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Sound effects


Neil_m_123

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Hi everyone,

 

For a show I'm working on I need to source some sound effects. I've searched google for free sound effects but from the ones I've beeen on they don't have alot or my anti virus doesn't like the file :-/ I did look on here to to see if this topic has been covered but I couldn't find anything. Just wondered if anyone knew of a good website to get some free sound effects

 

Thanks for any help

 

Neil

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Can't say I know of any websites, but a good few years ago now I found a couple of sound effects CDs at my local library - they had everything from air raid sirens to different dog barks, to traffic etc. Might be worth seeing if yours has anything like that, and if it's possible to rip them onto computer.
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I cannot remember whether I posted this last time around but I once bought a series of BBC sound effects on CD and they are lurking amongst my kit somewhere, might be worth a google.

 

Though as Hippy writes the wiki is chock full of alternatives.

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I spent a long while trying to source free sound effects for everything that I worked on. Sometimes it was possible to record or produce stuff myself too.

 

Then I suddenly started asking myself just how long all of this was actually taking, and how much the shows I was using them for were worth to me financially. For a show where the fee is hundreds of pounds, can I really excuse myself from paying a couple of quid for a track somebody's made?

 

Yes, there are some really great free sound websites out there, and I do use them. But, when that elusive free sound effect just can't be found, a couple of quid makes all the difference!

 

Sounddogs has worked well for me in the past, as has freesound.

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My company provides location recording and sound editing services ideal for creating custome sound effects. We also have links with voice artists and foley experts. PM me if you need custom sounds creating that you cannot find. I will charge a very favourable rate for Blue Room members - we've got to look after each other ;)
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My company provides location recording and sound editing services ideal for creating custome sound effects. We also have links with voice artists and foley experts. PM me if you need custom sounds creating that you cannot find. I will charge a very favourable rate for Blue Room members - we've got to look after each other
Thanks for that, I'm only looking for the 'usual' sound effects for this show but I will keep that in mind if I need custom sound effect in the future

 

Freesound and Sounddogs do seem to have quite a good selection but I also found that Amazon have some on there too!

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For free effects, the Freesound project is likely the best, I've had quite a few from them (and put a few of my own up as well).

 

To add one other source to the list, THE SOUND EFFECTS LIBRARY is a British company with a good selection of effects--they include both the BBC library and the Sound Ideas collection which are excellent.

 

However, don't discount doing your own effects. A microphone, sound card and basic recording/editing programme can let you do amazing things and can make the difference between "just right" and an "okay" generic effect. Even on effects I access from CD or the net, I usually customise them in some way--and, frankly, that's the most fun part of the sound designer's job! Consider what you can do by changing levels, duration, pitch, mixing two effects together, etc. etc.!

 

Bob

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However, don't discount doing your own effects. A microphone, sound card and basic recording/editing programme can let you do amazing things and can make the difference between "just right" and an "okay" generic effect. Even on effects I access from CD or the net, I usually customise them in some way--and, frankly, that's the most fun part of the sound designer's job! Consider what you can do by changing levels, duration, pitch, mixing two effects together, etc. etc.!

 

Bob

 

Absolutely! Don't be afraid to edit your own files changing speed, length, ptich, cutting and pasting different chunks of audio, adding other effects. Most sequencing packages come full of daft plugins that you never need for producing a band but work wonders with sound effects.

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However, don't discount doing your own effects.

 

One project that I've just finished included sound effects recorded on an iPhone. Mainly things like a tube train pulling into a station, London buses pulling away, and children playing. While they maybe weren't as refined as effects supplied by a library, they did the job.

 

James.

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Never tried an iPhone but I once made up a cable to plug a decent mic into my wife's cheap digital recorder and it also sounded pretty good. I actually used that for something similar to you...London traffic, buses arriving and leaving, Kings X station ambience, that sort of thing. Believe it or not, it was a rather avant garde production of Oliver!

 

After that I invested in a "Mobile Pre" and use a small laptop for location stuff though.

 

Bob

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Even on effects I access from CD or the net, I usually customise them in some way--and, frankly, that's the most fun part of the sound designer's job! Consider what you can do by changing levels, duration, pitch, mixing two effects together, etc. etc.!

 

Bob

 

I don't think I've ever used a stock effect without changing it in some way, and yes, changing it to exactly what you want is fun, even though you can spend a lot of time doing it.

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Viewing this topic , I had to go and have a look on spottywhatsit , plenty on there and for the broadminded amongst you , some comedy entertainment from the fact that there are a whole load of adult themed ones on there. Maybe not a great idea to have the speakers on at 4-30 in the morning when the missus is sleeping in the next room.
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