Sounds Effect Licensing Issue with Content packs

#1 Now, I speak from 0 experience in audio production, but the way I would get a gunshot sound, or any sound for that matter, is just record something that sounds similar, and tweak it in something like Audacity. Say, for a gun shot, what you could try and do is record, say, a hammer hitting a piece of metal maybe, you might get it to sound something like a gunshot, and maybe audacity, or some other audio editing software will help you make it sound even more. That's just one idea, kind of dumb, even as I sit here reading it back to myself. But hey, it's worth a try...

#2 Well I do have some rifle sounds I recorded down at our local barracks - but as you probably know gunshots in real life just sound like a crack or 'pap' sound. If anyone shows interest I can make available these raw sounds to be tweaked into what ever sound you want. That way people here at GG will at least have somewhere to start with their sound fx for weapons that doesn't breach any copyright laws. Want them?

#3 You have problems with gun sounds, i have problems with catapult sounds, they dont even make those now :(

#4 Well I have made some progress - doing the Ben Burtt thing (star wars guy who made up the laser blast sounds by hitting a wrench against high tension wire).

Below are some technique that can be used to make sound fx for catapults, guns, gore, plasma cannon and enhancing explosions.

Guns
I've been listening to gun shots in movies to figure out how else I can make the sounds and I've come up with this.

The initial "pap" sound is the same as slapping plastic dropsheets with a hammer.
The main blast sound (amplified for movies) is the same as hitting a sheet of tin with a hammer.
The bullet flying through the air (heard initially during the blast) is the same a running your finger nail across a painted concrete wall. The doppler effect works if you mic the wall and run your fingernail up to and away from the mic.

Interestingly with a bit of fx this can also be used to make a jet sound.

Sliding a metal door shut and recording the clank of the latch against the door frame provides the sound of the bolt sliding.

I'm not sure about the bullet casing hitting the ground but I bet something like metal thimble or something of similar weight and shape (hollow casing) dropped on the floor would suffice.

Really it's a process of recreating all the mechanisms involved in the weapon being used and comp'ing them together.

Head shot
Squelch sound below mixed with hammering an orange

Body shot
Hammer an orange and mix it with sound of a mallet on a pillow.

Catapult
So for the catapult it would be the wood sliding or rolling after the initial fling (use a kids trolley and slow it down) - either a ground mounted cat or one on wheels, the sound of the main catapult arm vibrating/wobbling can be done with a wood ruler, flicking it over the edge of a table, then slow it down, bit of rope stretch can be done by gripping and twisting hard foam packaging (I did this for a maritime play) and the whoosh sound of the payload can be done by swishing a stick in front of a mic (flexible stick of wood) with a bit of tweaking and staging the sound should be pretty good.

Explosion
Oh yeah and a tip for explosions - if you are blowing up a car or house or some object with windows or glass, get a plastic bag, put in old light bulbs, and a beer bottle, tie it closed, mic up the floor in the kitchen, stand out the kitchen and lob the plastic bag into the air to land near the mic on the kitchen floor and hope it smashes. Add this to an existing explosion sound to create a really cool effect. Dislaimer - I take no responsibility for people injuring themselves doing this - if you prepare (wear glasses etc) properly you won't hurt yourself and the glass will remain inside the plastic bag TIP - once it's broken pour some on the ground and step on it with shoes on to get your "soldier walking over broken glass sound".

Gore
Everyone knows the neck break sound - bite into an apple, but for squelching guts, cook up some pasta and squelch it around in your hands.

Particle Cannon
Heat up a pan and drop an egg into the pan to get the hiss and fizzle. Turn on a hot tap slightly to get the chamber build-up (you gotta make sure you hear the water 'coarsing' through the pipes (mic up under the sink). Use the jet sound/bullet sound above for the initial blast mixed with sound of putting your fingers together on a table so all the tips touch (kinda like a spider balancing with all it's legs pointed together) then slide your fingers away from mic opening your fingers while still scraping your nails across the table and then slide your fingers closed again while still moving away from the mic. You should do this finger scrape counting "one" "two" "three" - the faster you count (hence opening and closing fingers) the quicker the "vwap" sound will be. Add distortion and a quick flange to this to get the final sound (only the finger scrapes).

#5 I have a bunch of good weapon sounds I recorded last summer and have alot of the sounds that weren't used in game. Let me know if you want any of em. No charge of course.

Sonic
www.sonicvalley.com

#6 I would love to have them, thanks. How about you upload them here for everyone to download, and put up instructions on how you would like to be credited.

#7 Guys,

Seriously ... hook me up.

such a large game, covering sooo much ground any effects would come in handy .... not too mention the fact that like so many others here we dont have anything that resembles a budget :) TGE license broke the bankroll.

The Trusted One

#8 Hey Andy and Michael. You can find them on my site in the downloads page. I usually keep my seconds ( audio that was recorded for a project but never used) on that page for all to use. Aside from the weapons there's a bunch of other stuff from bull dozers working to pitbulls fighting. Hope that helps ya. Cheers.

Sonic
Sonic Valley Productions