MetalMotion sound effects library - how the sound library was created Asbjoern Andersen


What goes into creating a great sound effects library? Sound designer, recordists and composer Nathan Moody shares his sonic journey behind the making of his latest sound effects library, MetalMotion.
The library features 4 hours of moving metal, including everything from impacts and squeals, to scrapes, rattles and beyond - and in this new A Sound Effect Podcast episode, here's the rarely-told story on what it takes to create such an adventurous, experimental and highly useful sound effects library. Hear the full interview below:

An interview with Nathan Moody by Jennifer Walden, hosted by Asbjoern Andersen
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Here’s what’s in this episode (with starting times):

0:00 Introduction

1:54 Sound designer, recordists and composer Nathan Moody shares his sonic journey behind the making of his latest sound effects library, MetalMotion

34:04 Find more great podcasts about sound from our friends in the Audio Podcast Alliance
 

Hear the episode below:


 

Sound effects libraries highlighted in this episode:


  • Metal Sound Effects MetalMotion Play Track 2000+ sounds included, 239 mins total $120

    MetalMotion is a sound design construction kit that contains four hours of moving metal mayhem: clicks and clanks, rolls and drags, wronks and squeals, scrapes and rattles, ranging from from tiny to monstrous. Nathan Moody’s unique performances with unusual combinations of props produce everything from Foley-like movements to intense groans and howls.

    Whether you’re covering a robot’s movements, sweetening weapon Foley, making crafting or pick-up sounds in a game, placing unusual layers beneath a kaiju’s roar, or crushing a submarine with undersea pressure, this collection covers the full range of subtle to raucous. Each file has many performance variations for creative choice and game audio asset creation.

    While there are some tasty impacts within, this library’s true focus is on characterful movements: handling, rummaging, opens, closes, ratchets, swirls, rolls, drags, drops, spins, rubs, zuzzes, and bows. Metal containers, filing cabinets, modern appliances, vintage (and very rusty) tools, cymbals, bells, grills, plates, bars, rods, and tubes, and many other props lent their voices to this collection.

    This UCS-compliant library was recorded with a combination of standard, contact, and ultrasonic-capable microphones through Millennia preamps. Sample rates vary based on the amount of ultrasonic content in each file. The audio files are mastered for realism, ready for extreme processing and pitch shifting of your own, but still useful in more grounded contexts.

  • Funny / Comedy / Cartoon Ultrasquish Play Track 400+ sounds included, 40 mins total $40

    Ultrasquish is an ultrasonic-rich library of squishes and squeezes, optimized for radical pitch shifting. It contains around 40 minutes of 192-kHz, UCS-compliant, icky goodness. Each file contains long takes with many variations, ideal for interactive content. From silly squishes to horrific scenes, Ultrasquish simply oozes usefulness.

    The performances of squished and squeezed water, gel, goo, and air begin as sharp, crisp, and immediately useful assets for representing cartoony action, sticky props, mud, blood, viscera, critical hits, or finishing moves. But once pitched down, they reveal creature growls, monstrous heartbeats, gurgling zombie breaths, gloopy footstep sweeteners, colossal digestive tracts, slimy monster movements, and bubbling alien slimescapes. A set of designed sounds are included to showcase the potential uses of the library, and for immediate use in quick-turnaround projects.

    All sounds were recorded in extreme close-up perspective with both a hypercardioid microphone and an ultrasonic-capable omni microphone, blended together for a punchy, full-range tone while preserving ultrasonic detail (reaching as high as 70 to 100 kHz, depending on the prop or material being recorded).

 

Audio Podcast AllianceThe A Sound Effect Podcast is part of the Audio Podcast Alliance, featuring a hand-picked selection of the very best podcasts about sound. Check out the full list of Audio Podcast Alliance members below, and click a on podcast name to go directly to their latest episode:
 
AMPS Podcast • CAS In Conversation • Field & Foley • Immersive Audio Podcast • LA Post Production Sound Design • Level with Emily Reese • Location Sound Podcast • Sound Business • Soundbytes Podcast • SoundGirls Podcast • Soundtrack Show • Soundworks Collection • The A Sound Effect Podcast • The Dolby Institute Podcast • The Game Audio Journey • The Sound Architect Podcast • Tonebenders • Twenty Thousand Hertz

Hear more audio-related podcasts here

 

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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 Four Elements Play Track 3050 sounds included, 251 mins total $112.49
    FOUR ELEMENTS - Rock The Speakerbox Professional SFX

    Master the Art of Bending the Elemental Forces

     

    Unleash the raw power of fire, water, earth, and air with this comprehensive 9 GB sound library featuring 3050 high-quality sound effects across 630 files. Whether you’re designing cinematic soundscapes or enhancing video games Four Elements delivers the tools you need to harness the energy of the natural world.

    Construction Kit – 2443 Sounds

    A treasure trove of raw, organic, and processed sounds including seamless loops divided into Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Explosion categories. Customize every detail with an extensive selection of sound components.

    • Organic Fire: Campfire sizzles, torch whooshes, and flame bursts.
    • Processed Fire: Distorted impacts and unique crackles.
    • Organic Earth: Rock crashes, gravel scrapes, and heavy stone hits.
    • Processed Earth: Stylized rumbles and granular textures.
    • Organic Water: Ocean waves, hydrophone bubbles, and fluid splashes.
    • Processed Water: Underwater whooshes and stylized liquid smashes.
    • Organic Air: Bamboo swishes, cloth movements, and pressure bursts.
    • Processed Air: Filtered gusts and dynamic noise sweeps.
    • Explosion: Firework detonations, Butane bursts, and cinematic impacts.

    Building Blocks – 416 Sounds

    Game-ready sound layers featuring Impacts, Whooshes, and Textures as seamless loops. Elevate transitions and enhance atmospheres with loops and pre-designed sound layers.

    • Fire: Explosive bursts, blazing infernos, and warm embers.
    • Earth: Ground-shaking impacts, crumbling terrain, and heavy collisions.
    • Water: Cascading waves, serene rivers, and underwater ambiences.
    • Air: Whispering breezes, stormy turbulence, and slicing gusts.

    Design Kit – 192 Sounds

    A collection of ready-to-use sound effects divided into Attack, Bend, and Explosion categories for quick integration into your projects. Perfect for high-energy scenes and immersive storytelling.

    • Fire: Crackling flames, fiery bursts, and roaring infernos.
    • Earth: Crushing impacts, shifting ground, and massive land eruptions.
    • Water: Splashes, fluid manipulations, and crashing tidal waves.
    • Air: Slicing winds, swirling currents, and thunderous gusts.

     

    Four Elements gives you complete creative control, blending organic recordings with processed sound layers to meet the demands of any project. Master the forces of nature with Four Elements. Let your creativity ignite.

     

    Keywords:

    Elements, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Wave, Water, Liquid, Rock, Cast, Stone, Pebble, Torch, Gas, Flame, Campfire, Sizzle, Burst, Scrape, Whoosh, Impact, Texture, Attack, Bend, Bending, Explosion, Processed, Surge, Quake, Hit, Flow, Burn, Ignite, Drop, Smack, Destruction, Rumble, Hiss, Blow, Wind, Cloth, Movement, Underwater, Bubble, Ocean, River, Lake, Firework, Firecracker, Bang, Blast, Detonation, Magic, Fantasy, Forces, Fire Magic, Water Magic, Earth Magic, Fire Air, Fire Effect, Fire Whoosh, Water Whoosh, Seamless Loop, Loop, Fire Cast, Water Cast, Earth Cast, Air Cast

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  • Ever wondered how to get the creatures, beasts and monsters in your project as badass and nasty as possible?

    This collection is filled with high-quality sound effects that let your clients tremble in their seats. The curated package comes with everything you need: Vocals like attacks, breaths, threats, alerts, idle sounds, die screams and foley sounds such as bodyfalls, steps and movement.

    With this set of handpicked sounds you have the world of cinematic creature sound design at your fingertips.

     

    The Library includes:

    Beast, Coloss, Dwarf, Fishman, Gnome, Golem, Hellhound, Imp, Insect, Kraken, Minotaur, Ogre, Orc, Reptile, Witch, Wraith, Yeti, Zombie, Attack, Breath, Death, Idle, Step, Threaten, Voice, Foley

Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • Mechanical Sound Effects Printing Presses Play Track 78+ sounds included, 104 mins total $75

    Printing Presses showcases a variety of high-powered and dynamic mechanical sounds from three massive web-offset newspaper presses operating at high speed. In addition, you’ll hear unique mechanical sounds found inside a newspaper’s plate room and packaging department before and after a press run. Plus, I recorded three letterpresses. Each sound is captured with multiple microphone setups at various locations providing detailed and overall perspectives. Listen to presses increasing in speed, humming along at running speed and then coming to a stop. Sometimes gradually, sometimes suddenly. I’ve also created condensed versions of entire press runs as they can be long, presenting them as ‘sequences.’ In addition, some sounds have been meticulously edited and presented as seamless loops.

  • Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects Blade Sound Pack Play Track 1400 sounds included, 83 mins total $30

    1400 meticulously processed stereo blades sound effects recorded in 96 khz and 24 bits for high audio definition.

    The collection comes with hundreds of variations and many different weapon types. It also includes raw files for more flexibility for your projets and each asset has a version with and without reverb for more control.

    This collection is perfect for any films, video games or trailers.

    Recorded weapons: katana, kris knife, khukuri dagger, big and medium kitchen knife and hunting knife.

    This sound library includes various type of sounds:  blades scraping, single or multiple impacts, whooshes, designed and powerful sword sounds for trailer and cinematic, gore slashing and stabbing, blade sheathing and unsheathing, short and long combat sequences, background  sword battle, and more.

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  • City Life Sound Effects Cambodia Environments Play Track 50 sounds included, 95 mins total $25

    Cambodia Environments features more than 1 1/2 hours of diverse ambience – capturing the country’s lively urban centres, coastal communities, dense forests and serene countryside. This collection offers a vivid portrayal of daily life in the country, with an array of traffic, transporation and city market sounds, as well as rural village ambience and tranquil natural soundscapes.

    All files are UCS compliant, 24 bit/ 96k and metadata is included (via soundminer), with keywords and detailed markers embedded to quickly locate specific sounds/ regions. Recorded with Usi Pro, Sony PCM-D100 and Wildtronics Stereo microphones.

  • This library expands more on the weird sounds you can make with balloons. There are sounds of balloons swirling against each other, weird metallic resonant bounces/impacts, stretching and creaking all recorded at 192kHz for any sound designer to take to the next level. Create some weird rope creaks, or an interesting monster sound with a balloon!

    This library also includes some classic balloon sounds such as inflating, deflating and general movement of a balloon bouquet!

  • Electricity Sound Effects EMF RECORDINGS Play Track 350 sounds included, 190 mins total $105

    In the “EMF RECORDINGS” library you’ll find… EMF Recordings! Shocking right? This collection is here to help you find that one specific humming sound you have in mind.


   

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