more recent recordings and is a good addition for anyone that has the previous Train libraries I’ve released (Train Life and Train Life 2) or who is just looking for a general collection of Exterior Freight and Passenger Trains.   You’ll find long approaches, various bys, rail clacks, a few horns.  I was also able to get some close recordings of slow connecting cars with big booms and bangs, groans and rail squeals.  A couple of those are long recordings which can provide for some really interesting sound design when pitching down.  I’ve provided booms and squeals that are more singular elements with multiple versions as well.

    This library is also part of the Train Life Bundle collection.

    Freight Trains in Transit (6) – Bys, Approaches, Air Bursts
    Passenger Trains (12) – Amtrak and Metrolink Fast Bys with Rail Clacks.  Slow Away and a couple with Horns.
    Freight Trains Mechanical (10) – Trains Connecting Cars with Booms and Bangs and Rail Squeals.

    Metadata
    Detailed Metadata and labeling has been provided along with using UCS.

    The Gear
    Sound Devices MixPre-3

    The Mics
    MKH 8040 and 30

    All of the recordings except for one were decoded to MS.

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  • Animal Sound Effects Voices of the Farm Play Track 500+ sounds included $79

    Voices of the Farm captures the vibrant and authentic soundscape of rural life, recorded over several years in barns, stables, fields, and farmyards across Asia, America, Africa, and Europe. From the deep lowing of cattle and the playful bleats of goats to the piercing calls of roosters at dawn and the gentle ambience of open pastures, this collection reveals the true voices and atmosphere of the countryside.

    The library includes over 500 sounds, organized into 122 files:

    • 100 focused recordings of individual animals and groups

    • 22 natural ambiences captured in real working environments such as barns, stables, meadows, chicken coops, and open fields

    All recordings are carefully edited, organized by species, and fully UCS-compliant with detailed metadata, ready for direct use in Soundminer and professional workflows. The clear folder structure makes navigation simple and efficient.

    Whether you need the quiet intimacy of a single goat bleat, the energetic life of a barnyard, or the pastoral calm of rural landscapes, Voices of the Farm offers a versatile sonic palette ideal for film, television, games, and interactive projects.

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  • Foley Sound Effects Business Navigator NV-A008 Piaggio Vespa PX150 2023 electric ride-on toy scooter motorcycle Play Track 23 sounds included, 10 mins total $45

    All files are recorded 32bit, 192 kHz, with RØDE NTG1, Line Audio Omni1 and FEL Clippy XLR EM272 microphones, Sound Devices MixPre-6 II & Zoom F3 recorders. Library contains wav files of driving, foley, mechanical and electrical sounds. It is only available in UCS.

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  • Aircraft - Jet/Propeller Plane Sound Effects Planes and Helicopters Play Track 66 sounds included, 41 mins total $34

    PLANES & HELICOPTERS contains flybys, takeoffs, and landings of 13 aircraft models and 5 helicopter models, including small and medium-range passenger planes, private jets, tiny planes and firefighting aircraft. Recorded as close as possible to the aircraft, in airports. You’ll find turbojet, turboprop, and propeller-powered aircrafts. You’ll also find military and civilian helicopters sound effects.
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Need specific sound effects? Try a search below:

Working Class Audio – Ep 198: with Fela Davis!!!

Episode outline: ‘Fela Davis is a graduate of Full Sail University and has over 17 years of experience in audio engineering. Her past experiences includes working for industry powerhouses Clair Broadcast and House of Blues. Fela is currently the front of house engineer for Christian McBride. Fela co-founded 23 db Productions with Denis Orynbekov. The company does a variety work including mastering, recording & mixing as well as video content. 23dB has been a gateway for Fela to begin producing, shooting and editing for endorsement and product videos for social media (Focusrite, Lewitt Microphones and Big Joe Stomp Box). Using the videos to teach the audio community about new products and hone her skills at video production. 23dB eventually created their own video series called The Art of Music Tech. The series featured audio giants Leslie Ann Jones (Head of Skywalker Audio) and Jeff Bova (Michael Jackson, Herbie Hancock). Each featured guest talked about their career in audio and the audio gear used on their biggest hits! They have since made The Art of Music Tech video series into a weekly podcast that Fela and Denis host together. When Fela is not creating content for 23dB Productions or working with SoundGirls, she’s traveling the world mixing front of house for Christian McBride.

About this Interview:

Fela chats with me about her 8th grade career test that said audio engineering was a possibility, her time at Full Sail, folding airbags for Honda Accord’s, paying her dues, driving long distances for low paying audio gigs and her willingness to never give up. Enjoy! – Matt’

Hear the episode:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CoUq0jDpPVA
 

Twenty Thousand Hertz – Ep 51: Classic Cartoon Sound Effects!

Episode outline: ‘Cartoon sound effects are some of the most iconic sounds ever made. Even modern cartoons continue to use the same sound effects from decades ago. How were these legendary sounds made and how have they stood the test of time? Featuring Oscar-winning sound designer Mark Mangini of the Formosa Group, and Advantage Audio’s Heather Olsen.’

Hear the episode:


 

Home Studio Corner – Intro to Compression Updated

Episode outline: ‘Are you new to mixing and you know you should understand what compression is and what it does, but you don’t? Or, do you have a pretty good understanding of compression, but you still have a hard time getting it to do what you think it’s supposed to do? This video is for you.’

Hear the episode:



Intro to Compression (Updated)


 
 

Please share this:


 


 
 
THE WORLD’S EASIEST WAY TO GET INDEPENDENT SOUND EFFECTS:
 
A Sound Effect gives you easy access to an absolutely huge sound effects catalog from a myriad of independent sound creators, all covered by one license agreement - a few highlights:

  •
    Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects CIRCUS Horror Strings Play Track 180 sounds included $0

    Strident and Demonic

    Expand the timbre of your horror violins and cellos with CIRCUS, a sinister sample pack featuring 180 WAV sounds of screeching or high-pitched string noises, perfect for horror music and dark sound design.

    Creative Tension

    This collection offers a curated selection of screeches, high-tension tremolo, heavy jeté strokes, dark demonic textures, finger patterns, chaotic string elements, clock loops and bow accents.

    Haunting and Experimental

    Create haunting atmospheres, perfect for horror, thriller or experimental soundtracks. Every element has been designed to unsettle and disturb, blurring the line between music and noise.

    Add to cart
  • Destruction & Impact Sounds Wood Impacts Play Track 1671 sounds included $65

    Wood Impacts features a large number of organic-sounding wooden crunches, impacts, metal+wood clashes and wood fiber explosions.

    The sounds are organized into 10 different categories such as Hits, Movements, Digs, Cracks, Mangles – giving you lots of great and versatile material for your sonic arsenal!

    Add to cart
  • Funny / Comedy / Cartoon Baby Sounds Play Track 160 sounds included, 85 mins total $39

    Baby Sounds library includes 160 HQ (24bit/96kHz) indoor recordings of newborn, infant, toddler laughs, sighs, screams, whimpers, giggles, and cries. All captured in real-life conditions, over a 14-month period.

    Apart from the profound pre-speech vocalizations, you’ll also find cute recordings of a suckling pacifier, baby farts, breathing, breastfeeding and sneezing that will help your foleying character become more realistic and lifelike. Overall, the collection caters to projects in need for authentic newborn/ infant/ toddler boy vocal expressions.

    Add to cart
Explore the full, unique collection here
Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • Train Sound Effects Train Life Bundle Play Track 160 sounds included, 329 mins total $125

    The Train Life Bundle includes three Train Libraries, Train Life, Train Life 2, and Train Life 3.  In both these collections there’s a number of Exterior Freight Train Recordings with various speeds, perspectives, and locations.  Rumbling Trains in the Desert, Industrial, and Urban Areas. Horns Close and Distant, Passenger Trains, Rail Yard and Track Ambiences, and an assortment of other Train related sounds.

    24 %
    OFF
    Add to cart
  • Train Sound Effects Train Life 3 Play Track 28+ sounds included, 37 mins total $30

    Train Life 3 is the third library in the ever evolving sonic journey of recording trains.  I can’t quite explain it, but trains are just downright fun to record and those old industrial rail yards and tracks seem to always be calling.

    This collection includes newer more recent recordings and is a good addition for anyone that has the previous Train libraries I’ve released (Train Life and Train Life 2) or who is just looking for a general collection of Exterior Freight and Passenger Trains.   You’ll find long approaches, various bys, rail clacks, a few horns.  I was also able to get some close recordings of slow connecting cars with big booms and bangs, groans and rail squeals.  A couple of those are long recordings which can provide for some really interesting sound design when pitching down.  I’ve provided booms and squeals that are more singular elements with multiple versions as well.

    This library is also part of the Train Life Bundle collection.

    Freight Trains in Transit (6) – Bys, Approaches, Air Bursts
    Passenger Trains (12) – Amtrak and Metrolink Fast Bys with Rail Clacks.  Slow Away and a couple with Horns.
    Freight Trains Mechanical (10) – Trains Connecting Cars with Booms and Bangs and Rail Squeals.

    Metadata
    Detailed Metadata and labeling has been provided along with using UCS.

    The Gear
    Sound Devices MixPre-3

    The Mics
    MKH 8040 and 30

    All of the recordings except for one were decoded to MS.

    Add to cart
  • Animal Sound Effects Voices of the Farm Play Track 500+ sounds included $79

    Voices of the Farm captures the vibrant and authentic soundscape of rural life, recorded over several years in barns, stables, fields, and farmyards across Asia, America, Africa, and Europe. From the deep lowing of cattle and the playful bleats of goats to the piercing calls of roosters at dawn and the gentle ambience of open pastures, this collection reveals the true voices and atmosphere of the countryside.

    The library includes over 500 sounds, organized into 122 files:

    • 100 focused recordings of individual animals and groups

    • 22 natural ambiences captured in real working environments such as barns, stables, meadows, chicken coops, and open fields

    All recordings are carefully edited, organized by species, and fully UCS-compliant with detailed metadata, ready for direct use in Soundminer and professional workflows. The clear folder structure makes navigation simple and efficient.

    Whether you need the quiet intimacy of a single goat bleat, the energetic life of a barnyard, or the pastoral calm of rural landscapes, Voices of the Farm offers a versatile sonic palette ideal for film, television, games, and interactive projects.

    Many of these recordings also serve as a great foundation for creature sound design, thanks to their expressive textures and organic tonal qualities.

    25 %
    OFF
    Add to cart
  • Foley Sound Effects Business Navigator NV-A008 Piaggio Vespa PX150 2023 electric ride-on toy scooter motorcycle Play Track 23 sounds included, 10 mins total $45

    All files are recorded 32bit, 192 kHz, with RØDE NTG1, Line Audio Omni1 and FEL Clippy XLR EM272 microphones, Sound Devices MixPre-6 II & Zoom F3 recorders. Library contains wav files of driving, foley, mechanical and electrical sounds. It is only available in UCS.

    Add to cart
  • Aircraft - Jet/Propeller Plane Sound Effects Planes and Helicopters Play Track 66 sounds included, 41 mins total $34

    PLANES & HELICOPTERS contains flybys, takeoffs, and landings of 13 aircraft models and 5 helicopter models, including small and medium-range passenger planes, private jets, tiny planes and firefighting aircraft. Recorded as close as possible to the aircraft, in airports. You’ll find turbojet, turboprop, and propeller-powered aircrafts. You’ll also find military and civilian helicopters sound effects.
    The sounds can be used for a realistic purpose but you can design spaceships or futuristic vehicles.

    13 %
    OFF
    Add to cart

   

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