Asbjoern Andersen


The art of field recording has been around for ages, but now, Halfdan Auðrifýur and Ingi Hjálmtýr – two Icelandic sound designers – are looking to fundamentally change how sound effects are created. Their method involves technology, location and cunning – and I spoke with Ingi Hjálmtýr about the ambitious duo’s fascinating undertaking. NB: Please note the posting date :)
 

Just what is wrong with sound effects these days?

There’s nothing wrong with sound effects per se – but a few years ago we realized that hearing the same old recordings over and over again was simply getting too much. Everyone uses the same sound effect libraries, and frankly, they’re getting REALLY long in the tooth. So I joined forces with Halfdan Auðrifýur to create the LiveSFX plugin.
 

What exactly is the LiveSFX plugin?

It’s a plugin that, in our humble opinion, can change the very understanding of what a sound effect is.

When you think about it, most sound effect libraries these days are all recordings of stuff like wind, birds, water sounds etc. They’re all the same. And they’re old. So what if you want something a bit fresher – something truly unique? What if someone could get you those sounds, recorded LIVE as you needed them?

That’s exactly what our LiveSFX plugin is all about.

We’ve spent the last three years building a complex, yet intuitive system that connects DAWs running the plugin directly with our team of field recordists (Auðrifýur and myself), live on Iceland. You tell us what you need – through the plugin -, and we’ll be out there, recording it real-time and sending it back via email.

But why Iceland? Well, A) because we live here, and B) think about those wind sounds etc I mentioned earlier. What would be a great – LIVE – source for all those? That’s right. Iceland.

We’ve got hot springs for bubbly sounds

We’ve got lots of shoreline, we’ve got wind, we’ve got hot springs for bubbly sounds, sea lions for Chewbacca sounds – and even volcanoes, for when you need those crazy explosions.
 

So what’s your process?

The process is actually quite simple, at least for the end-user: Using the plugin’s UI and a microphone, you simply shout the name of the sound you’re looking for; ‘EAGLE!’, for example. This request is then beamed up to our Reykjavík HQ, where we swiftly engage our entire team of field recordists (Auðrifýur and myself).

Finding an eagle is the easy part

Finding an eagle is the easy part

In response, we promptly throw our recording equipment in the 4WD, drive around the island and do our very best to track down a fitting source. Once we find our target eagle, we start recording while you listen in.

If you need it to cry a bit louder – or just differently -, you simply tell that to the field recordist on the scene, via the plugin. He’ll then try to direct, or “coach”, the eagle accordingly.

The field recordist also comes carrying speakers, so you can talk directly to your target via the plugin, in case that works better.

We haven’t actually gotten this bit to work quite yet – but we envision that, using a combination of praise, scolding and reason, you’ll be able to almost “play” targets like the eagle, as a kind of living virtual instrument.

The recorded sounds are then sent directly to your email in real-time, ready to be used in the project you’re working on. Simple as that.


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


Trending right now:

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    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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    The recorded section of library features elements such as flash powder explosions, propane cannon blasts and artillery cannons recorded in unique natural environments with violent transients and lush, long and varied tails. It also features falling trees, forge burners, large trebuchet wood groans, rock smashes as well as more ordinary items recorded and designed to feel like an over the top version of themselves such as vacuum cleaner suctions, metal vase holders, ground pounders and more.

    The synthesized section of the library features equally rich textures in the form of explosion sweeteners, other-worldly environmental reflections, scorching energy risers and more.

    Finally, recorded and synthesized content was employed to develop the designed section, where the hyperrealism of the recordings meets the clean yet aggressive textures of the synthesized section in catastrophic assets themed around the library’s title.

    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.
  • Introducing QUADCOPTERS.

    This extensive collection includes 192 sound files of radio-controlled quadcopters, ensuring the highest audio quality at 96 kHz and 24-bit.

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    Each sound file is tailored to capture the essential actions of each quadcopter. From the exciting startup and smooth landing to the mesmerizing hover, precise maneuvering, dynamic flybys, and acceleration, you’ll find everything you need to get an authentic sound.

    Whether you’re a filmmaker, game developer, or audio enthusiast, QUADCOPTERS is a must-have resource for bringing the captivating world of quadcopters to life in your work.

  • FOR THE HIGHEST DEMANDS – YOUR COMPLETE SOUND LIBRARY
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Latest releases:

  • Drones & Mood Sound Effects Pipe Noise & Flow Play Track 131+ sounds included, 233 mins total $54

    Pipe Noise & Flow is a sound effects library built around the hidden voices of pipe systems, large and small. Captured over several years across industrial plants, residential buildings, factories, sewers, underground tunnels, caves and public infrastructure, this collection brings together a wide range of sonically rich material.

    You’ll hear water, gas, and air moving through pipes made of metal steel, copper, aluminium, plastic, glass, concrete, and stone. There are massive flows and subtle trickles, bursts of pressure, hollow resonances, eerie whistles, and the strange tonalities that emerge when systems crack, leak, or fail. Many recordings feature broken or deteriorating pipes, full of texture and unpredictability. While there is plenty of industrial and subterranean grit, you’ll also find more subtle sources like kitchen sinks, bathroom plumbing, and everyday interior systems; sounds that can lend realism or eeriness to intimate scenes.

    This library is designed to be flexible and inspiring. Use it to create detailed ambiences for sci-fi, horror, and post-apocalyptic settings, to build layered mechanical textures for machines and user interfaces, or to design unique elements for hybrid weapons, alien devices, strange creatures or abandoned environments. Whether you need the realism of urban infrastructure or the surreal qualities of a forgotten machine, Pipe Noise & Flow offers an unexpected toolkit full of possibility.

    Pipe Noise & Flow - Audio Demo Spectrogram

    What’s inside:

    • Flowing water, rushing air, and gas movement through pipes
    • Large industrial pipes, small tubing, and flexible hoses
    • Pipes made of metal, iron, copper, aluminium, plastic, glass, concrete, and stone
    • Broken, leaky, and deteriorating pipes with rich textures
    • Interior plumbing: kitchen sinks, bathroom drains, home radiators
    • High-pressure bursts, trickles, drips, and hissing valves
    • Tonal and pitched pipe resonances, drones, and hums
    • Mechanical rattles, clangs, gurgles, and thumps
    • Subterranean ambiences and underground utility spaces
    • Studio performances exploring controlled flow and resonance
    • Eerie whistles and howling vents for otherworldly design
    • Abstract textures and tonalities ideal for creature sound design
    • Inspiring source material for sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and surreal soundscapes
    • Useful elements for user interface design, machine textures, and hybrid weapons
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    Recorded with Sennheiser Ambeo VR microphone and Sound Devices Mix Pre 10-II, 744T recorder. See the track list for additional info.

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    MachinEra: Robotic Movements Sound Effects Pack

    🤖 What’s Inside?
    ✔️ Robot_Big: Heavy robotic footsteps, mechanical stomps, structural clanks, and full-motion sequences for large-scale machines.
    ✔️ Robot_Small: Servo-driven motions, nimble joint movements, mechanical twitches, and intricate robotic details.

    Useful for films, video content, and games, this pack provides ready-to-use, professionally designed sound effects, tailored for creators who need polished sounds without extra processing. The Ultra High Resolution version may contain more variations and audio files than the High Resolution pack, with pristine 192 kHz quality that ensures excellent flexibility for projects requiring additional processing.

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    MachinEra: Sci-Fi Engines Sound Effects Pack

    🚀 What’s Inside?
    ✔️ Engine Boosts: Aggressive power surges, acceleration bursts, energy charges, and propulsion blasts.
    ✔️ Sci-Fi Motions: High-velocity thrusts, futuristic drives, and stylized engine pulses.

    Useful for films, video content, and games, this pack provides ready-to-use, professionally designed sound effects, tailored for creators who need polished sounds without extra processing. The Ultra High Resolution version may contain more variations and audio files than the High Resolution pack, with pristine 192 kHz quality that ensures excellent flexibility for projects requiring additional processing.

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Need specific sound effects? Try a search below:


How about the pricing?

To us, it’s not the duration or number of sounds that matter. We simply charge by the distance we need to travel to get you a particular sound. Say you need a recording of an Atlantic Puffin, and we need to drive 3 kilometers to get that. That’ll be three dollars, then.
 

Does your system always work?

Halfdan Auðrifýur does some amazing bird impressions, and his elk sounds are simply breathtaking.

Well, if it’s really lousy weather, we’d rather stay in, to be honest. Halfdan Auðrifýur does some amazing bird impressions, and his elk sounds are simply breathtaking.
Personally, I’m quite the expert at imitating the sound of glass. We use those as fall-back sounds when we’re in a tight spot, or if it rains too hard.

 

What’s next for your project?
an A.F. Drone with Very Long Boom and WHA Tech installed.

An early prototype of an A.F. Drone with Very Long Boom and WHA Tech installed. This could be the future of field recording

We’ll likely go open source with the project around April 1st next year – and through that platform, we want to create a global army of field recordists that can be dispatched within minutes anywhere in the world.

Also, space is a goal for us. There’s a huge market for sci-fi sounds in movies and games, so having having one or several recordists out there doing live recording is obviously a no-brainer.

Long-term, we’d like to get rid of the human element altogether and simply replace the recordists with drones. And, using a device called an A.F.D., or ‘Autonomous Field Drone’, experiments are already well underway.

 


Thanks to Ingi Hjálmtýr and Halfdan Auðrifýur for sharing their insights. The LiveSFX VST plugin will go into beta next month – and as mentioned, there are plans to make it open source, allowing field recordists everywhere to take full advantage of their local surroundings and wildlife.

 

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:

  • Destruction & Impact Sounds Cataclysm Play Track 1482 sounds included $195

    Cataclysm is a vast collection of recorded, synthesized and designed sounds created to support important destructive moments and add a stronger sense of extreme consequence to any sound.

    The recorded section of library features elements such as flash powder explosions, propane cannon blasts and artillery cannons recorded in unique natural environments with violent transients and lush, long and varied tails. It also features falling trees, forge burners, large trebuchet wood groans, rock smashes as well as more ordinary items recorded and designed to feel like an over the top version of themselves such as vacuum cleaner suctions, metal vase holders, ground pounders and more.

    The synthesized section of the library features equally rich textures in the form of explosion sweeteners, other-worldly environmental reflections, scorching energy risers and more.

    Finally, recorded and synthesized content was employed to develop the designed section, where the hyperrealism of the recordings meets the clean yet aggressive textures of the synthesized section in catastrophic assets themed around the library’s title.

    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.
  • 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.

    90 %
    OFF
    Ends 1793487599
  • 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.

Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • Drones & Mood Sound Effects Pipe Noise & Flow Play Track 131+ sounds included, 233 mins total $54

    Pipe Noise & Flow is a sound effects library built around the hidden voices of pipe systems, large and small. Captured over several years across industrial plants, residential buildings, factories, sewers, underground tunnels, caves and public infrastructure, this collection brings together a wide range of sonically rich material.

    You’ll hear water, gas, and air moving through pipes made of metal steel, copper, aluminium, plastic, glass, concrete, and stone. There are massive flows and subtle trickles, bursts of pressure, hollow resonances, eerie whistles, and the strange tonalities that emerge when systems crack, leak, or fail. Many recordings feature broken or deteriorating pipes, full of texture and unpredictability. While there is plenty of industrial and subterranean grit, you’ll also find more subtle sources like kitchen sinks, bathroom plumbing, and everyday interior systems; sounds that can lend realism or eeriness to intimate scenes.

    This library is designed to be flexible and inspiring. Use it to create detailed ambiences for sci-fi, horror, and post-apocalyptic settings, to build layered mechanical textures for machines and user interfaces, or to design unique elements for hybrid weapons, alien devices, strange creatures or abandoned environments. Whether you need the realism of urban infrastructure or the surreal qualities of a forgotten machine, Pipe Noise & Flow offers an unexpected toolkit full of possibility.

    Pipe Noise & Flow - Audio Demo Spectrogram

    What’s inside:

    • Flowing water, rushing air, and gas movement through pipes
    • Large industrial pipes, small tubing, and flexible hoses
    • Pipes made of metal, iron, copper, aluminium, plastic, glass, concrete, and stone
    • Broken, leaky, and deteriorating pipes with rich textures
    • Interior plumbing: kitchen sinks, bathroom drains, home radiators
    • High-pressure bursts, trickles, drips, and hissing valves
    • Tonal and pitched pipe resonances, drones, and hums
    • Mechanical rattles, clangs, gurgles, and thumps
    • Subterranean ambiences and underground utility spaces
    • Studio performances exploring controlled flow and resonance
    • Eerie whistles and howling vents for otherworldly design
    • Abstract textures and tonalities ideal for creature sound design
    • Inspiring source material for sci-fi, horror, fantasy, and surreal soundscapes
    • Useful elements for user interface design, machine textures, and hybrid weapons
    • Ready-to-layer assets for creating atmospheres, backgrounds, and special effects
    28 %
    OFF
  • Ambisonic City, Suburbs, Rural Ambiences in B-format (ambix) and binaural.

    Ambiences of the city, suburbs and rural areas. Many sound perspectives and situations. Long recordings, over 20 GB of recordings. Please check the sound list for additional info.

    Recorded with Sennheiser Ambeo VR microphone and Sound Devices Mix Pre 10-II, 744T recorder. See the track list for additional info.

    The download contains each recording in B-format (RAW-4ch.) and as Binaural Stereo files. The audio preview is binaural and should be listened to with headphones. All files are tagged with Metadata.

    19 %
    OFF
  • 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.

  • Footsteps Sound Effects MachinEra: Robotic Movements Play Track 166 sounds included, 3 mins total $54

    A dynamic collection of robotic sound effects capturing the essence of synthetic motion—from heavy mech footsteps to agile servo twitches. Organized into Robot_Big and Robot_Small, this pack delivers detailed mechanical gestures that give life and character to any robot—ideal for film, games, animation, and futuristic sound design. Bring your bots to life with authentic movement, precision, and personality.

    MachinEra: Robotic Movements Sound Effects Pack

    🤖 What’s Inside?
    ✔️ Robot_Big: Heavy robotic footsteps, mechanical stomps, structural clanks, and full-motion sequences for large-scale machines.
    ✔️ Robot_Small: Servo-driven motions, nimble joint movements, mechanical twitches, and intricate robotic details.

    Useful for films, video content, and games, this pack provides ready-to-use, professionally designed sound effects, tailored for creators who need polished sounds without extra processing. The Ultra High Resolution version may contain more variations and audio files than the High Resolution pack, with pristine 192 kHz quality that ensures excellent flexibility for projects requiring additional processing.

    27 %
    OFF
  • Sci-Fi Sound Effects MachinEra: SciFi Engines Play Track 284 sounds included, 41 mins total $74

    A high-octane collection of sci-fi engine sounds designed to power futuristic vehicles, starships, drones, and advanced machinery. With layered boosts, charged accelerations, and energetic propulsion, this pack delivers cinematic engine sounds with punch and scale—perfect for games, trailers, film, and sci-fi storytelling. Give your machines the roar of tomorrow.

    MachinEra: Sci-Fi Engines Sound Effects Pack

    🚀 What’s Inside?
    ✔️ Engine Boosts: Aggressive power surges, acceleration bursts, energy charges, and propulsion blasts.
    ✔️ Sci-Fi Motions: High-velocity thrusts, futuristic drives, and stylized engine pulses.

    Useful for films, video content, and games, this pack provides ready-to-use, professionally designed sound effects, tailored for creators who need polished sounds without extra processing. The Ultra High Resolution version may contain more variations and audio files than the High Resolution pack, with pristine 192 kHz quality that ensures excellent flexibility for projects requiring additional processing.

    21 %
    OFF

   

3 thoughts on “Here’s how two Icelandic sound designers could change sound effects – forever

  1. Hmmm… I’m all for recording new sounds as often as possible, though as anyone who records sound in the field knows, the best sound you record on a field trip is rarely the sound you thought you went there to record. In other words, the accidental encounters with sounds are usually the best encounters. The downside is that those sounds, cool as they are, are often not useful on the current project. So they are not valuable to the project that hired you to make the field trip. Another problem I have with this model for getting sound effects is that “freshness” is a nice characteristic in a sound, but it is not the only, and maybe not even the most important characteristic. Filling your project with “brand new” sounds is fine, but if they are brand new mediocre, not particularly interesting, or noisy sounds… that’s not so fine. Most of the sounds we record in the field are not full of life, and they aren’t particularly evocative. Only a few have magic. We gradually acquire those year by year, and we often find unexpected and fresh ways to use them.

    Let’s say I ask you to go record an eagle for me tomorrow. With some luck you can find an eagle. With some luck the eagle will vocalize. With some luck that vocal won’t be obliterated by wind, rain, another bird, etc. With an incredible amount of luck that vocal will be the kind of vocal actually need for the project.

    Basically my point is that field recording of sounds is ALWAYS unpredictable. Being in Iceland, or at a Ranch in northern California, doesn’t guarantee anything except that there will probably be fewer ambient noise problems than there would be in an urban area. But it could be windy, or rainy, or undesirable flocks of birds or swarms of insects may interfere. Sure, go out to the ice field and try to record the eagle for me, but I expect you’ll tell me the best sound you got was the demonically squealing fan belt on the old Land Cruiser you encountered at the gas station. And unfortunately, I don’t need that sound for my film.

    Best,
    Randy

  2. Goodness gracious… I was reading this today and I was a way through the article when I realized, “How can this be profitable at $1/km?” HAHAHAHA.

    Might be sci-fi now, but just like people are readily using hobbyist quadcopter drone cameras to take impressive videos and panoramas, many sounds could be cultivated from those environs! Even the thought of taking robots into environmentally hazardous areas to record unique ambience.

    And to have Randy Thom weigh in too… what a day!

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