Hundreds of street lights are aligned in an unnatural fashion. Asbjoern Andersen

Posted by Asbjoern Andersen in Film sound, Sound community highlights


A short but insightful observation from film sound legend Randy Thom, on why sound matters. This originally appeared on his blog, and has been republished here with his kind permission.
Written by Randy Thom
Please share:

Very often when I’m complaining about the lowly position of sound in the film universe someone will agree by saying something like “Absolutely……. what would they do without sound? Try looking at the movie without any sound and see how you like it… ”

When I hear that sort of comment I always agree, of course, but I also think… Man, the bar is pretty damn low. It’s like saying to a cinematographer “Visuals are important in a film because without visuals you wouldn’t see anything.”

Yes, it’s important to “have sound,” but that is rarely an issue. Even skinflint producers understand the importance of “having sound.” The real question is WHAT sound there will be, and even more important: Will sound ideas and themes be allowed to influence creative decisions in the other crafts as full collaborators?

Certain combinations of sound and visuals can evoke what neither can do alone.

Sound is important because it can tell us about character, place, and time. It’s important because it informs us and moves us in ways visuals can’t, and because certain combinations of sound and visuals can evoke what neither can do alone. It’s also potentially important because it can help to determine what we see. But why be shy?…. Visuals are sometimes important because they help to determine what we HEAR.

 

A big thanks to Randy Thom for letting us share this insightful post from his blog here on A Sound Effect!

 

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:
 
 
  • Game Audio Packs & Bundles Retro 8 Bit Sounds Play Track 1001 sounds included $15

    Retro 8 Bit Sounds is a perfect collection of 1001 retro game sound effects. Whether you are making a 2D platformer, space shooter on any type of retro 8 bit themed project, these sounds will be very useful.

    ALL sounds from Retro 8 Bit Sounds are already included in our complete sound package Pro Sound Collection, so if you need more sounds be sure to check it out before purchasing.

    Add to cart
  • Destruction & Impact Fireworks (KB) Play Track 211 sounds included, 27 mins total $60 $30

    Fireworks frankly are a difficult thing to record due to a mixture of legal restrictions, location, and price. This little collection are all sorts of novelty and aerial fireworks shot in a very remote desert with no birds, bugs, cars or anything of the sort, recorded at 192 with a spaces pair of Sanken CO100k microphones in close proximity for pitch and speed manipulation.

    No microphones were hurt in the making of this library

    50 %
    OFF
    Ends 1566856800
    Add to cart
  • Materials & Texture Explainer Video Sound Kit Play Track 1222 sounds included, 120 mins total $96 $59

    Skip all the hassle and wasted time trying to find the right sounds. Explainer Video Sound Kit has everything you need to create dynamic sound tracks for video ads, commercials, animations, marketing and explainer videos. Importantly, it’s all royalty-free and an unbeatable time saving value.

    As you know, creators of motion graphics, animations and explainer videos struggle mightily with finding the right sound effects for their projects. Sadly, wasting lots of time and energy. That’s why we created the Explainer Video Sound Kit. It’s an all-in-one power pack that gets your project done fast. 1200 designed sounds, cinematic elements, transitions, Foley, natural and organic sounds and a sweet selection of background music all ready to go.

    Instantly take your production to a new level of engaging sound. Create compelling audio/video experiences easier than ever. Save time and level up your audio skills like a pro with the Explainer Video sound library!

    39 %
    OFF
    Add to cart
 
Explore the full, unique collection here
Latest sound effects libraries:
 
  • Whooshes liftFX Play Track 275+ sounds included $89 $71.20

    AWE YOUR AUDIENCE WITH RISERS, BUILD-UPS, DROPS AND MORE.
    Risers, build-ups, drops, breaks, downlifters, swells, sweeps, falls – it has never been so easy to hype your audience. Forget samples, just turn the knob or let liftFX even do that for you, automatically, in beat sync at the length you need it to be.

    KEY FEATURES:

    • Playable in real-time with instant auditive and visual feedback
    • Any length, tempo, pitch range and root note possible
    • Tempo sync or time (s) duration
    • Control key parameters independently or automatically (+ reversed)
    • Automation and modwheel (cc1) support for each parameter
    • 275 nifty presets included
    • Optional time lock and control lock to try different presets with current setting
    • High cut and low cut filters, reverb and delay
    • Lightweight plug-in, as it relies on synthesis
    USE CASES:

    • Build captivating uplifters, downlifters, drops, rhythmic, percussive builds and more effects out of the box
    • Any electronic genre such as EDM, Trap, Dubstep, Pop, Hip Hop, Drum’n’Bass, House, Techno, and more
    • Cinematic and experimental sound design
    • Beef up your synthesizers with tonal layers or harmonic overtones to achieve a fat, rich sound
    • liftFX requires a free iLok account (click to learn more)
    20 %
    OFF
    Ends 1567116000
  • Sci-Fi Sci-Fi Interface Data Processing Sounds Play Track 170 sounds included, 11 mins total $22

    With DATA sound library Sound Response brings you high quality collection of meticulously designed data processing and readout sci-fi sound effects!

    If you’re looking for those futuristic-sounding, hi-tech processing interface sound effects, and the sounds of sci-fi computer readouts, calculations, sensors and scanning sound effects, this soundpack will provide you with diverse arsenal of various high tech data processing sound effects to suit your needs. With DATA sound library at your disposal you’ll have the right audio tool to create that sophisticated, futuristic, sci-fi sound for your game, movie, trailer, video, or any other project that you’re working on!

    DATA soundpack contains 403MB (170 sound effects) of high definition 24bit/96khz Stereo WAV files, embedded with metadata to speed up your workflow.

  •
    Horror Spooky Halloween Audio Bundle Play Track 170 sounds included, 107 mins total $249.99 $199.99

    Scare and Entertain your audience with this hugeDISCOUNTED BUNDLE of cutting edge horror sounds and haunting Halloween music , expertly recorded, designed, composed, mixed, and mastered to immerse your audience in a spooky cinematic experience the likes of which they will never forget! 

    Includes over 50 exceptionally eerie music tracks andhundreds of sound effects, all together coveringnearly 2 hours of highest quality scary audio, inspired by Hollywood Halloween classics such as “Monster House”, “Halloween”, “Goosebumps”, “The Nightmare Before Christmas”, “Corpse Bride”, “Casper”, “Adams Family” and the darkest of Disney fairy-tails including “Hocus Pocus”, “Maleficent”, “Into the Woods”, “The Haunted Mansion”, “Tower of Terror” and many more!

    No matter what you're on working on, whether it's a horror video-game, a creepy cartoon, a spooky app for children, or even a huge Halloween party, this ghostly gathering of ready-to-use sound effects is guaranteed to send a shiver through your project!

    Need to go even darker? You'll love the Gore sounds and Creepy music tracks we've included, such as those you may heard in classic and modern horror such as Resident Evil, SAW, The Blair Witch Project, 28 Days Later, and The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.

    MUSIC: FOREGROUND AND BACKGROUND
    ——————————————————————
    Whether you need to shock your audience with sudden stings, awe them with memorable themes, or introduce some subtle spookiness into your project with unobtrusive background loops, everything you need is here!

    SOUND EFFECTS: EVERYTHING YOU NEED
    ——————————————————————
    Whether you’re looking for creepy CHARACTER VOICES such as GHOSTS, WEREWOLVES, ZOMBIES and SCREAMS, intense ACTION SOUNDS including BUBBLING CAULDRONS, CREAKY DOORS, KNIFE ATTACKS and GORE SPLATTERS, EVIL LAUGHTER or spooky AMBIENCES like HOWLING WINDS, CREEPY CLOCKS and CHURCH BELLS, you're sure to be spooked by the huge range of sounds to be found inside!

    MUSIC: ENDLESS OPTIONS
    —————————————–
    With moods ranging from WHIMSICAL to TERRIFYING, plus MULTIPLE INTENSITY LEVELS, LOOPING and NON-LOOPING versions, and LENGTH VARIANTS, whatever the situation – we've got you covered!

    SOUND EFFECTS: BETTER THAN CANDY
    ————————————————————–
    Immerse yourself in over 500 audio files of expertly designed sounds, supplied in high-quality MP3 + SD and HD WAV formats, meticulously labelled for effortless searching. Each and every audio file in this phantasmal collection has been expertly mixed and mastered to fit into ANY audio environment – just drag, drop, and let the spooky festivities commence!

    MUSIC: WHENEVER, WHEREVER
    ————————————————-
    Each track has been meticulously designed to fit seamlessly into any project, including LIVE EVENTS, CARTOONS/ANIMATIONS, GAMES, APPS, EDUCATION, FILMS, YOUTUBE VIDEOS, HALLOWEEN PARTIES, and more!

    SOUND EFFECTS: STILL HERE? ACCEPT OUR GIFT!
    ——————————————————————————
    With FREE UPDATES, FOREVER! and 35 FREE BONUS SOUNDS from our Best Sellers: Zombie Voices and Blood, Guts & Gore, there’s no better time to scare your audience with this ONE OF A KIND spooky sound pack!

    Hurry! Buy now to prepare the perfect paranormal project in time for next Halloween!

    PERFECT FOR:

    • Video Games
    • Slot Games
    • Film / Animation
    • Ads / Trailers
    • YouTube videos
    • Live Events
    • Sound Design

    …and all other audio-visual productions

    KEY FEATURES: 

    • Huge variety of cutting edge music and sound effects for every spooky scene or situation.
    • Multiple variants and intensities for your convenience and additional edit options (lengths, looping versions and more)
    • Ready to use – requires no editing, labelling or splicing.
    • Categorized, organized and individually labeled files for maximum use efficiency
    • All SFX files are included in Hi-Rez WAV, High-Quality WAV and MP3 formats
    • All music files are included in High-Quality WAV and MP3 formats
    • FREE Updates to higher versions, FOREVER!

    TECHNICAL DETAILS:

    • 510 Sound Effect Files (170 original sounds)
    • 110 Music Files (55 original music tracks)
    • WAV Format: 24 Bit/96 kHz and 16 Bit/44.1 kHz
    • MP3 Format: 320 Kbps
    • Unpacked Size: 1.35 GB
    • Total Run Time: 1h 47m 26s

    INCLUDED PRODUCTS IN THIS BUNDLE:

    • Spooky Halloween Sound Effects Library
    • Spooky Halloween Music Library
    • BONUS #1, Selection from Gore Sounds
    • BONUS #2, Selection from Zombie Voices

    Thank you for your purchase!

    20 %
    OFF
    Ends 1566424800
  • Funny / Comedy / Cartoon Cartoon Monsters Play Track 2131 sounds included, 165 mins total $99.99 $74.99

    Delight your users with your very own collection of funny, cute, and silly creature voices to bring all of your characters to life and keep your audience captivated! From big scary monsters to small loveable creatures, from screams and dying to laughing and crying, common interjections like “yes,” “no,” “what,” and even gibberish in fictional languages, CARTOON MONSTERS is the perfect choice to animate the playfulness of any creature your project will ever need!

    If you’re looking for hilarious vocal sounds for spooky ghosts, cute aliens, adorable zombies and more, look no further than this massive library of over 2,130 original high quality samples to give the silly characters in your project unforgettable charm and zest.

    CONNECT WITH YOUR AUDIENCE

    Top animation studios know that exceptional voice acting is key to building strong emotional bonds between audience and characters. That’s why CARTOON MONSTERS relies on professional voice actors to bring dynamic personality to any character in your project, creating lasting impressions your audience will not forget.

    ANY PERSONALITY AND CHARACTER DESIGN

    Whether you need evil spooky villains or pure of heart angels, strong and dominant leaders or weak and cowardly servants, smart and curious observers or stupid and blundering idiots, CARTOON MONSTERS is packed with personalities of all shapes and sizes, with character designs that include giants, Martians, gremlins, mutants, and many more.

    ENDLESS EMOTIONS AND EXPRESSIONS

    This incredibly rich vocal sound library offers every emotion, whether it’s happy, sad, surprised, scared, or angry, while also providing situations like eating, sleeping, attacking, being hit, or even dying. What’s more, included are pitches ranging from squeaky highs to resonant lows with endless forms of expression, like spoken interjections, roars, cries, laughs, and even burps.

    PERFECT FOR:

    • Video Games
    • Slot Games
    • Film / Animation
    • Ads / Trailers
    • YouTube Videos
    • Live Events
    • Sound Design
    • Music Production

    …and all other audio-visual productions

    KEY FEATURES:

    • Huge variety of grunts, shouts, screams, yells, spoken interjections, roars, cries, laughs, and even burps
    • Ready to use – requires no editing, labelling or splicing. Categorized, organized and individually labeled files for maximum use efficiency
    • FREE BONUS – numerous high-quality voice samples from our Halloween Sound Pack
    • All files are included in Hi-Rez WAV, SD WAV and HQ MP3 formats
    • FREE Updates to higher versions, FOREVER!

    TECHNICAL DETAILS:

    • 6,393 Audio Files (2,131 original sounds)
    • WAV Format: 24 Bit, 96 kHz, 24 Bit, 48 kHz and 16 Bit, 44.1 kHz
    • MP3 Format: 320 Kbps
    • Unpacked Size: 1.56 GB
    • Total Run Time: 2h 45m 29s

    Thank you for your purchase!

    25 %
    OFF
    Ends 1566424800
  • Horror Supernatural Ghosts Play Track 262 sounds included, 62 mins total $40

    Supernatural Ghosts provides the sounds of spirits in multiple variations, allowing you to construct entire horror scenes and suggest ghostly presence. To bring you this horrifying library, we recorded and designed human voices, abstract instruments such as the waterphone, thunder tube, harmonica all in 24Bit 96kHz allowing for further manipulation.

    All of the human voices are provided with dry variations to enable you to apply your own effects to taste.

    Here are the included folders:

    Ghostly Breaths: This folder consists of male and female inhales, exhales and angry breaths all with a cold and ghostly performance.

    Ghostly Voices: A collection of phrases by male and female ghosts, perfect for giving a voice to a supernatural being within your scene.

    Ghostly Presence: This category contains haunting ambiances, sure to leave your audience with their neck hairs standing up.

    Production Elements: piercing risers, booming cinematic impacts, ultrasonic and infrasonic sounds, perfect for accenting your most gruesome moments.

 
FOLLOW OR SUBSCRIBE FOR THE LATEST IN FANTASTIC SOUND:
 
                              
 
GET THE MUCH-LOVED A SOUND EFFECT NEWSLETTER:
 
The A Sound Effect newsletter gets you a wealth of exclusive stories and insights
+ free sounds with every issue:
 
Subscribe here for free SFX with every issue

Leave a Reply

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

HTML tags are not allowed.