Popular Film Sound Stories Asbjoern Andersen


2022 has been a great year for film sound, and we've had the honor of speaking with many of the sound teams behind the year's biggest and most interesting films. Supercharge your brain with lots of in-depth film sound stories and insights below:
Please share:
 

Here’s a highlight of 2022’s most popular film sound stories (newest first):

 
Perfecting Pinocchio’s Distinct Sound for Director Del Toro – with Scott Gershin


Del Toro Pinocchio Film SoundPinocchio has been a popular subject for films in 2022. Three different films portraying their version of the immortal puppet were released this year, with director Guillermo del Toro’s stop-motion animated film (now streaming on Netflix) being the latest one. Here, sound supervisor Scott Gershin talks about their approach to crafting a unique aesthetic for Pinocchio – from creating a sonic arc throughout the film to designing wooden sounds with personality, and everything in between:
 

Read the in-depth interview

 
 

How the Harrowing Sound and Mix of ‘All Quiet on the Western Front’ was made – with Frank Kruse, Markus Stemler, and Lars Ginzel


All Quiet On The Western Front Film SoundNetflix’s All Quiet on the Western Front, directed by Edward Berger, is a harrowing look at trench warfare during WWI. The film (adapted from Erich Maria Remarque’s novel) depicts the physical and emotional atrocities of war as experienced by young German soldier Paul Bäumer. Here, supervising sound editor/sound designer Frank Kruse, co-sound designer Markus Stemler, and re-recording mixer Lars Ginzel talk about their approach to making the film feel gritty, scary, and devastating – putting the audience in the trench beside Paul and his fellow soldiers.
 

Read the in-depth interview

 
 

Karen Baker Landers on the Surgical Use of Sound in ‘Pearl’


All Quiet On The Western Front Film SoundDirector Ti West takes an ‘Old Hollywood’ approach to Pearl, the second film in his X horror film series. Set in 1918, the film tells the backstory of Pearl, who grows up on an isolated farm in Texas. Here, 2x-Oscar-winning supervising sound editor Karen Baker Landers talks about evolving the sound to match Pearl’s descent into madness, using subtle, natural sounds to create feelings of anxiety and tension, working sound around a massive score, showing restraint on the gore sounds, and she talks about the sound of specific scenes, like the subjective approach on Pearl’s dance tryout, and more:
 

Read the in-depth interview

 
 

‘Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’ at 30: Exclusive film sound interview with award-winning sound supervisor/sound designer Doug Murray:


Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me- behind the sound In celebration of Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With Me’s 30-year anniversary: Sound supervisor Doug Murray shares lots of fascinating sound stories behind the haunting film and the Twin Peaks series, the creative joys of “sound painting” with David Lynch, channeling Alan Splet’s sensibilities, its impact on film sound today, the sound for signature scenes – and how it transformed him as a sound designer. Hear the full interview below:
 

Hear the in-depth interview

 
 

The Powerful Sound of PREY – with Chris Terhune, Jessie Anne Spence, and Craig Henighan


Prey - behind the sound Director Dan Trachtenberg’s Predator prequel Prey (distributed by Disney+, Hulu) is set in 1719, so the sound team – led by supervising sound editors Chris Terhune and Will Files – got to reimagine the advanced weaponry and armor known from previous Predator films in a more primitive form.
In turn, the Predator in Prey faces off with humans who are also less technologically advanced – a tribe of Comanche with stone and wood weapons and a roaming pack of French fur traders, who have black powder muskets and pistols.

Here, Terhune talks about redesigning iconic Predator sounds to fit the more primitive time, Dialogue/ADR Supervisor Jessie Anne Spence discusses the unique opportunity to record and edit Comanche dialogue and group, and re-recording mixer Craig Henighan (who co-mixed with Terhune) talks about finding the emotion for the mix in Dolby Atmos.
 

Read the in-depth interview

 
 

Designing and Mixing the Far Out Sound of ‘Nope’ – a film sound deep-dive with Johnnie Burn


Nope film sound interviewDirector Jordan Peele’s film Nope has surpassed $100 million the US box office. The IMAX-filmed and Dolby Atmos-mixed movie is definitely a spectacle for the big screen! In this massive interview, A Sound Effect talks with supervising sound editor/sound designer/re-recording mixer Johnnie Burn about his collaboration with Peele in the pre-viz phase to the final Dolby Atmos mix at Universal Studios, & everything in between:

Read the in-depth interview

 
 

Ruy Garcia on Making the Playful Sound of ‘Marcel the Shell With Shoes On’


Nope film sound interviewA24’s mockumentary Marcel the Shell With Shoes On is a live-action film that incorporates stop-motion animation for the main character – a shell named Marcel – and his family. Director Dean Fleischer-Camp plays with perspective, sometimes showing the world from Marcel’s POV at one inch tall, and other times from a standard POV. Or, sometimes the sound is from Marcel’s POV even when he’s not in the shot. On top of it all, there’s this documentary feel that’s true to the original Marcel the Shell videos that were a YouTube sensation.
Here, supervising sound editor/sound designer/re-recording mixer Ruy Garcia talks about letting the emotion and story make the rules instead of adhering to a strict set of dos and donts. He talks about the film’s foley, recording custom sounds, working during the pandemic, playing with perspective, and so much more! Plus, he shares some really cool behind-the-scenes videos and pictures of their process.

Read the in-depth interview

 
 

Building The Batman’s Brooding Sound – with Doug Murray and Will Files


Nope film sound interviewSupervising sound editors Will Files and Doug Murray had a rare opportunity when they started work on Director Matt Reeves’s The Batman: they did the sound for the film trailer! And those trailer sounds not only set the tone for the film’s sound later on, they were even carried forward to the final mix. Here, Files and Murray talk about their incredible adventure of building this soundtrack during Covid, creating iconic sounds for the Batmobile, working against Michael Giacchino’s nearly-complete score, and so much more:

Read the in-depth interview

 
 

Making the Majestic, Oscar-winning Sound of ‘Dune’ — with Ron Bartlett, Doug Hemphill & more


Dune film sound interviewDirector Denis Villeneuve brings author Frank Herbert’s sci-fi classic Dune to the big screen. Like his previous film Blade Runner 2049, Villeneuve weaves sound design and music into a fluid sonic experience that feels cohesive and distinct.
Here, WB Sound re-recording mixers Ron Bartlett and Doug Hemphill talk about how they found the perfect balance of the two, the mixing decisions that helped pull focus on what best tells the story, how they used the Dolby Atmos surround space, and more:

Read, hear and watch the in-depth interview

 
 

How the Inventive Sound of ‘Everything Everywhere All At Once’ was created – with Julie Diaz, Alex Fehrman, Brent Kiser, and Andrew Twite


Everything Everywhere All At Once film sound interviewGo behind the inventive sound of Everything Everywhere All At Once here, in Jennifer Walden’s excellent group interview with supervising sound editor/re-recording mixer Brent Kiser, ADR supervisor Julie Diaz, sound designer Andrew Twite, and re-recording mixer Alex Fehrman.

Hear the in-depth interview

 
 

Mark Mangini on Guiding the Sound Design of Sundance Documentary ’32 Sounds’


32 Sounds documentary sound interviewAmerican documentary filmmaker Sam Green worked with Oscar-winning sound designer Mark Mangini to craft a unique sound experience for his film 32 Sounds, which just premiered at the Sundance Film Festival. The immersive documentary is a meditation on the power of sound to bend time, cross borders, and profoundly shape our perception of the world around us:

Read the in-depth interview

 

Want more film sound stories and resources?
Check out the Film Sound Power List here!

 

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.
  • Cats are remarkably expressive creatures. And capturing their voices can be a daunting task. Not anymore…

    The “Meow” sound library provides all the core cat vocalizations you'll need in a single package.

    Using 11 different cats cherry picked for their characters, this library provides over 272 vocalizations for your productions.

    From sweet mewls, to longing cries, or vicious shrieks, this library has got you covered.

    This library also includes the Sonic Worlds “CAT” sound pack.

    Meet the beasts:

    JASPER
    A lunatic Calico. A treasure trove of enraged vocalizations.

    AFORI & FANGS
    Sweet natured Russian Blues for that soft gentle character.

    BASTARDO
    A nasty mean tomcat, hence his name. A Tabby with a rich growl.

    BOGART
    Deep threatening growls and hisses. A Ginger in a foul mood.

    GINGY & LUCIFER
    Whiny sounding Ginger cats. For those hungry begging cries.

    JESSICA
    Classic meows that work like a charm.

    MARTY
    A sad sounding Tabby cat. For those longing mewls that will break your heart.

    SWEETY
    An absolute sweetheart black cat. Purry meows galore.

    Cat sounds included:
    ● Screeches and Shrieks
    ● Snipes
    ● Yelps
    ● Mewls
    ● Cries
    ● Purrs
    ● Growls
    ● Grumbles, Groans and Moans
    ● Whining and Begging
    ● Hisses
    ● Squirms
    ● Meows in a huge variety of characters
    ● And more…
  • The RPG Magic library delivers a total of 215 ready-made unique magic sound effects suitable for Role-Playing Games, Battle Arena and more. The SFX comes in flexible layers for you to mix & match to create the most unique and fitting sound for your magic. Bring your magic sound design to the next level with this collection.

    Includes sounds such as:

    – 147 Spells (Buffs, Debuffs, Heals, Negative Spells, Neutral Spells, Positive Spells and Revives)
    – 54 Basic Attacks & Impacts (Magic Swooshes & Impacts Ranging from Small to Large)
    – 13 Misc (Boss Appear, Monster Dies, Skill Unlock, UIs, Teleport)

    Check out our blog if you are interested to know how and why we made this pack.

    [ Tutorial – How does it work? ]
    Read the blog post: https://wowsound.com/rpg-magic-pack-tutorial/

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

   

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

HTML tags are not allowed.