Asbjoern Andersen


Michael Theiler and the team at Kpow Sounds have done game audio for titles such as L.A. Noire and The Banner Saga. About a year ago, they decided to create their own sound effect libraries – an experience that proved far more challenging than expected. But today, they’ve got two brand-new libraries out – and here’s how they went from the initial idea to the final products:
 

Creating sounds is fun. It’s a joy, a creative process that sees you learning everyday while exercising your creativity.

Like many disciplines, it rewards effort and practice with new skills, faster workflow, and an ever expanding horizon of possibilities. I love it, I do it pretty much every day, therefore creating sounds as part of a sound library seemed a logical move.

I’d thought about it for years, but hadn’t actually put anything together. The decision to go for it came about a year ago now.

Twelve or so months to go from “let’s make sound libraries and sell them!” to actually having anything worth selling. It was something I didn’t take lightly, and was definitely a journey.

Part of the reason for the time taken to get to this point is that there already exists a wealth of amazing independent sound effect libraries out there that are doing a great job at providing quality, useful sounds. Guys such as Tim Prebble, Frank Bry, Paul Virostek, Stephan Schutze, the guys at Echo Collective, there are too many to list.

They all provide quality sounds, well edited, named and organised and professionally promoted. Joining these guys requires considerable effort to present similar high quality work.

Because there are so many already doing it, there are less useful things yet to be recorded. You need to be creative, or unusually perceptive in figuring out what sound post professionals might need.

I would sometimes find an area where sound effects libraries were lean or didn’t exist

For me working on so many varied game audio projects meant I had to provide incredibly varied sound design, and I would sometimes find an area where sound effects libraries were lean or didn’t exist.

I would note these for the future.

But I still felt a little insecure putting myself in the presence of those guys, knowing the level of quality I would need to provide.

Also, figuring out what sounds to create is only part of the problem, and probably one of the more ‘fun’ issues you will face. Next comes the hard graft.
 

Testing the waters

I tested the waters by creating a user interface collection for Unity users as my first experiment in sound effect library creation.. In hindsight I think over-complicated it.

The UI Collection is made up of 14 separate sound packs. Each contains sounds that sit together nicely, and each contains various types of ‘enter’ ‘select’ ‘scroll’ ‘back’ and ‘error’ sounds. Each sound also has subtle variations for replayability.

My thinking was that this would give an efficient way of quickly providing a cohesive User Interface experience with all the required sounds sitting well together, ready for implementation.

Seemed like a good idea. But the amount of editing, cataloging, exporting, file-naming was incredible.

Protools

A ProTools session containing just the audio files used for the previews for the UI soundpacks

Keeping everything consistent and labelled in such a way that it was obvious what sounds fitted where, what their functions were, and including variations and different sounds with the same function. A nightmare. I got through it, and learned a huge amount in the process.

I will be adding the library to the available libraries as I hope people will find use for it, but I think the pain in creating it overshadows its usefulness. I guess the market will decide!
 

Time for fun

With that project wrapped, the next I tackled and our first release was the Toots & Squeaks collection. As we have been working on a number of children’s games for iOS, we’ve needed fun, sometimes comedic, sometimes just accents, or descriptive vertical and horizontal type sounds.

I had a difficult time sourcing them, so these sounds became our first library.

Tools of the trade

Tools of the trade

Consisting of toy whistles, squeeze toys, slide whistle and melody pops, and a variety of horns, the intention was to create a great palette of highlights, punctuations and accents that I would have liked to have found in a library when working on these games.

I was a lot more prepared for the task ahead with this library. I knew I had to be organised, consistent, and well-planned in order to present something at a level required to compete in this market.

Each recording session I set up in the same way, with the tracks all being fed from the same mics to the same channels.

I would dump, edit and label the recording sessions before booking the next one. This made a big difference to my workflow. It doesn’t sound like much, but I get a bit crazy and single-minded and probably a bit manic when I have a mountain of boring, menial work to get through.

Exporting and naming files is for me just that. But it is important – really important. It has to be done right.

So splitting it up into the smallest, most manageable chunks works really well for me. Being consistent with the file-naming and metadata is also very important. It took a few goes for me to figure out a system.

If anyone is about to attempt it, have a plan, then go through adding all your metadata, but be mentally prepared to go back and edit up your early work.

Often a good system doesn’t really present itself till a quarter or a third of the way through all the files.

This could just be me, others may be better at organising and compartmentalising, but I found I would need to go back and redo a lot of my work to be sure it all felt consistent enough for release.

There was a great sense of relief having completed all that, but then the next step is just as important – the packaging.
 

Preparing to ship

I used WinRAR to compress the libraries, as it gets far better compression than zipping achieved. I created sample files that can be compressed to mp3 to help people decide whether the library is right for them.

Some of the people creating sound libraries use videos, and I think this can create more buzz and be more accessible for a lot of people thinking of buying the library.

It is something that I would like to do in the future, but right now I have no way of creating high quality footage, and anything but high quality material would cheapen the product, so I decided to stay with mp3 files for previews. I hope this provides a level of preview people are happy with.

If you have the means, planning video capture of your recording session into your workflow would be hugely beneficial later on in the shopfront, preview and promo phases.


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


Trending right now:

  • Music Impressionism Play Track 100 sounds included $5

    Impressionism, masterfully crafted by Ni Sound, is a captivating collection of 100 textural music tracks inspired by the evocative soundscapes of Monument Valley and Journey. This cinematic anthology weaves intricate layers of string ensembles, harp, piano, synthesizers, and flute, creating immersive soundscapes that evoke themes of healing, epic grandeur, warmth, and haunting suspense. Tailored for documentaries, art games, advertisements, and projects inspired by literature, Impressionism invites listeners into a world of introspection, adventure, and profound emotional depth.

    Delivered in pristine 96 kHz WAV format, every composition undergoes professional post-production mastering, ensuring exceptional clarity and impact. With a total duration of 2 hours and 26 minutes, Impressionism is the perfect choice for creators seeking to enchant audiences with sophisticated, emotionally resonant sound.

    Additional Features:

    • Easy to use, drag and drop ready
    • AAA mixing and mastering
    • free updates to higher versions, Forever!

    Technical Details:

    • 100 audio files
    • wav format: 24Bit 96khz
    • unpacked size: 5.09GB
    • total run time: 2h 26m 16s

    The content of our sound fx library is free for use in commercial or non-commercial sound production purposes.

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  • FOR THE HIGHEST DEMANDS – YOUR COMPLETE SOUND LIBRARY
    This is the ultimate collection for professional and high quality sound design. All 89 original BOOM Library packs guarantee you the right sound at the right time for professional post-production, trailers, games, movies, TV shows and anything else that needs a striking sound design.

  • This library contains 7 steam locomotive whistles from the beginning of the last century!

    These huge monsters could still announce themselves very loudly!

    • Each recording is several repetitions of long and short whistles for each steam locomotive, recorded at close range.
    • The file name also includes the models of the locomotives, as each one’s whistle is unique!

  • Household Sound Effects Kanpai Play Track 6500+ sounds included From: $15

    Raise your cups and celebrate this collection of tableware!

    Kanpai is a collection of pick ups, set downs, handling, drinking and filling of various cups plates and silverware onto different surfaces.

    This library features 30 varieties of tableware onto 5 different surfaces with modifiers like empty, full, ice and ice and water.

    Additionally there are various pours with different viscosity liquids like water, milk, juice, wine and kefir.

    You’ll likely never have to record a cup again with the help of Kanpai!


Latest releases:

  • Electricity Sound Effects Vintage Radio Play Track 147 sounds included, 103 mins total $30

    Vintage Radio includes long takes of AM and FM frequency browsing, along foley content featuring all the buttons and switches present on this old-school stereo receiver.

    The AM static and noise recordings have a warmth rarely found on modern radios, perfect for use in military settings or obscure transmissions in spy flicks. The FM browsing sounds feature traditional rapid radio station switching with garbled voices, brief musical stings, and a mix of cleaner, harsher static and noise suitable for more modern contexts.

    Both the AM and FM browsing takes also include extended segments where I experiment with this stereo receiver’s equalizer. These takes possess a certain musicality, as the frequency boosts and reductions introduce additional variation to the aforementioned neutral recordings.

    To complement this library, there are foley recordings of all the buttons, faders and switches on this stereo receiver’s front panel.

  • 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

    Khron Studio - Spells Variations Vol 3
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  • All files are recorded 32bit, 192 kHz, with RØDE NTG1 & FEL Clippy XLR EM272 microphones, Sound Devices MixPre-6 II recorder. Library contains wav files of driving and mechanical sounds. It is also available in UCS.

  • “Yogyakarta River Stream” is the latest immersive auditory creation from Sound Effect Stacks, a master of capturing the unseen and the unheard. This album invites you to experience the untouched rhythms of Indonesia’s Yogyakarta, where the heartbeats of the land are woven into every ripple and rush of water.

    Through meticulous field recordings, Sound Effect Stacks has crafted an evocative journey along the myriad streams and rivers that flow through this mystical region. Each track serves as an intimate snapshot of the dynamic waterways—some gentle, others powerful—all unified by the hum of nature’s constant motion.

    From the soft murmur of a mountain spring to the louder cascades of rivers cutting through Yogyakarta’s vibrant landscapes, the album invites listeners to close their eyes and let the water’s story unfold. The clear, flowing currents, the delicate sounds of rain-soaked leaves, and the ambient sounds of distant wildlife blend to create a rich tapestry of auditory experiences.

    In “Yogyakarta River Stream,” Sound Effect Stacks showcases a deep respect for both the power and the stillness of water. This album is more than just a collection of field recordings—it’s a spiritual journey, capturing the essence of Indonesia’s rivers and the balance between nature’s raw force and its peaceful tranquility.

    Let yourself be carried by the rivers of Yogyakarta, guided by Sound Effect Stacks’s carefully layered soundscapes. Perfect for those seeking to escape into nature, to meditate, or to simply be swept away in the beauty of the world’s most ancient sound—the flow of water.

  • Ambisonic Sound Effects Motorcycle Race Track Play Track 272 sounds included, 68 mins total $24.50

    This sound library has been captured during an open-access day at a motorbike racetrack. The recordings deliver the raw energy of motorcycles pushed to their limits in a real-world setting.

    Multiple sessions were recorded from various perspectives: the final corner, the main straight, and a distant position capturing the broader soundscape. The library features a mix of stereo setups for close passbys, a mono microphone for focused character, and an ambisonic rig offering an ambient perspective. A wide range of engine types are represented, from small-displacement bikes to high-performance machines.

    From sharp corner entries to high-speed flybys, this library offers a dynamic range of passbys, approaches, and ambiences ideal for motorsport scenes, racing games, or high-energy sound design.

    Gear used

    Zoom F6 • MixPre-6 II • 722 • Usi Pro • MKH30 • MKH8040 • Kmr81i • NT-SF1


    Metadata

    This sound library is UCS compliant and comes with fully embedded metadata compatible with Soundly, Soundminer and Basehead.

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Need specific sound effects? Try a search below:


Setting up shop

The shopfront and selling the libraries phase is currently where I find myself.

At first it was fairly daunting. Deciding on the correct method of delivery is difficult. I found a solution that works for me. It’s locally based so can deliver funds direct to our bank account, it uses Amazon’s S3 storage, so should be quick for people downloading, and payment can be made in a few convenient ways.

It’s called Selz, but as I say, its based locally to me, so may not be the best option for everyone. Do your research, there are many options out there.

The Kpow Sounds ShopFor me the important aspects where allowing for PayPal but also having non PayPal options, having storage and download of digital goods as part of the package, and having a clean and neat look.

Being relatively simple to setup was also an important element.

All that’s left now is getting my libraries known to as many people as possible. It’s hard to say how effective one can be at this. I’ve built up some networks already, so am certainly not coming into this dry.

I know that the game audio and sound post networks are very supportive and are lovely people, so I am pretty sure I’ll be able to get the word out and connect with the people who could use the libraries I create.

I hope this has been some help to those thinking of also embarking on a similar journey. So far it has been a rewarding experience.

 

Please share this:


 


Thanks a lot to Michael Theiler for sharing the story! Meet him and the team on Twitter and check out the brand new sound effect libraries below:

  • You get 1,074 individual sounds, in 14 separate soundpacks containing variations on all the sounds.

    Included are all commonly required sounds needed for a comprehensive UI experience.

  • Industrial Ambiences – perfect for realistic industrial settings, adjacent to factories, dockyards, warehouses. Subtle intricate backgrounds, eerie man-made areas and horror ambiences. All files at least four minutes in length.

    Industrial Disquiet highlights:

    • 53 Tracks Total (25 Day time Tracks, 28 Night time Tracks)
    • High Resolution Photographs of Recording Locations Included
    • Thorough UCS compatible metadata included in all files
    • All tracks recorded and edited at 24bit, 96kHz
    • Each Track around 4 Minutes in Length
    • 6.9 GB compressed download, 7.5 GB uncompressed

  • This library consists of hundreds of performances (581 files total) of toy whistles, clown and bicycle horns, slide whistles, melody pops, party blowers and squeeze toys most with distant and near recording variations.

    UCS compatible Metadata has been meticulously redone ensuring searches are no longer bloated with unnecessary results, and the amount of fun is instantly forefronted in your searches.

    Toots & Sqeaks highlights:

    • 581 broadcast wave files
    • All at 24 bit, 96kHz
    • 4.81 uncompressed gigabytes of audio data
    • Most takes include stereo, mono and distant microphone perspectives
    • Metadata carefully added to each audio file ready for efficient searching



 
 
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