How To Design Fierce Creature Vocals - Huge Sound Design Tutorial (includes 26 Free SFX!)

Posted October 13, 2020 by Asbjoern Andersen in Sound design guides

Want to learn how to design creature vocalizations? Chase Steele is back with a new in-depth tutorial, covering everything from sourcing and layering creature source material to editing, processing and transforming those recordings into some mean creature vocals. And as a bonus, he's throwing in 26 sound effects for you, completely free!

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How to Design Fierce Creature & Monster Voices - Huge Sound Design Featuring 26 Free Sound Effects!

Topics & playing times:

1:25 Design Overview • 3:52 Creature Source Material • 5:24 Layer Breakdown / No FX • 9:00 Layer Volume Sidechaining • 12:55 Layer Breakdown / W FX • 18:35 Vocalsynth Overview • 28:51 Rendered Subprojects Edits

Download a selection of 26 Sandhill Crane recordings from this project here – absolutely free! (updated link)

In addition to the free sounds above, Chase Steele also uses source material from the Vibrations Bowed Materals 1 library in the video – you can learn more about that library here

A big thanks to Chase Steele and Sound Spark LLC for exclusively hosting this video on A Sound Effect. Find the Sound Spark Youtube channel here, and meet Sound Spark on Twitter here.

Popular sound effects libraries from Sound Spark:
Hear some of the popular sound effects libraries from Sound Spark below –
and browse their full catalog here:

Gore Sound Effects Gore (SSP) Play Track 257 sounds included, 13 mins total $19.99
The Gore library contains 257 total sounds of squishes, smashes, squelches melee weapon attacks, zombies and more. All effects have been thoughtfully named and crafted into multiple variations making them extremely flexible and easy to use. This library will work well if you need ready to use sounds for your game or if you’re a sound editor needing some extra material for your latest project. Sounds are well rounded and simple enough to fit Sci-Fi, Horror, Fantasy and any other genre where you might need some blood and guts.

Sound types include:
- General Gore Attacks
- Melee Weaponry
- Basic Smashes, Hits and Slaps (Yeah Slaps).
- Squishes and Squelches
- Bonus Zombie Growls and Horror Ambience!
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Magic & Fantasy Sound Effects Magic Spells, Buffs and Attacks Play Track 507 sounds included $39.99

The Magic Spells, Buffs and Attacks library contains 507 total spell sounds. Each spell type has been thoughtfully named and crafted into multiple variations making them extremely flexible and easy to use. This library will work great for MMOs, RPGs and other fantasy style games. Of course, it will be great for film or any other form of media also! Many of these sounds are also well suited for Sci-Fi or Futuristic applications.

Bonus Reaktor Ensemble:

As if the sounds alone weren’t enough, we’re also including a special bonus in the form of a Native Instruments Reaktor Ensemble. We call it “The Mage”.. it is designed to allow you to take spell types, mash them together and create endless new iterations of material!

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Metal Sound Effects Metal Hits, Scrapes and Squeaks Play Track 689 sounds included, 22 Minutes mins total $29.99

The Metal Hits, Scrapes and Squeaks library contains a variety of small to medium sized metal props with each material type including multiple performance variations.

Props include objects such as sheet metal, sledgehammers, paint cans, metal buckets, metal grating, metal marbles, cups, pots and pans, dry ice (contributing squeaks and squeals), metal bars, metal stands, chains and more.

All recordings were made in a studio or iso booth environment to produce a very clean sounding library. The library works perfectly as a construction or foley kit. Files included were recorded at 24bit/96kHz.

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Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects Whooshes Impacts and Transitions Play Track 127 sounds included $19.99
This library includes a series of cinematic and basic whoosh, movement and transition effects. It also includes a number of impactful drops.

What makes this library unique is the varied amount of content and processing techniques used to create the movement effects. Some effects are created totally organically, others manufactured with analog synths and others creatively processed from nothing other than atonal noise.

Another great quality of these effects is a natural doppler effect is often incorporated. This was done by re-recording some source elements and either moving the source or the mic itself.

A slim library, of 127 sounds – it feels much larger in the amount of varied content that it includes. This library is one I’ve personally used a lot and I’m very happy to bring it to you now!

Sound types include:
- Organic Whooshes
- Designed Transition Effects
- Tonal, Atonal and Noise asthetics
- Drops and Impacts
Get this in a bundle:This library is also included in the Forge Sound Design Toolkit Bundle
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More creature sound design guides:

Want to learn more about creature sound design? Check out these guides below:

• Why rocks rock for creature sound design – with Thomas Rex Beverly
• Creature Sound Design Insights from David Farmer, sound designer on The Hobbit & LOTR
• Video: Paula Fairfield talks ‘Game of Thrones’ creature sound design
• Award-winning sound designer David Farmer shares tips, tricks & techniques from working 25+ years in sound
• How Randy Thom & Al Nelson crafted ‘How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World’s impressively evocative sound

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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 Spells Variations Vol 3 Play Track 247 sounds included, 16 mins total $14

Spell Variations Vol. 3 brings a fresh wave of magical creativity and sonic variety. This collection dives deep into the mystical realm, offering everything from shimmering chime spells and celestial choirs, to demonic voices that feel torn from the depths of hell, along with earth-based magic, electric spells, powerful invocations, and more.

Inside, you’ll find 247 sound effects across 27 distinct types of magic, each with multiple variations. As with our previous volumes, these variations ensure each spell feels unique, even when reused throughout different moments in your project.

Each spell type is neatly organized into individual folders, giving you total flexibility when designing magical scenes, gameplay effects, or transitions. Whether you need a subtle magical aura or a powerful blast, you’ll have the perfect sound at your fingertips.

All sounds were recorded, edited, and mastered at 192 kHz / 24-bit, delivering high-end quality and broad adaptability. This library is perfect for professional sound designers and creators looking for high-quality, drag-and-drop magical sounds for games, trailers, animations, or any audiovisual production.

More about the pack
. Intuitive file naming
. All you’ll ever need regarding magical sounds [Use them again & again
. Use the sound effects over and over, in any of your projects or productions, forever without any additional fees or royalties. Use the SFX in your game, in your trailer, in a Kickstarter
campaign, wherever you need to, as much as you want to.
. Totally mono compatibility
. All sounds have several variations.
. Use your imagination and feel free to use any sound for a creature other than the one described, remember that the world of sound is totally subjective.
. For any questions or problems: khronstudio@gmail.com

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Animal Sound Effects Animal Hyperrealism Vol III Play Track 1711 sounds included
Rated 5.00 out of 5
$170

Animal Hyperrealism Vol III is a library containing sounds themed animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 1700 individual sounds in 279 files.

The sounds were recorded in zoos and wildlife centers. The asset list includes but is not limited to: european red deers, monkeys, reindeers, hornbills camels, crickets, tamarins, boars, frogs, red ruffed lemurs, parrots, and many more.

The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K plus a Sennheiser 8050 for center image and a couple of Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.
Part of the cheats section of the library features samples recorded at 384KHz. For these sounds an additional microphone was employed, specifically the CMPA by Avisoft-Bioacoustics which records up to 200 KHz. This microphone was used to record most of the library but the 384KHz format was preserved only where energy was found beyond 96KHz not to occupy unnecessary disk space.
All files are delivered as stereo bounce of these for mics, though in some instances an additional couple of CO100K was added to the sides.
The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

Bonus: Two extra libraries included for free: This library also includes two additional releases from Mattia Cellotto - for free: Crunch Mode delivers 230 crunchy sounds made with a variety of vegetables, fresh bread, pizza crust and a selection of frozen goods. The Borax Experiment gets you 158 squishy, gory, slimy and gooey sounds.

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Animal Sound Effects Collections Animal Hyperrealism Vol II Play Track 2000+ sounds included
Rated 5.00 out of 5
$170

Animal Hyperrealism Vol II is a library containing sounds themed animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 2000 individual sounds in 283 files.

The sounds were partly recorded with animals trained for media production, partly recorded in zoos and wildlife centers. The asset list includes but is not limited to: amur leopards, bottlenose dolphins, californian sealions, pacific walruses, red ruffed lemurs, owls, parrots, dwarf little fruit bats, hamsters, guinea pigs and many more.

The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K plus a Sennheiser 8050 for center image and a couple of Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.
A special section of the library features samples recorded at 384KHz. For these sounds an additional microphone was employed, specifically the CMPA by Avisoft-Bioacoustics which records up to 200 KHz. This microphone was actually used to record most of the library but the 384KHz format was preserved only where energy was found beyond 96KHz not to occupy unnecessary disk space.
All files are delivered as stereo bounce of these for mics, though in some instances an additional couple of CO100K was added to the sides.
The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

Bonus: Two extra libraries included for free: This library also includes two additional releases from Mattia Cellotto - for free: Crunch Mode delivers 230 crunchy sounds made with a variety of vegetables, fresh bread, pizza crust and a selection of frozen goods. The Borax Experiment gets you 158 squishy, gory, slimy and gooey sounds.

Add to cart

Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:

Game Audio Packs - Game Sound Effects Libraries UI RPG Sound Effects Play Track 174 sounds included, 2 mins total $19.99
Enhance your game with the UI Menu RPG Sound Effects Pack, featuring 174 carefully designed sound effects. Created for high-quality user interface interactions, this pack includes sounds for select, deny, and access actions, perfect for RPGs and other genres. But these versatile effects go beyond just menus—they can be used to elevate action, skills, magic, combat, motion, and more. Whether you’re building intricate gameplay systems or immersive user interfaces, this extensive collection offers the dynamic, rich sounds you need to bring your project to life.

Features:
- 174 universal user interface sounds for any type of game
- High-quality sounds for the most commonly used categories
- Can be used not only for UI, but perfect for any genre
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Game Audio Packs - Game Sound Effects Libraries Transmission Sound Effects Play Track 104 sounds included, 20 mins total $7.99
Elevate your game with this Transmission/Glitchy sound effects pack, designed to add a dynamic, futuristic edge to your project. Perfect for enhancing the user experience, these high-quality, glitch-inspired sounds are ideal for creating technical malfunctions, digital disturbances, or sci-fi-themed environments. Whether you’re working on a cyberpunk game, a tech-heavy adventure, or any project in need of glitchy, electronic audio, this pack will help you immerse your audience with compelling, atmospheric effects that bring your digital world to life.

Features:
- Transmissions
- Glitches
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Environments & Ambiences Fantasy Jungle Ambiences Play Track 18 sounds included, 60 mins total $17.99

Enter the mystical heart of an ancient, otherworldly wilderness with Fantasy Jungle — a curated collection of 18 designed stereo ambience tracks, totaling 1 hour, 31 minutes, and 41 seconds of immersive fantasy jungle soundscapes.

Each track is a richly textured sonic environment where strange birds call from the treetops, mysterious creatures chirp and chatter in the shadows, and the soothing sounds of flowing water, rustling leaves, and gentle winds form a vivid natural backdrop. This ambience set is ideal for adding depth and life to fantasy worlds, game environments, audio dramas, or creative writing sessions.

Crafted with care and detail, all files are delivered in high-quality stereo WAV format, with embedded metadata for easy organization and integration into your workflow.

Product Features:

·         18 stereo WAV files

·         Total runtime: 1:31:41

·         Fantasy wildlife & jungle ambience – strange birds, unknown creatures, wind, and water

·         Metadata embedded for seamless library management

·         Loopable-friendly for continuous playback

·         Perfect for RPGs, games, film, podcasting, and immersive storytelling

Let Fantasy Jungle breathe life into your magical worlds — where every chirp, breeze, and ripple tells a story beyond the veil of the ordinary.

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Household Sound Effects Extra Coins Play Track 179 sounds included, 24 mins total $9.99

EXTRA COINS – is an auxiliary sound library containing 179 unique sound effect files of real metal coins. From spare change and coin sacks to individual coins being handled and dropped. Whether it’s metallic clanking and ringing or the old familiar sound of a hand full of coins you’re looking for; This Extra sound effects library will help supplement any of your coin money needs, for your next project. Extra Coins comes in at over 24 minutes and was recorded at 192kHz / 32bit using an ultrasonic microphone. All of our libraries comply with the Universal Category System naming convention standard, allowing for accurate and easy granular searches.

50 %

OFF

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Car Sound Effects Mazda MX-5 Miata 1998 sports car Play Track 224 sounds included, 44 mins total $65

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

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