Asbjoern Andersen


With the 2018 football/soccer World Cup beginning today - and with 3.2 billion people (!) tuning in for the last one - let's explore the talent, effort and creativity that goes into making sports sound great.

For starters, two classics from Vox and 99% Invisible give you the story on why sports sound better in the living room, and on how sports sound is designed.

You'll also get the inside-story behind the sound for legendary game franchises such as FIFA and Madden NFL, the science behind stadium sound, the sound of tennis, basketball, boxing, hockey, skiing, UFC and American Football + an interview with the Patrick Baltzell, responsible for the sound of the past 19 Super Bowls. And finally, discover the most popular sound effects libraries when it comes to sports.


Please share:
Why sports sound better in the living room:

 
“We don’t often think about audio when we watch sports on TV, but it’s a huge part of the experience. We spoke with several A1 audio engineers who mix the sounds of sports to learn more about what it takes to capture the crack of the bat and the swish of the net.

From the cadence of the quarterback to the sounds of skates on ice, audio mixers are tasked with getting microphones close enough to the action to gather the sounds but still out of the way of the players and the fans.

Once the microphones are set up, they handle the stressful task of live mixing all the audio for the broadcast, so that we can hear the announcers and the sounds of the game, despite thousands of screaming fans and the PA system blaring music.

In the end, if they do the job right, you’ll forget they exist.”

Watch the video:



Why sports sound better in your living room


99% invisible: The sound of sports:

 

“The experience of “live” events can be highly produced, very different from the experience of being there. Is this enhanced sound so very different from that of a film or a video game? We meet a Hollywood sound effects specialist and a video game sound designer to find out what they do to create a sense of authenticity and excitement. Are they raising our expectations of how “real” sport should sound?”

Hear the podcast:


Bonus videos – NFL recording, football reactions, bare-knuckle boxing + the sounds of Wimbledon recreated:

 

Recording the sounds for Madden NFL 17:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iUzixas2KG0
Go behind the scenes as the Solid Audioworks team shares the sound story behind Madden NFL 17 (from the Madden NFL 18 Longshot sound story)
 


 

What it sounds like when Brazil scores in the World Cup:

Sports aren’t just loud in the stadium. Here’s what it sounded like when Claus Wahlers captured the neighborhood reactions to a football/soccer game between Brazil and Croatia in Moema, São Paulo:



This is how my neighborhood sounds when Brazil scores in the World Cup


 


 

Designing the sounds of bare-knuckle boxing:

Need the sound of an UFC-style bare-knuckle boxing fight? This layer-by-layer feature on the punch sounds from Fight Club might give you some sonic inspiration:



Punch sound design from Fight Club explained by Ren Klyce


 


 

Recreating the sounds of Wimbledon – with Lou Brown and Rick Blything:

What does Wimbledon sound like? For this great initiative, Foley artist Louise Brown and sound designer Rick Blything worked with a group of young people from Wandsworth Vision Support Service to recreate the sounds of Wimbledon:
https://vimeo.com/132304781

Popular sports sound effects libraries:

 

  • Want the sound of soccer (or football, if you like)? This library delivers a wide range of soccer sounds, including various kicks and ball impact sounds.

    It also packs keep-up, knee, chest and header sounds + ball impacts on various surfaces / items. And finally, soccer boot footsteps, keeper sounds and ref whistles are also included.

  • G4F SFX03 – Small Crowds Outdoor is a sound effects library dedicated to outdoor voice samples, recorded with small audiences (from solos to 15 actors).

    If you are looking for outdoor crowds with a sizable audience, then this library will definitely help.

    Nb Files: 621 wavs (207 files with 3 different mic placements and setups : MS near, MS far, ORTF rear) which bring a total flexibility to the sound editor for a final mixdown in stereo, quad, 5.1 etc…

    Nb SFX: 1947 (649 SFX in 3 placements each)

    Size: 4,38Go (zip archive of 2,90Go)

    UCS Naming and Classification

  • Environments & Ambiences The Football Match Play Track 14+ sounds included, 13 mins total $30

    Get the real sounds of a UK football / soccer match – including crowd reactions covering everything from applause, cheering, booing, chanting, groans, oohs!, misses, goals and more. If you're after real stadium crowd reactions, this one delivers.

  • Environments & Ambiences Sports Crowd Cheer! Play Track 41 sounds included, 15 mins total $14.95

    Welcome sports fans to Sports Crowd Cheer sound library.

    Be in the crowd up close with this mini-pack of over 40 crowd reactions including cheers, boos, your ups, your downs, down to the buzzer, score and more!  Short crowd bursts to longer reactions with sirens and horns.  With sounds from the arena, ballpark, stadium, and court, it’s a score from Carma Studio!

  • Sports Sound Effects Large Crowd Reactions Play Track 81+ sounds included, 53 mins total $75

    Sometimes emotion comes when you feel together as one. This is happening in stadiums, arenas, demonstrations when people are as one voice. This collection gets you the power of the crowd. People will go through various feelings, sometimes silent or very noisy, you will be able to cover a lot of situations with it. Moreover ambisonic format-B 3D recordings are great to enhance those kind of situations.

    About Ambisonics:
    This is an Ambisonics sound effects library - and by using the free SoundField SurroundZone 2 plugin you can convert the B-format files into your preferred format (stereo, 5.0, 5.1, 6.0, 6.1, 7.0 or 7.1 surround). Note: The library also contains ready-made stereo mixdowns for your convenience.
  • Environments & Ambiences Soccer Stadium Ambience Play Track 123 sounds included, 170 mins total $20

    Recorded throughout 3 seasons, during the course of more than 10 matches on Sport Lisboa & Benfica’s beautiful Estádio da Luz, Soccer Stadium Ambience gathers a wide range of crowd reactions and emotions; useful for background ambiences that can be applied not only on audiovisual football content but also on other large stadium sports-based projects.

    All prominent dialogue between supporters was either removed or toned down with the aid of mastering and EQing software, in order to preserve the neutral nature of this library, allowing certain crowd reactions to flow naturally. There are also no long fade-ins our fade-outs, permitting whoever acquires this library to create their own edits and collages however deemed necessary. Some very light wind and noise removal techniques were applied on certain audio files, without impairing the original mood presented by the crowd.

    Between long takes of supporters singing, booing, celebrating goals, reacting to good team moves and bad referee decisions, this nearly 3 hour long library recorded in an always packed location will provide the necessary emotional crowd feedback to your sports-based projects.

  • Basketball Game Ultra is a huge sound effects library for, well, basketball. It includes both an international match field recording (with over 5,000 people attending the game) and isolated sounds of backboard hoops, basket swish nets, metal bars, shoe squeaks and dribbles on various hard surfaces, as well as other related sounds – all performed by a professional basketball player in indoor and outdoor courts as well as inside the studio.

    Οur aim with this collection is to give you choices to:

    • Create realistic soundscapes of world class basketball games or other sports events
    • Design from scratch your own unique sound frames
    • Foley the character in your audiovisual production
  • In collaboration with with Supervising Sound Effect Editor/Designer Enos Desjardins (Close, Black Mirror, Trust) If a Tree Falls presents “Boxing Gym”

    For our Boxing Gym library we visited three different gyms around the UK. Two in London and a children’s gym in Newcastle and present a wide range of sounds to enhance your library.

    We captured a variety of punches at various strengths, multiple perspectives and on different equipment; punch bags, pads, punch ball and speed ball, featuring single hits and combinations of impacts.

    Additionally, we recorded body falls in the ring, corner pads and ropes. Footwork in the ring with; steps, scrapes and shuffles.

    Plus ambience recordings of both adult and kids training sessions incorporating sparring, shadow boxing, fitness training, press-ups, sit-ups, skipping.

    All of our sounds have been recorded in high-quality 24bit, 96kHz using Sound Devices recorders and Sennheiser, Schoeps and Line Audio microphones. Each file has been tagged with detailed Soundminer metadata to speed up workflow and increase organisation.

  • Every sound you will need for a nice day at the links! This hole-in-one sound library contains 218 unique golf specific sounds!

    You will find golf club swings, hits, misses, from all different clubs and ranging from the fairway to the deep rough, golf cart engine driving, hazards like water, sand pit trap, trees, throwing clubs, selecting clubs, washing ball, raking sand, ambience, sinking the putt, flag pin and more!

    Music is only heard in the demo. Downloads are high resolution and without background music.

  • Sports Sound Effects Italian Sports Play Track 243 sounds included, 77 mins total $32

    This is a collection of authentic sounds from sporting events, captured in Italy.

    The Italian Sports library comes with everything from soccer crowd chanting, singing, cheering, booing and whistling.
    Also includes recordings of professional and amateur soccer matches on grass and concrete + more.

    60 sound files (23 minutes total) are included in the pack so you can build an authentic soundscape of a sporting event.

    Each sound file has been carefully named and tagged for easy search in Soundminer and is Universal Category System (UCS) compliant.

    (see the full track list below).

    Just updated:
    An additional 183 files (54 minutes) have been added to the pack, featuring soccer, boxing, skiing, horse racing, and tennis sound effects and ambiences
    Various soccer kicks and ball impacts, footsteps and movements on grass and keeper sounds are also included.

 

Latest sports releases:

 

  • Welcome to SPORTS 02, the eagerly anticipated sequel that invites you to dive deeper into the exhilarating world of athletics. From the precision of archery to the fast-paced action of basketball and the strategic finesse of billiards, this collection offers a diverse range of sporting experiences. Lace up your inline skates or grab your skateboard for some adrenaline-fueled excitement, or hit the court for a thrilling game of tennis or table tennis. Whether you’re gliding across the ice in a game of ice hockey or battling it out in the water polo arena, SPORTS 2 has something for every sports enthusiast, delivering the excitement and intensity of athletic competition straight to your ears.

  • Gym Machines Sound Library – Extensive Collection of Fitness Equipment Recordings

    Whether you need metal impacts, heavy machinery sounds, or layered textures for sound design, this library offers an unparalleled selection of gym machine recordings to enhance your projects.

    All recordings were captured at 192kHz / 32-bit, allowing close-up recording without distortion and preserving ultrasonic frequencies for advanced sound manipulation.

    Extensive Machine Collection
    – Back Machine
    – Bench Press Bar Set
    – Cable Crossover Machine
    – Chest Press Machine
    – Multi Power Machine
    – Pec Deck
    – Pulldown Machine and more

    Flexible & Organized for Sound Designers
    – Each recording is available in separate microphone takes, giving you control over the tone and texture of each sound.
    – Files are intuitively named for seamless navigation and layering.
    Some recordings retain their natural reverb, providing versatility for different applications.

  • Pickleball! The sport sweeping the world. All the sounds you could possibly want. Indoor and outdoor matches, tournaments, volleys, serves, bounces, walla and crowd reactions. All ready to be placed in your project!

     

    Included Recordings:

     

    • Outdoor mens and womens tournaments
    • Volleys
    • Light walla
    • Crowd reactions
    • Bounces
    • Serves
    • Indoor Doubles Match
  • Step into the heart of Bulgaria’s Borovets Ski Resort with a sound library that transports you to a snowy paradise teeming with life and adventure. As you arrive in Borovets, the energy builds with the mechanical whir of chairlifts, the crunch of snow underfoot, and the lively buzz of skiers and snowboarders carving their way through powdery slopes.

    Feel the pulse of the resort as visitors enjoy slopes, and the air fills with the harmonious blend of nature and lift machinery. The bustling heart of Borovets comes alive in this collection, from the lively village streets lined with rental shops and retail stores to the unique charm of a horse-drawn carriage jingling its way past. Each sound captures the essence of winter wonder, from the serene moments of skiers gliding down quiet pistes to the lively gates of the Sitnyakovo lift, where eager adventurers prepare for their next run.

    The journey doesn’t end there. Drift into the softer, tranquil sounds of a snowy forest, or find yourself amidst the quiet elegance of a mountain chalet. This library is perfect for film, games, or any creative project, this sound library offers an immersive escape into the magic and energy of a ski resort.

  • THE LEGACY OF BLACKTONE STUDIO

    Blacktone Studio is a boutique post-production studio and a leader in sound design for film and television, with a track record of over ten years dedicated to creating soundscapes that enrich the narrative of the stories we work on.

    Based in Madrid, our studio features advanced facilities, including a Dolby Atmos mixing stage equipped for cutting-edge post-production, designed to deliver the highest quality in every project. From our earliest productions to our work on major international films and series, our passion for sound, pursuit of technical perfection, and commitment to storytelling have established us as one of the most prominent studios in the industry.

    “Blacktone Studio Master Collection Vol. 1” marks this decade of excellence in sound design and field recording by the Blacktone team, representing our sonic legacy—a collection that encapsulates the essence of our work over the years. This generalist library, with over 250 GB and more than 5,000 high-quality files, offers an immense variety of sounds, organized into more than 300 categories and subcategories under the international UCS classification system. Each file is meticulously cataloged and includes metadata in both English and Spanish, optimized for seamless integration into international projects and aligned with industry standards.

    For the release of this library, Blacktone Studio has partnered with Surround Sound Lab, our label specializing in field recordings and sound library distribution, to ensure that every file is fully prepared for professional use. With over 50 sound libraries already in its catalog, Surround Sound Lab brings not only experience in editing, mastering, and distribution but also a shared commitment to quality and innovation. This collaboration allows the “Blacktone Studio Master Collection Vol. 1” to reach the market through Surround Sound Lab’s infrastructure, offering professionals a unique, trusted tool used daily in our own studio.

    This collection is a unique and special collaboration, created specifically to capture and share the essence and legacy of our sonic work over the past ten years.

    Although it is not part of the “SSL Complete Collection” bundle, which includes the full catalog of SSL series libraries, current bundle users will receive access to this exclusive edition at a special price as a token of our appreciation for their continued support.

    “Blacktone Studio Master Collection Vol. 1” is a sonic celebration combining the best of Blacktone Studio with Surround Sound Lab’s expertise in distribution, available to those seeking quality and authenticity in their sound design.

    KEY FEATURES:

    • 🎚️ Extensive Collection: Over 250 GB of high-quality sounds, carefully selected and optimized for professional use.
    • 📂 Unmatched Variety: More than 5,000 files organized into over 300 categories and subcategories, following the UCS classification system for efficient navigation and searchability.
    • 🎙️ Crafted by Professionals: Each sound was captured and produced by Álvaro de Iscar, Barto Alcaine, and the Blacktone Studio sound team, ensuring top-notch quality and authenticity.
    • 🔊 Diverse Formats: The collection includes recordings in Mono, Stereo, Ambisonic, and 5.1, with formats chosen according to the needs and intended use of each recording, ensuring versatility across different project types.
    • 🗂️ Comprehensive Metadata in Soundminer: Files include detailed metadata in both English and Spanish, adapted for Soundminer and optimized for seamless integration into international projects.
    • ⚡ Fast and Easy Distribution: Available for download via Pulse, providing a smooth and speedy download experience for large files.
    • 🏆 Legacy of Blacktone Studio: This collection encapsulates 10 years of excellence in sound design and field recording, making it an essential tool for discerning creators.

     

View more sports SFX libraries


 

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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:

  • Tired of those same old door knobs and hinge squeaks that you hear in every single game, film and TV show? Well, Gateway aims to remedy that issue while providing you with a brand new palette of sounds.

    Gateway comes packed with doors, doors and more doors! Low end, high end, slow horror creaks and squeaks, huge slams and impacts, tiny compartment doors.

    The Gateway family now includes the just-released Gateway Part 3, with more than 1400 new sounds.

    Doors, gates, overhead rollups, cabinets, closets, drawers, garage doors, fireplaces, sheds, you name it!

    Latches and knobs, wrought iron and chain link! Metal, wood, glass and MORE! All of these doors were acoustically captured in the real world. You won’t find anything synthesized here!

    Did we mention doors? Yeah, Gateway has those too.

    Gateway Part 1 features 675 files, 1200+ sounds

    Gateway Part 2 features 365 files, 600+ sounds

    Gateway Part 3 features 772 files, 1400+ sounds

    The Gateway 1-3 Bundle features 1812 files, 3200+ sounds

    Special offer:Do you already have Gateway Part 1 or 2? Send a message here for a special upgrade offer for part 3.

    Choose your preferred version below – or land some great savings by getting all three in one handy package!

  • Foley Sound Effects World of Secrets Play Track 149-1718+ sounds included From: $50

    World Of Secrets is a collection inspired by those mysterious and beautiful objects and furniture, meticulously designed by 15th to 19th century’s craftsmen. Those geniuses used their art to protect what had to remain confidential or secret.

    One of the mentors of that art was Leonardo Da Vinci, master of inventions, designing incredible mechanisms for his machines. After much research, and a large photo review session, Red Libraries has designed this collection of modules to assemble as you wish.
    A bookcase, a desk, a sarcophagus, a hidden door, a statuette, a cane with a retractable blade, a poison ring, an old grimoire.. each of them will reveal its secret mechanism, from the delicate parts assembled by the jeweler, to the smooth slides of hinges designed by the cabinetmaker.

    Three versions are available
    + a complete bundle:

    Objects and furnitures designed: Features the designed sounds of furniture and objects – many hiding secret features and functions – such as:
    A Bookcase, Cabinet, Case, Chair, Chest, Coffer, Cupboard, Desk, Enigma Decoding Machine, Safe, Secret keys and locks, Statue, Sarcophagus, Telescopic Cane, Water Lock – and a number of wooden and metallic mechanisms


    Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 149 .WAV, stereo and mono files (243 MB)

    Objects toolbox: A wide range of elements to create your own objects, mechanisms, or secret furniture ; we’re offering toolboxes which leave you infinite possibilities of combinations, from the more simple towards the more complex, wherever your imagination leads you.


    Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 488 .WAV, stereo and mono files (494 MB)

    Furniture Toolbox: Sound design elements for you to design your own intricate furniture – features mechanical, wooden and delicate sounds for you to unleash your creativity on.


    Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 1081 .WAV, stereo and mono files (2.4 GB)

    Complete bundle: Features everything above, for a fantastic selection of interesting sounds, at a great price.


    Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 1718 .WAV, stereo and mono files (3.47 GB)

  • Get a huge variety of simple or complex lockdown mechanism sounds with a wide array of different latches and impacts with Lockdown, a performable Kontakt instrument and sound effects library.

    We brought in dozens of props big and small to generate a massive array of source material recorded at 24 bit 192kHz. These included cameras, carabiners, wrenches, rack cases, knives, can openers, tongs, crimpers, solder suckers, file cabinet doors, vehicle doors and servos and much more – all with multiple unique performances per set.

    Great care was taken to record each performance with the highest sonic quality and detail. We chose a pair of MKH50s in XY as our primary setup, creating a big, clean stereo image on every sound.

    Lockdown is divided into two parts –
    elements and designed:

    The elements collection has all of the source recordings in their unaltered states. Each sound is edited, cleaned, volume matched and carefully metadata tagged.


    The designed collection uses samples based on the elements recordings that have been transformed into entirely new and different sounds using heavy processing and layering. It was created to produce interesting design and transition sounds quickly and easily. Lockdown includes over 500 fully lockdowns of all sizes and scales.

    Lockdown highlights

    • more than 1700 elements files
    • 192 kHz source recordings
    • 500 heavily designed sounds
    • 96kHz designed collection
    • 2 full kontakt instruments (full version of Kontakt 5.5 required)
    • soundminer and bwav metadata

    Note: Can be used without Kontakt too!
    All Kontakt instrument libraries include fully unlocked and accessible metadata tagged .wav files. You don't need any version of Kontakt to use these files as a standalone sample library.
Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • Enhance your projects with our 196 Carefully Recorded and Designed Fabric Sound Effects. This diverse collection of high-quality fabric sounds is perfect for adding realism and dynamic movement to your characters and environments. From the rustling of clothing to the swishing of fabrics in motion, each sound has been meticulously recorded and designed to bring your scenes to life. Ideal for game developers, filmmakers, and sound designers, these fabric sound effects will add depth and authenticity to every wardrobe, interaction, and environmental detail. Whether you’re working on character animations, environmental design, or immersive storytelling, these sounds provide the perfect touch to elevate your work.

    Features:

    •  Body Armor Mesh – 70 SFX
    •  Clothing / Textile Drops – 61 SFX
    •  Fabrics – 57 SFX
    • Zips – 8 SFX
  • City Life Sound Effects City & Suburbs Ambiences Play Track 135+ sounds included, 340 mins total $22

    City ambiences, downtown ambiences, suburbs, residential area, harbor, industrial area.. traffic, people in background, urban birds, nocturnal-quiet ambiences etc.

    Check the sound list for additional info.
    High quality recordings recorded in MS, XY, AB; NOS, etc., mostly with Sennheiser MKH microphones and Sound Devices recorder/mixer. Files are without any dynamic manipulation (compression) with max. peak around -5dBFS.
    19 %
    OFF
  • Bird Sound Effects Birds Ambiences Play Track 7 sounds included, 22 mins total $8

    Immerse yourself in the serene and captivating sounds of nature with Birds in Various Ambiences – Field Recordings Collection. This compilation features a rich assortment of bird sounds captured in diverse environments.

    Each recording transports you to a different setting, featuring a wide array of bird species communicating in their natural habitats.

    Perfect for sound designers, filmmakers, meditation enthusiasts, or anyone seeking to enhance their space with natural ambiance, this collection offers a diverse range of audio clips for relaxation, creativity, and inspiration.

    Whether you’re creating a calming atmosphere, enriching your audio projects, or simply appreciating the beauty of birdsong, this collection brings the natural world to your ears with unmatched authenticity.

  • Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects BIAS Play Track 70 sounds included, 11 mins total $15

    Unleash sonic chaos and chilling unease with BIAS, a collection of 70 sound effects of pure cacophony and dissonance (24 Bit / 48 kHz, wav, UCS).

    Dive into a world of cacophony: hear the anguish of tortured laments and the bewildering clash of instruments colliding in discordant harmony.

    Venture into the realm of dissonance: encounter the haunting movements of rare, detuned pianos, the nerve-jangling friction of intense violin interactions, and unsettling textures that weave a palpable sense of dread.

    Although it is a simple and small library, BIAS is not for the faint of heart. Is aimed to the sound designer, trailer composer, and artist seeking to evoke unease, tension, and the beautifully broken.

    40 %
    OFF
  • Suburbs Of Denver: Evening is the second in the Suburbs of Denver Series. Recorded on the same balcony as the first pack, but this time, between the Evening hours of 7:15pm to 9:53pm. Around 2 and half hours packed into 14 audios files. Similar to the first pack, you’ll hear loud cars, motorcycles, airplanes, sporadic bird chirps, and more! All metadata is tagged using the Universal Category System in Soundminer, and also searchable in Basehead, and Soundly. Recorded at 32 bit, 192 using the LOM MikroUsi Pro into a Zoom F3 Recorder.


   

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