affordable sound effects creation Asbjoern Andersen


Creating sound effects libraries doesn’t necessarily require a big budget – here, Glitchedtones founder Stuart Keenan shares his approaches to creating excellent SFX libraries without breaking the bank:
 

Hi Stuart, please introduce yourself and Glitchedtones:

Hi Asbjoern, I’m an indie sound designer based in the northeast of England. I release sound effects and atmosphere libraries through my label Glitchedtones. My libraries are primarily aimed towards film, game and music productions but are suitable for a diverse range of projects, such as art installations, theatre and audio dramas. What really draws me to sound design is having the freedom to experiment with a wide range of sound sources and having little in the way of creative boundaries.

I’ve learned to use whatever I have at my disposal to its full capability and maintain a relatively simple setup which I know well

Glitchedtones is a less-than-part-time venture as I have a day job in an office four days a week. After time constraints, budget is a factor as there’s little left in the pot for nice gear and software after the bills are paid. However, I’ve learned to use whatever I have at my disposal to its full capability and maintain a relatively simple setup which I know well.

 

For great-sounding results, using affordable means, what sort of equipment would you recommend?

I’d recommend as little as a basic laptop, some decent studio headphones and a copy of Audacity! For more options and some luxury, an audio interface, microphone, monitors, a MIDI controller and a portable recorder are invaluable. There are many budget gear options available these days, one drawback is cheap preamps on recording devices though. It’s difficult to produce high-quality professional field recordings with cheap gear, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use the recordings as source material for your own designs. You may not be able to release a pristine urban ambiances library from a Zoom handheld, but you could have an incredibly unique, high-quality library of planetary environments on your hands once you start processing.

[tweet_box]Sound effects creation on a shoestring[/tweet_box]

What are your go-to tools and plugins?

Granular seems to work particularly well for creating Industrial, Dystopian, Sci-Fi or Abstract ambiances out of everyday recordings

For source material, I often use feedback loops, lo-fi field recordings and computer generated noise. I love granular samplers and processors, so these are a mainstay and something I always go for when it comes to shaping the sounds. There are lots of great free granular tools available online which are all worth exploring. Granular seems to work particularly well for creating Industrial, Dystopian, Sci-Fi or Abstract ambiances out of everyday recordings, with loads of room for creating variations of a single piece of audio. I also go for buffer and glitch plugins a lot and love anything with a random function as it’s great for inspiring ideas and building up source material to mangle later.

Fruits of the labor: Sound libraries from Glitchedtones:

Here are some of the sound effects libraries created by Stuart Keenan and released under the Glitchedtones label (more here):

  • Abstract Sound Design is a budget-friendly collection of unique audio material sourced from digital feedback loop experiments and granular processing sessions. Featuring 25 abstract atmospheres and 35 abstract FX, this library is perfect for those moments when creativity may be running dry, serving as an inspiring starting point for some serious sound sculpting. Of course, they may just fit your needs as they are, too!

  • Horror Sound Effects Atmosfear Play Track 50 sounds included, 31 mins total $12

    Featuring sounds taken from lo-fi instrumental recordings, harsh noise experiments and granular synthesis explorations, Atmosfear is a gritty soundscape collection geared towards the horror genre. With a distinctly unpolished production style to bring a rough edge to your scenario, these sounds can be used to invoke feelings of suspense, dread, tension, fear and doom into your characters and environments.

    What does an industrial scale torture chamber in an abandoned asylum sound like? What about a high-voltage electrical possession? Find the answer to these questions and more with Atmosfear. Enter if you dare.

  • Whether you work in film, game or music production, it's a standard requirement to have a wide range of whoosh and transition sounds at your disposal. With raw, organic textures alongside heavily processed Doppler FX, the sounds in this library can be mixed together to create a multitude of variations which will give your projects a real edge. Featuring power ups and downs, spacecraft passbys, robotic movement, machine failure, future technology sounds and more, Whooshes & Transitions features 150 unique audio files ready to process to your liking or drop straight into your production.

For those with a limited budget, what are some particularly helpful approaches for generating useful material? Any surprising sources of great material?

I’ve created lots of varied sounds just from jamming out on effects and it’s great for unique glitch and UI sounds

It may seem obvious but record everything! For example, if you are trying out a new plugin on one of your recordings (this is especially good with a synth or effect with random or generative functions), simply record while you play and then edit out the highlights. I’ve created lots of varied sounds just from jamming out on effects and it’s great for unique glitch and UI sounds. You can then use these edits to shape into something new again. By time-stretching or pitch-shifting and layering on some more effects, you can then start crafting drones and ambient atmospheres. Also, don’t get rid of any ‘bad bits’ such as preamps hiss, mic pops and cable crackles until you’ve fully explored their potential!

 

What are some of your favorite sound design techniques?

A great amount of my work has been built on recording and manipulating feedback loops using the No-Input Mixer technique, so this was a go-to for a lot of my early libraries and still something I really enjoy. It can be so random that you can’t recreate the same sound twice using the same settings but it is a lot of fun to explore! I use a Behringer 4 Channel Mixer and a bunch of guitar effects for this. It doesn’t matter much which pedals you use but I find having a delay pedal in there really gets things going. I’ve created many drones, glitches and electrical sounds using this technique.


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:


What’s your approach for coming up with library ideas?

I tend to find themes for libraries while freely experimenting, I’m always playing around and recording the results, just for fun and to see what happens, checking things out. Anything goes. There’s a lot of randomness and chance in my work, which I find incredibly inspiring. It’s these experiments and encounters which really inspire me to then shape the results into more tailored collections.

 

In terms of gear or tools, what’s been the one upgrade you’ve made that’s the biggest difference?

I’ve recently got Serum on a rent-to-buy deal, which is a bit of a luxury for me as it’s the first commercial VST synth I have bought. It’s all I use now for synthesized sound design, I find it really intuitive and almost anything you do with it sounds great. As much as I love noise, glitches and granular processing, I’m excited to get started creating some new libraries using Serum as a main sound source.

 

When it comes to indie SFX, what’s been the most valuable lesson you’ve learned?

I’ve learned not to be dissuaded by a lack of expensive gear and to simply go with getting the most out of what is readily available

I’ve learned not to be dissuaded by a lack of expensive gear and to simply go with getting the most out of what is readily available. It’s easy to think that without a Sound Devices rig or a Native Instrument’s Komplete setup your chances of being successful or being taken seriously in the sound design industry may be limited. However, this needn’t be the case!

 

Any essential tips for people starting out in indie SFX?

Embrace your limitations, as this is where you may find you are at your most creative and unique.
 

A big thanks to Stuart Keenan for sharing the story behind his sound design approach! Do you have any tips for affordable ways of creating sound effects? If so, please share them in the comments

 

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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:

  • This is a sound library containing the sounds of driving on various materials as well as screeching skid sounds.

     

    The contents in this library represent the sound of the interaction between the tires and the surface being driven on, as opposed to the sound of the engine.

     

    Includes the sound of driving on:

    • Asphalt (wet and dry)
    • Gravel
    • Grass
    • Dirt
    • Mud
    • and more!

     

    Features:

    • 71 audio files in 24 bit 96kHz WAV format
    • All files are metadata-tagged, allowing for easy searching in sound library management tools
    • UCS compliant file naming
    • Available for commercial or personal use without attribution

     

    View a summary of included sounds here

    View a full list of included files here

  • ‘Tiny Transitions’ deivers 275 short Whooshes and other Transition sounds. Instead of the huge, more cinematic transitional sounds that you are accustomed to hear from SoundBits, this sound pack focuses more on the smaller, not-so-intrusive production elements that come in very handy for any Sound Designer, All-In-One Film Editor or Web-, App- and Game-Developers.

    All these small motion-supporting elements that you need in your everyday work for game menus, apps, general motion designs, … or as parts of more complex moving stuff.

    You get 275 designed sounds + a selection of 290 cleaned and edited source sounds that were used to design the Tiny Transitions. These sounds are mostly different props that are scraping or sliding on different surfaces and also some vocalized whoosh attempts.

    All source sounds were recorded with Sonosax SX-R4+ and Sennheiser MKH8050+MKH30 M/S rig.

    All sounds come with embedded Soundminer Metadata.

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  • Need the sound of objects being pushed, pulled, dragged, moved – or perhaps sliding and scraping over different surfaces? The Drag & Slide SFX library gets you exactly that: More than 500 dragging and sliding sounds that are ready to be used as they are – or for intense sound design.

    Drag & Slide features recordings from sources such as:

    Bags, Barrels, Blades, Bottles, Cabinets, Chairs, Coat-hangers, Crates, Dining Tables, Fridges, Frying Pans, Iron Boxes, Iron Tables, Metal Cans, Metal Chairs, Nightstands, Pallets, Paper bags, Plates, Racks, Rakes, Shoes, Shovels, Sledgehammers, Spray cans, Stones/rocks, Toolboxes, Vacuum Cleaners, Various heavy objects, Wooden Boards – and more!

    Technical details:

    All sounds were cleaned, edited and filled with BWF-Metadata for instant use in your projects – and many of the files in the pack contain more than one sound. Recorded with Sound Devices 744T, 788T, Sennheiser MKH8050, Ambient ATE208, Sony PCM-D100

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Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • 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
    18 %
    OFF
  • 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.

    30 %
    OFF

   

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