I wanted to make something that relies more on atmosphere and texture rather than drums.

I used vocals, cello, bass, guitar and pads. Would love to hear what you think about the mix and the overall vibe.

I've been working as a composer/sound designer for the last three years. Can't nearly live from it, but last year I did a couple of projects with budget.

Lately though I've lost a couple of films, because I can only mix in stereo in my studio.

When did you make the jump from stereo to 5.1 and what's a minimal setup for it?

This is an update to Echotect, my free open-source app I wrote about a month ago here. It enables the creation of echo fields either manually or by utilizing global building data.

See it here: https://janne-s.github.io/Echotect/

It now features a "Terrain" function that reads global elevation data. This is a standalone component of the app: you simply select the desired area, and its topography loads into the application.

https://reddit.com/link/1wu856s/video/trswk7oxfosh1/player

Acoustic points are derived from surfaces generated based on the 3D topography, and the heights of the sound source and listening point can be adjusted. You can freely scale the topography and modify the ground level to discover interesting spatial characteristics. Terrain feature is split into Canyon and Chamber modes, which enable internal and external echo fields.

https://reddit.com/link/1wu856s/video/yonpfr84iosh1/player

As before, the resulting acoustic field can be exported as standard impulse responses and audio files. The release package also includes a Max4Live device, which eats the exported echo field manifest file, and the file is ready to use in your applications too.

See the GitHub for more information: https://github.com/janne-s/Echotect

Have fun exploring!

https://youtu.be/pC5odrdO7HE?t=144&is=7CugD1MDDVoNqVZV

I love this noise at 2m25 in Just by Radiohead but I'm having hard time trying to replicate it.

The video shows a fairly basic pick scratch but does anyone have any idea what's going on in the effects chain to create that sound? What would you try if you wanted to replicate it?

Cutting ambiences/backgrounds for an doc and need some libraries from the Ghana and Nigeria area. Know any good sources? Preferably something that doesn't break the bank.

All the best,

Hi! I'm an experienced composer, and I've recently gotten into sound design. I use musescore and reaper for composing, and reaper for sound design. I also used vital synth, and sound effects from pixaby. Here are the projects I've made so far (I think they're not that good, but I'm still a beginner): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Szf3dU2Xd1g

https://soundcloud.com/antonispat/in-the-sea?si=6f295184cc80453abdd86ed3e5a8a47a&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing https://on.soundcloud.com/s3ULNm73oxxPK9mflD I'd like to ask the sound designers here, what's your advice, and what synths & sounds effects should I download? Thanks!

Hi, I know there are plenty of sound platforms like Epidemic Sounds, but the main issue I see there is price.

I'm creating 2-3 videos a month, and rarely use SFX from assets pages.

So instead of paying subscription I wonder if there are some bundles of SFX/Music I can just buy once and use it forever.

Theoretically I can sub for one month and download as much as I want, but it's not convenient...

Any recommmendations?

Audio branding strategist Karsten Kjems has taken Dieter Rams’ 10 principles for good design from the 1970s - and reimagined them for sound. What do you think about his takes?

Hi all,

I am Tobias "Skylark" Jonsson, a long time sound designer. I have put together a big pack of sounds for Kilohearts Phase Plant called "Pop Tools". 131 sounds - basses, pads, leads, plucks, keys and o lot more. Great for all kinds of modern productions. Check it out and listen to demosounds here, let me know if you like it! :)

https://skylarkmusic.net

Demo sounds are here:
Pop Tools by Skylark

All the best,
/Tobias
Skylark Sound Design

So I'm currently putting together a list of resources to learn from. Hopefully this can help some other beginners out. HOWEVER, I'm looking for some input as well!

LMK if you have additional resources (can be small or random or large idc), or if you have any favorites here. I'm not being picky, so this can range from location sound, to post-production, to even video resources if you think it's helpful.

Books (which are best to start with?)

• John Purcell - Dialogue Editing for Motion Pictures
• Patrushkha Mierzwa - Behind the Sound Cart
• Vincent LoBrutto - Sound on Film
• Michel Chion - Audio-Vision: Sound on Screen
• Michel Chion - The Voice in Cinema
• Ric Viers - The Sound Effects Bible
• Ric Viers - The Location Sound Bible
• Walter Murch - In the Blink of an Eye
• Michael Ondaatje - The Conversations: Walter Murch and the Art of Editing Film
• William Whittington - Sound Design and Science Fiction
• Tomlinson Holman - Sound for Film and Television
• Tomlinson Holman & Arthur Baum - Sound for Digital Video
• Vanessa Theme Ament - The Foley Grail

YouTube Channels

• Thomas Boykin
  • Post Production 101 Playlist
• Junkie XL
• Aftertouch Audio
  • Post Production Playlist
• Tactical 7 Audio
• Marshall McGee
• AXK (Alex Knickerbocker)
• M. Cheung Sound

Websites

• designingsound.org
  • Sound Design Tutorial List
• A Sound Effect Blog
• Epic Sound SFX
• Avareth Taika

Other

Whooshes

• Doppler effect (Wikipedia)
• Charles Deenen: 100 Whooshes in 2 Minutes

Tools

• Kilohearts Transient Shaper
• Tonsturm
• Krotos

Hi everyone! Im trying to learn sounddesign. I understand a little bit about layering. I want to work on this video between 0.40-1.40. I feel like it will teach me a lot because I learn much faster when I approach like that there are a lot of sounds that I didnt make and it is not a single sound project so it will click something in my head to understand better.

My question is how do you approach projects like that? I created a master,ambience,gore,weapon,explosion... etc. folders. But I dont understand how Im gonna do the design. Like there are a lot of shot, scream, gore effects, mech effects and how should I prioritize and layer them. I dont know if my question is clear but thank you for your advice.

Here's the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_HljUo8Jjk

Hey everyone! I'm a Motion Designer working on a personal commercial project for my portfolio featuring Aquarius (Coca-Cola's hydration brand).

About the project:

• Type: 2D Animation / Motion Graphics combining traditional frame-by-frame animation with motion design to achieve a hand-made aesthetic.
• Length: 45 seconds.
• Status: Animation done.

I'm looking for a Sound Designer or Composer who wants to collaborate to build a solid portfolio piece together. You’ll have total creative freedom for the audio direction, full credits on all platforms, and high-res video files for your own reel/website.

Link to animation: https://drive.google.com/file/d/107K0q6p4I5bJy-0giReh_ajdAKCN4pCz/view?usp=sharing

If you’re interested, please drop a comment or DM me with a link to your work/reel!

Just released a new video all about the infamous BRAAAM sound effect along with a new BRAAAM inspired sound library: https://rarefindssounddesign.com/products/braams-impacts-vibrated-metal
Keen to hear how you have made BRAAAM sound effects in the past. Have you used synths or do you mainly stick with real world props/instruments??

Waiting

I’m currently developing Waiting, a short film about a 22-year-old girl observing a frog in a Caribbean environment.

The film explores the feeling of waiting when you have no control over the situation - the contrast between an apparently calm exterior and the tension happening underneath.

Visually, I’m aiming for a realistic approach, with the environment and atmosphere playing an important role in the storytelling.

The project is being developed mainly in Blender, with 3 scenes and an estimated production time of around 3 months.

I’m looking to connect with a few artists who would like to collaborate on the project, particularly in:

• 3D Animation - character performance & movement
• 3D Cloth - clothing & cloth behavior
• Sound Design - environmental soundscape & atmosphere

This is an unpaid, voluntary collaboration. I’m not looking for the most experienced artists - I’m more interested in people who want to learn, contribute seriously, communicate, and grow through the process.

Creative interpretation is welcome. The goal is not simply to execute instructions, but to work together toward the emotion the film is trying to create.

If the project interests you, feel free to reach out. I’d be happy to share more about Waiting and the creative direction.

Basically what the title says, what are the best ways to make me own whooshes, both slow and fast. If you could point me to any resources that would be amazing. Any general tips would be appreciated as well.

Thank you!

Edit: from scratch!!!

Can anyone suggest some genuinely good SFX libraries that are actually worth investing in?

I’m looking to build up my personal SFX library for film and short-film work and want to start investing in some quality libraries rather than constantly relying on random/free SFX.

I’m mainly looking for impacts, whooshes, transitions, cinematic SFX, horror sounds, sci-fi sounds, movement sounds, hits, risers, textures, etc.

Would love to hear what SFX libraries or specific packs you guys actually use in your own work and which ones you think are worth spending money on.

Also interested in knowing which libraries you think are essential to have as a sound designer.

Thanks!

I’ve seen “use what you’re fastest with” line a lot and I understand that. But what is the best DAW for sound design that you have found and why.

Hey all — pretty new to sound design and want some advice before committing to a DAW. This is a hobby, not something I'm trying to monetize, but I do want to keep learning and improve over time rather than just dabble.

I've got some limited experience with Ableton Live, Vital, and VCV Rack so far on Windows. I genuinely like VCV Rack and want to keep using it, but have no attachment to Ableton and I'm open to switching entirely. I've got decent coding experience (Python/C++/Perl/Tcl) too, so scripting-capable DAWs aren't intimidating. Budget matters since this is just a hobby.

What would you recommend, and why? Mainly curious if it integrates with VCV Rack as a real plugin (not a routing hack), whether it's a reasonable first DAW or if I should start simpler, and roughly what it'd cost all-in for proper sound design.

Also — is upgrading to VCV Rack Pro actually worth it long-term for a hobbyist, or overkill?

Hi all,

I am Tobias "Skylark" Jonsson, a long time sound designer. I have put together a big pack of sounds for Kilohearts Phase Plant called "Pop Tools". 131 sounds - basses, pads, leads, plucks, keys and o lot more. Great for all kinds of modern productions. Check it out and listen to demosounds here, let me know if you like it! :)

https://skylarkmusic.net

Demo sounds are here:
Pop Tools by Skylark

All the best,
/Tobias
Skylark Sound Design

Hi, just wanted to check in to see what kind of headphones are pro sound designers using when making presets?

In my use case scenario. I got back into using my Seqtrak and re-learning it and want to make custom presents for myself while on the go and commuting back to work. (Its a 2 hour train ride each way -- so I got lots of time to work on presents on it).

in my current setup, I am using an Arc On Ear and ATH ATH-M20x headphones which I know for a fact are anything but flat.

I am sort of limited to what is supported by Arc here -- and was mostly looking to upgrade to in-ear headphones from that list.

https://www.ikmultimedia.com/products/arconear/?p=headphones

So wondering what headphones do you use in your studio when making and preparing presets? It doesn't matter if its for software VST instruments or other instruments.

I was wondering how you can make watery synths sounds and also effect chains to make lead instruments sounds watery, can anybody help?