Sourcing sound effects.
by Gareth Davies · in Game Design and Creative Issues · 09/26/2001 (6:48 am) · 7 replies
Ok, I kinda fealt sorry for this forum so I thought i'd defile it with my ramblings ;)
I've noticed over the years alot of sound effects seem to be common over various movies etc. Is there some kinda of central sound effect company people license sound effects off, or is it more a case of copyright being weak in these areas (for some reason I think i've read clips shorter than 7 seconds aren't protected?), so people just 'borrow' them.
I've seen hoardes of sound effect cd's, and have a few that has given me a reasonable sound library for background and ambieance etc. But I think we all really want that unique sound effect for our creations. You know along the lines of 'blaster' sound from star wars, which is instantly recognisable. I believe this was the sound of twanging wires in the wind with the sample rate changed...
I'm just wondering if there was a more standard way of collecting sound effects, or am I left to my own intuition (in which case i'm f'ed ;).
I've noticed over the years alot of sound effects seem to be common over various movies etc. Is there some kinda of central sound effect company people license sound effects off, or is it more a case of copyright being weak in these areas (for some reason I think i've read clips shorter than 7 seconds aren't protected?), so people just 'borrow' them.
I've seen hoardes of sound effect cd's, and have a few that has given me a reasonable sound library for background and ambieance etc. But I think we all really want that unique sound effect for our creations. You know along the lines of 'blaster' sound from star wars, which is instantly recognisable. I believe this was the sound of twanging wires in the wind with the sample rate changed...
I'm just wondering if there was a more standard way of collecting sound effects, or am I left to my own intuition (in which case i'm f'ed ;).
About the author
Professional Procrastinator. Currently playing around with cloud based MMO systems (specifically Scala on Google App Engine) Meh, i'll finish this later.
#2
Ok.. noone wanted to know that.. :)
Phil
09/26/2001 (9:54 am)
I once heard Eddie Van Halen produce an elephant sound out of his guitar :)Ok.. noone wanted to know that.. :)
Phil
#3
So far, our sound guy has used simple things like the humming sound of an A/C unit, greatly distorted and flanged hums, and BB gun reloading/firing. You'd be surprised how far a little tweaking with ordinary every day sounds can get you.
09/26/2001 (10:54 am)
Lots of sound effects are made from really weird things...I remember some sort of program that showed Simpsons sound effects being made by breaking celery in two, and squashing a watermelon and such.So far, our sound guy has used simple things like the humming sound of an A/C unit, greatly distorted and flanged hums, and BB gun reloading/firing. You'd be surprised how far a little tweaking with ordinary every day sounds can get you.
#4
and dark vader was in fact a mic droped into the airducts in the film studio.
of course no one cares but i thought i would mention it anyway :-)
04/23/2002 (9:46 pm)
the 'blaster' sound from star wars, was acctully a re-bar ( like used in concreate ) tapped on the steel cable that you see bracing telephone poles .... try it sometimes .. it's defenitly somthing no one can miss :-)and dark vader was in fact a mic droped into the airducts in the film studio.
of course no one cares but i thought i would mention it anyway :-)
#5
Best sample i've found so far was when the local car body shop started up their kiln to bake a cars paint. Sounds like an enormous plane / starship powering up some serious engines... Spot on.
Most amusing one was when I was trying to get the squelching sound of paint rollers as my parents were redecorating (since more the better right?) when my father slipped off the ladder thing and his foot landed in the paint. Surfice to say he didn't say 'oh dear' :)
04/24/2002 (8:42 am)
I've become really sad (well in a different fashion) recently and have been trying my best to have my MP3 player (and more importantly recorder) with me as much as possible.Best sample i've found so far was when the local car body shop started up their kiln to bake a cars paint. Sounds like an enormous plane / starship powering up some serious engines... Spot on.
Most amusing one was when I was trying to get the squelching sound of paint rollers as my parents were redecorating (since more the better right?) when my father slipped off the ladder thing and his foot landed in the paint. Surfice to say he didn't say 'oh dear' :)
#6
It would be awesome if the community started creating sound packs that can get game developers started. Sell these for a minimum price and soon you have a nice little side business.
Jeff Tunnell GG
04/24/2002 (10:02 am)
Many sfx specialists have purchased a set of CD's with thousands of categorized sounds. Don't quote me, but I believe the cost is somewhere around $3,000 for "buy out" rights. They use these sounds as a starting point to add effects, slow down, speed up, combine, etc. to create unique sfx.It would be awesome if the community started creating sound packs that can get game developers started. Sell these for a minimum price and soon you have a nice little side business.
Jeff Tunnell GG
Adam Budda
(Did you know that the scream of a TIE Fighter as it flew by was the trumpet of an elephant resampled?)