Sound effects revolution Asbjoern Andersen


Sound effects libraries are a wonderful resource for both the game and film community - but renowned Australian wildlife recordist Ewan McCree has a trick up his sleeve that may effectively render them obsolete. It involves a spectacular animal native to Australia, some clever thinking and lots of training. We managed to catch up with him to hear how he intends to transform sound as we know it.


April 1st 2020 Update: It's been exactly a year since we heard from sonic revolutionary Ewan McCree, so we decided to reach out to him to hear how his project is coming along - and he sure had some surprising details to share.

If you already read this exciting story last April, you can skip straight down to the latest info by clicking here. Otherwise we recommend you simply continue reading below, so you’re fully in the loop.


Interview by Asbjoern Andersen
Please share:
 

Hi Ewan, just what is the problem with sound effects today?
There’s a wonderful selection of sounds out there, particularly from the independent sound effects community. But, with them being pre-recorded, it puts them at a disadvantage to the expressive performance of, say, a Foley artist. Now, I know there are various software solutions to add randomization and variation to sound effects, but I’ve spent decades outdoors and I know nature always provides a better solution than we humans can come up with.
 

So what’s your plan?
Being a wildlife recordist here in Australia, I’ve come across a rich and diverse selection of very – very! – vocal animals. But in terms of vocalizations, many of them are one-trick-ponies (and some of them are literally ponies), with a very recognizable set of expressions.

Listen to the hiss of a scrub python and you go ‘well that’s a scrub python’, hear the crawly sounds of a female redback spider and you go, ‘that’s so a female redback spider’, or the squishy sounds of a stinging jellyfish and you’ll instantly go, ‘that’s a stinging jellyfish if I ever heard one’.

But it so happens we have an animal here with incredible vocal abilities – one that can effectively transform sound effects as we know them: The lyrebird. You’re probably familiar with mockingbirds’ impressive abilities when it comes to imitation – but wow, does the lyrebird take the cake and peck at it too.


Lyrebird: The Best Songbird Ever!
One of Ewan McCree’s lyrebirds, showcasing a few of its incredible sound effects.

Those birds can imitate everything from the sounds of laser guns, chainsaws and steam trains, to coffee brewing, jet planes taking off, hand combat, and even wrestling matches. They do it so convincingly you literally can’t tell the difference between their performances and the real thing, and this is where it gets incredibly exciting:

Since it’s not a recording, but an actual performance, they add some incredible variation every time they perform a sound, ensuring that things never sound stale or repetitive. It’s mind-blowing.
 

How do you plan to take on conventional sound effects?
Over the past 12 years, I’ve been breeding lyrebirds for performance purposes. I’ve been studying the sound community closely for a while, and have noticed that libraries are often released in genres such as Sci-Fi, Whooshes, Gore and EMF. That gave me an idea: Instead of trying to teach the birds the most common sounds out there, I created very distinct sets of sounds that I wanted each bird to learn. And it worked.

I now have targeted lyrebirds that are experts in, for example, deep, thunderous whooshes and braams

I now have targeted lyrebirds that are experts in, for example, deep, thunderous whooshes and braams, whereas others are better at the sounds of, say, spacecraft docking at distant outposts orbiting an icy planet. In other words, I’ve got Sci-Fi birds, Whoosh Birds, Gore Birds etc, offering targeted sound effects with a unique edge.
 

So you’re planning on selling those recordings?
No. I’m offering the birds themselves as an outright replacement for existing sound effects libraries. At my soon-to-be-launched web shop, you’ll be able to pick the exact bird or birds that match what you’re after, just as you would any sound effects library. You can also buy flocks of birds, or bundles, if you like.

On checkout, you then pick your preferred cage and your choice of bird seeds, and I’ll ship everything anywhere in the world. If you’re local, I’ll simply set them free and tell them to walk over to your place (they don’t fly) – they’re that intelligent.

Now, I know we’re dealing with live animals here, so to ensure they end up with someone who actually cares for animals, I’m asking customers to add a short note to their order, detailing an act of kindness they’ve carried out towards animals at some point in their life.

Maybe you once saved a dog that fell through the ice, perhaps you pet every single cat you meet, or you just love hamsters, almost more than life itself. I’ll then evaluate your story, and if it sounds convincing and caring, I’ll ship – otherwise those birds aren’t going anywhere.
 



Attenborough: the amazing Lyre Bird sings like a chainsaw! Now in high quality | BBC Earth


BBC legend Sir David Attenborough, mesmerized by the lyrebirds’ sound effects abilities

What if you don’t have exactly what people are after?
I also breed-to-order. Simply contact me 1-2 years before you need the specific sounds, outlining the types of sounds you need (please include examples), and an intense training regimen is set in place to prepare a bird that can perform exactly those sounds.

I also breed-to-order. Simply contact me 1-2 years before you need the specific sounds

Isn’t that a bit cumbersome compared to, say, downloading a sound effects library with enough variations included?
No.
 

I mean, you’ll need to have cages, feed the birds and generally look after them..
People who keep a pet generally tend to live longer than those who don’t, so there’s that. They also liven up the place in a way very few sound effects libraries do, and they’re upgradable in a way no sound effects library ever will be.


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    Delve into the arcane with a rich tapestry of magical sounds, meticulously crafted to capture the essence of a realm steeped in enchantment and primal energy.
    • Biological Magic (20 FX): Twisted energies, the whispers of the undead, the cries of mutated creatures – sounds of the unnatural and unsettling.
    • Dark Magic (70 FX): Harness the power of shadow and despair with crushing gravity, void-like darkness, and explosive bursts of dark matter.
    • Natural Magic (61 FX): Command the elements! Feel the fury of wind, the heat of fire, the crackle of lightning, the solidity of earth, and the fluidity of water.
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    Step into a world of gleaming metal, buzzing energy, and high-tech mechanisms. These sounds are designed to bring your futuristic settings and advanced weaponry to life.
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    • System Damage (13 FX): The unsettling sounds of malfunctions, errors, and equipment failure.
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      • Energy Transmitters (10 FX)
      • Frost Guns (20 FX)
      • Laser Guns (42 FX)
      • Metal Cutting Guns (29 FX)
      • Pulse Guns (20 FX)
      • Energy Rifles (22 FX)
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Need specific sound effects? Try a search below:


How can they be upgraded?
Want to expand the sonic range of your birds? Simply send them back to me for a couple of weeks, and I’ll put them through intense training that’ll teach them a number of new tricks. It can also be done on-site at your place, where I send you an MP3 player and a tiny headset. Mount that headset on the bird and leave it there for a few weeks – and voila, that’s a whole new slew of sounds added to its already-impressive sound effects repertoire.
 

Any other advantages?
For walla and loop group performances, I have flocks of birds for hire to help out with that. Outline the scenario and setting you’re after, and I’ll put together a custom flock for you.

Most of my birds are bi-lingual, so that’s a big advantage when you’re using them to create, say, the atmosphere of a Berlin railway station, with a train from Moscow coming in

Most of my birds are bi-lingual, so that’s a big advantage when you’re using them to create, say, the atmosphere of a Berlin railway station, with a train from Moscow coming in.

The birds are essentially sound designers too, so I foresee a huge breakthrough there as well.
 

How can birds do sound design?
Well, who hasn’t met a client who said: ‘I love that sound of ocean waves you did there, but can you add more of a roaring sound to it, almost like an angry lion”? That’s where the birds come to the rescue:

By mounting the aforementioned tiny headset on the bird, and playing back recordings of waves and roaring, angry lions for periods of up to 48 hours at a time, the bird will think long and hard, interpret and ultimately do a mashup of those sounds, exactly like your client requested.

And, just like that, no more angry clients – ever.
 

Any problems using those birds for sound?
They do tend to peck at the microphones, so I always recommend protecting your gear with windjammers, cages or similar. Also, if you leave them roaming free in the studio, be advised that they seem to have a fondness for nesting in piles of tangled cables. Finally, I know there’s a lot of love for cats in the sound community – please remember to keep them separate, as I offer no refunds if your birds fail due to cat encounters.
 

Well, that’s manageable – and overall, it’s sounds quite incredible! What’s next on your roadmap?
Well, like ravens and crows, lyrebirds are some of the only birds that can use tools. And, uniquely in the animal kingdom, they have incredible timing, so last year, I started breeding what I call a batch of Foley birds.



How smart is a crow?


An example of crows using tools. Lyrebirds can do that too, and more

They are quick learners, and with their practically unlimited vocal skills, keen ear for sound, great timing, and the ability to use tools and props, I think it’s safe to say that birds are the Foley Artists of tomorrow.

With just a few weeks of training, they are impressively apt at using most DAWs. Before shipping them to your place, I offer them basic Pro Tools training, and lately, they’ve shown a fondness towards REAPER too.

And add their mashup and sound design skills to the list, and I see a lot of audio pros who might want to consider a new line of work. Good news, though: I’m always looking for helping hands with the breeding and training, so drop me a note if you want to be part of the next big thing in sound.


Where things stand in April 2020:

Hi Ewan, how are things progressing with your plan to change sound as we know it?
In many ways, it’s going great. The lyre bird training is coming along nicely, and I’ve been surprised to find just how reproductive those birds are. Over the course of the last year, I’ve gone from 6 fully-operational birds, to roughly 60,000. It’s a staggering number.
 

That’s great news – any idea when the birds will be ready to face the world?
Well, not everything has been going as planned, to be totally honest. I first realized something was up when I was visiting some friends for a barbecue down in Wollongong a couple of months back. We were just sitting around sharing a few stubbies when I heard what sounded like a laser blaster going off… And a few seconds later all hell broke loose.
There were sounds of explosions coming from the front yard, we could hear what sounded like gigantic robots trampling all over the place – and when I heard the distinct sound of a snowspeeder whizzing by, and a distant call of what could very well be an agitated tauntaun, I knew exactly what was up.

When I heard the distinct sound of a snowspeeder whizzing by, and a distant call of what could very well be an agitated tauntaun, I knew exactly what was up

You may have read the news that Disney is re-reissuing the first 3 Star Wars films in 2023, and as a powerful tribute to Ben Burtt, they’re doing a Very Special Sound Edition – and… you guessed it: My bred-to-order lyre birds will be doing the sound effects. Here’s something you probably also guessed: Yes, what I was hearing was the birds doing a 1:1 reenactment of the Battle of Hoth.

And they did it perfectly, it’s not that.. My main concern was that they were supposed to be back at the farm and in their cages, not sonically taking down AT-ATs in my friend Mark’s backyard.
 

Imagine my surprise when I found the cages open, and roughly 60,000 sound effects-trained lyre birds missing

So what were they doing there?
I was asking myself that very same question, so I rushed back to the farm to check on the rest of the birds.

I don’t know if you can relate to this, but imagine my surprise when I found the cages open, and roughly 60,000 sound effects-trained lyre birds missing.

 
That’s not good?
No. And lately I’ve been hearing stories from around Australia of strange sounds seemingly coming out of nowhere, so it sounds like they’ve wandered a lot further than I would like. Some describe the sounds as trumpet-like, while others have likened them to sounds of fighter jets, angry rodents and everything in between.



Strange Trumpet Noises in the Sky, Sydney Australia


An Australian family reacts to the strange, trumpet-like sounds of the runaway lyre birds

I’m also getting word from my field recording friends that they’ve been hearing some really strange dawn choruses around the country lately. Oftentimes, the glorious morning song of birds like the Splendid Fairy-wren and Great Crested Grebe would be marred by the lyre birds’ jarring sonic renditions of arm wrestling, coffee brewing and everyday household doors opening and closing.

What’s more, I’ve also found out that the birds are passing down their sound effects skills to their young ones, so mornings in Australia may not sound the same for the next few decades or so.

 
What’s your biggest concern at the moment?
Just after the original lyre bird story broke, I was contacted by renowned film composer and sound magician Hans Zimmer. He’s been working on the soundtrack for sci-fi film Dune, and, as he told me, he ‘needed a bigger braam’.

He’s generally credited for coming up with the original braaaaaaaaam sound heard in countless trailers for movies such as Inception – and with everyone else imitating that sound, he wanted to take things to the next level.

That’s why he’s ordered approximately 43,000 birds trained to perform what Hans and I call ‘The Mother of all Braams’. To give you an idea of the power of the bird braaaaam: When my friend Haakon – who lives some 16,000 kilometers away in Oslo, Norway – called me up asking me about the ‘horrible noise’ during our small-scale trial runs with the birds, I knew we were onto something, at least in in terms of volume.

That’s why Hans Zimmer ordered approximately 43,000 birds trained to perform what Hans and I call ‘The Mother of all Braams’

The latest I’ve heard is that those 43,000 birds have been spotted marching towards Sydney. Several Sydney suburbs have already been savaged by this unbearable flock, and I honestly dread what’s going to happen once they reach the city center.
 

Is there just no stopping them?
Well, here in Australia we’ve got a good track record of stopping nuisances like dingos with the massive dingo fence running across the country – so maybe a lyre bird fence could be the way to go. Alternatively, I’ve thought of building a gigantic net, similarly to what the Ocean Cleanup Project is using to capture plastic in the ocean.



The Ocean Cleanup System 001 Explained |  | Cleaning Oceans


McCree envisions dragging a net like this across Australia to capture the birds

I’ll then drag the net across huge parts of Australia to get those runaway birds once and for all. We may end up netting a rather large selection of what I’d call secondary wildlife, people, shrubbery and the occasional caravan – but that’s a small price to pay to stop this menace.

I’m sure we’ll get through this in the end – and if all else fails, well, I’ll retool my webshop to selling bird traps and cookbooks, as I hear that those lyre birds make for a great stew.

A big thanks to Ewan McCree for the story behind his incredible project! Here’s to hoping he gets everything worked out.


 

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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:

  • Destruction & Impact Sounds Metamorphosis Play Track 2328 sounds included $190

    Metamorphosis is a huge collection of recorded source, synthesized material and hybrid sounds. The library was created to cover a wide range of themes, with rich textures, aggressive impacts and a large selection of pass bys, bass drops, pyrotechnics and many more types of material.

    All of the Recorded Section was captured at 384KHz with microphones capable of recording up to 200KHz among with more conventional mics. The resulting assets are sounds that can be stretched to new extremes for greater sound design opportunities.
    In many cases I took the liberty to slow down the assets while editing the sounds to deliver what I thought was the most useful version of a given recording though in most cases I have also included other takes at the original 384KHz sample rate to get the best of both worlds.

    All of the Synthesized Content was created in Serum while the Hybrid Section was created by manipulating the Recorded and Synthesized sounds.

    Techniques such as morphing were used to blur the lines in between the nature of the two sources, making for ambiguous yet extremely versatile material that can be employed on both realistic and abstract designs.

    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.
  • MAGIC VS MACHINE – The Epic Collision of Realms
    Headline:The war of two worlds has begun. Experience the ultimate sound clash between the mystical forces of Magic and the advanced technology of the Future!
    Body:
    Prepare to immerse your audience in the thrilling conflict of MAGIC VS MACHINE, a colossal sound effects library pitting ancient magic against futuristic technology. This comprehensive collection is your key to crafting truly epic soundscapes for your short videos, short dramas, games, film trailers, and any project where these two powerful forces collide.
    The Magic World (253 WAV Files):
    Delve into the arcane with a rich tapestry of magical sounds, meticulously crafted to capture the essence of a realm steeped in enchantment and primal energy.
    • Biological Magic (20 FX): Twisted energies, the whispers of the undead, the cries of mutated creatures – sounds of the unnatural and unsettling.
    • Dark Magic (70 FX): Harness the power of shadow and despair with crushing gravity, void-like darkness, and explosive bursts of dark matter.
    • Natural Magic (61 FX): Command the elements! Feel the fury of wind, the heat of fire, the crackle of lightning, the solidity of earth, and the fluidity of water.
    • The Light Magic (102 FX): Experience the swiftness and brilliance of light-based powers, from quick strikes and luminous blades to focused laser energy.
    The Future World (450 WAV Files):
    Step into a world of gleaming metal, buzzing energy, and high-tech mechanisms. These sounds are designed to bring your futuristic settings and advanced weaponry to life.
    • Future Ambiences (3 FX): Subtle background textures to establish the atmosphere of a technological era.
    • Alarms & Sirens (5 FX): Warning signals and alerts from automated systems and advanced security.
    • Energy Hum & Data Transfer (4 FX): The subtle, pulsing life of futuristic power systems and the flow of digital information.
    • Machine Devices (42 FX): The intricate sounds of doors, switches, loading mechanisms, various devices, and ammunition handling.
    • System Damage (13 FX): The unsettling sounds of malfunctions, errors, and equipment failure.
    • System UI (120 FX): A vast collection of clean and futuristic user interface beeps, clicks, confirmations, and notifications.
    • Weapons of the Future (246 FX): A comprehensive arsenal of cutting-edge weaponry:
      • Electromagnetic Guns (30 FX)
      • Energy Transmitters (10 FX)
      • Frost Guns (20 FX)
      • Laser Guns (42 FX)
      • Metal Cutting Guns (29 FX)
      • Pulse Guns (20 FX)
      • Energy Rifles (22 FX)
      • Sulfuric Acid Guns / Venom (14 FX)
      • Super Heavy Machine Guns (27 FX)
      • EMP Grenades (9 FX)
    • Drone & Aircraft Whooshes (40 FX): Dynamic movement sounds for flying vehicles, covering both general motion and directional passes (Left to Right & Right to Left).
    • 96000 kHz
    • 24Bit
    • WAV
  • Step into a world of spells, mysticism, and creative power with Spells Variations Vol. 2, the follow-up to our acclaimed magical sound collection. This time, we’ve expanded the elemental and thematic range, offering 405 professionally crafted sound effects that are fully categorized and ready to use.
    Inside, you’ll find a wide variety of magical types:
    🔥 Fire
    💧 Water
    🌪️ Air
    🌍 Earth
    Electricity
    ❄️ Ice
    ☠️ Poison, Mud, Rocks
    ✨ As well as Arcane, Dark, Monstrous, and other mystical spell types.

    Each category is organized into individual folders, with multiple variations for every spell, giving you complete flexibility to choose the perfect sound for each moment, All this makes a total of 44 different spells.
    Just like in Volume 1, every sound in this collection was recorded, edited, and mastered at 192 kHz / 24-bit, ensuring top-tier quality and adaptability—perfect for professional sound designers or anyone looking for drag-and-drop magical effects for games, trailers, animations, or any audio-visual 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

    Features
    – 405 spell sounds
    – Format: 192KHz / 24 bits
    – Win/Mac: Yes
    – Minutes of audio provided: 22:26

Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • Seismic Core is a modern sound effects library crafted to give your sound design its defining foundation. Every element in this collection is built for layering. Designed not to dominate, but to enhance, shape, and energize your creations. Whether you’re working on cinematic hits, trailers, motion design, game audio, or abstract sonic branding, Seismic Core delivers the essential low-end weight, transient snap, and textured grit that bring your designs to life.

    These sounds are meticulously processed and polished, yet intentionally left with enough space to sit perfectly under your own layers. They’re bold enough to add instant character, but subtle enough to leave room for further creativity. This makes Seismic Core not just a toolkit, but a true starting point for powerful, flexible, and unique sound design.

    This collection of Building Blocks contains following categories:

    • IMPACT *
    • BREAK *
    • WHOOSH *
    • SUSTAIN *
    • TRANSIENT (high and low)

     

    * Also including HEAVY & SUB variants

    Build with it. Layer on top of it. Drop the anchor. Feel the quake. Design from the core.

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  • Dreamscapes is a curated collection of versatile drones and textures designed to transport you into deep, otherworldly realms.

    The pack spans a wide range of moods—from low-rumbling environmental ambiences and ethereal drones to delicate, transparent textures.

    All sounds are provided as seamless loops, making them perfectly suited for any project, including games, with no additional editing required.

     

  • Step into the realm of cinematic magic with this versatile collection of elements that ignite the imagination and elevate storytelling. From the sweeping whoosh of movement to the atmospheric drones that set the mood, each sound adds depth and dimension to your audio landscape. Experience the exhilarating rise of tension with risers and bass, and the rhythmic pulse of synth hits that propel the narrative forward. Delve into the mysterious wobbling whooshes and ethereal synth trills, offering a rich palette of textures to create immersive cinematic experiences that captivate audiences.

  • MAGIC VS MACHINE – The Epic Collision of Realms
    Headline:The war of two worlds has begun. Experience the ultimate sound clash between the mystical forces of Magic and the advanced technology of the Future!
    Body:
    Prepare to immerse your audience in the thrilling conflict of MAGIC VS MACHINE, a colossal sound effects library pitting ancient magic against futuristic technology. This comprehensive collection is your key to crafting truly epic soundscapes for your short videos, short dramas, games, film trailers, and any project where these two powerful forces collide.
    The Magic World (253 WAV Files):
    Delve into the arcane with a rich tapestry of magical sounds, meticulously crafted to capture the essence of a realm steeped in enchantment and primal energy.
    • Biological Magic (20 FX): Twisted energies, the whispers of the undead, the cries of mutated creatures – sounds of the unnatural and unsettling.
    • Dark Magic (70 FX): Harness the power of shadow and despair with crushing gravity, void-like darkness, and explosive bursts of dark matter.
    • Natural Magic (61 FX): Command the elements! Feel the fury of wind, the heat of fire, the crackle of lightning, the solidity of earth, and the fluidity of water.
    • The Light Magic (102 FX): Experience the swiftness and brilliance of light-based powers, from quick strikes and luminous blades to focused laser energy.
    The Future World (450 WAV Files):
    Step into a world of gleaming metal, buzzing energy, and high-tech mechanisms. These sounds are designed to bring your futuristic settings and advanced weaponry to life.
    • Future Ambiences (3 FX): Subtle background textures to establish the atmosphere of a technological era.
    • Alarms & Sirens (5 FX): Warning signals and alerts from automated systems and advanced security.
    • Energy Hum & Data Transfer (4 FX): The subtle, pulsing life of futuristic power systems and the flow of digital information.
    • Machine Devices (42 FX): The intricate sounds of doors, switches, loading mechanisms, various devices, and ammunition handling.
    • System Damage (13 FX): The unsettling sounds of malfunctions, errors, and equipment failure.
    • System UI (120 FX): A vast collection of clean and futuristic user interface beeps, clicks, confirmations, and notifications.
    • Weapons of the Future (246 FX): A comprehensive arsenal of cutting-edge weaponry:
      • Electromagnetic Guns (30 FX)
      • Energy Transmitters (10 FX)
      • Frost Guns (20 FX)
      • Laser Guns (42 FX)
      • Metal Cutting Guns (29 FX)
      • Pulse Guns (20 FX)
      • Energy Rifles (22 FX)
      • Sulfuric Acid Guns / Venom (14 FX)
      • Super Heavy Machine Guns (27 FX)
      • EMP Grenades (9 FX)
    • Drone & Aircraft Whooshes (40 FX): Dynamic movement sounds for flying vehicles, covering both general motion and directional passes (Left to Right & Right to Left).
    • 96000 kHz
    • 24Bit
    • WAV
  • Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects Magic – Alchemy Play Track 4213 sounds included From: $135 From: $108

    SONIC SPELLS WITH REAL PERSONALITY

    MAGIC – ALCHEMY is a professional sound effects library built from real chemical reactions and elemental forces. It delivers short, character-rich magic sound effects perfect for spellcasting, magical UI design, and fantasy storytelling. Designed to sit cleanly in a mix and shimmer with personality, these spell sounds are ideal for games, trailers, audio dramas and more. Real reactions, recorded with obsessive detail.

    MAGIC - ALCHEMY | Sound Effects | Trailer

    Magic Sounds from Real Chemical Reactions

    No digital fakery here. Every sound in MAGIC – ALCHEMY began as a live experiment — alcohol burning in jars, butane growling through pipes, fuses igniting, water swirling in glass. These are true-to-life textures, captured in a lab-grade recording setup. The result? Magical sound with depth, realism, and spark..

    Short, Sharp, and Ready to Use

    These are not long, cinematic flourishes. This library is about immediacy — short, dry, punchy magic effects that are easy to slot into your project. Ideal for game asset design, magical feedback sounds, and trailer moments where clarity counts.

     
     
     

    Three Spell Flavours: Holy, Cursed, Neutral

    Need a healing chime, a cursed hex, or something more ambiguous? The Designed section is grouped into Holy, Cursed, and Neutral categories — giving you emotional options that match your scene’s intent, whether you’re crafting a fantasy RPG or a subtle magical interaction.

    Built for Professionals, Whatever You Create

    Whether you’re layering magic for a fantasy film, adding interactive audio to a mobile game, or creating rich textures for audiobooks or theatre, MAGIC – ALCHEMY fits right in. It’s mix-ready, flexible, and full of sonic character.

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3 thoughts on “Why sound effects are about to change – forever (2020 update):

  1. Well played ;) Had me right up until “If you’re local, I’ll simply set them free and tell them to walk over to your place (they don’t fly)” :D
    That’s two years in a row you have got me now and I feel like a right dunce!

  2. “People who keep a pet generally tend to live longer than those who don’t, so there’s that. They also liven up the place in a way very few sound effects libraries do, and they’re upgradable in a way no sound effects library ever will be.”
    – This was perfect.

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