Sound is an integral part of good moviemaking and an area that is critical for new moviemakers to learn. Good sound will not make a bad movie good, but bad sound will definitely make a good movie bad!  So, listen up and learn about sound – we even have some sample effects you can use for your next film!

9.16.07 - 3 Basic Types of Movie Sound

1. The “one-shot” or “hit” sound- this is a specific sound such as a car horn or the crack of a bat or the sound of a gunshot.
2. The “ambient” sound - this is the sound that is all around us - like birds chirping, traffic or crowd noise at a game.
3. The “Foley” sound- this is a particular sound that you create “in the studio” after you have completed filming.  This sound is used to enhance or add a sound to the film.  This type of sound is named is for sound engineer, Jack Foley.

How to Make 15 Cool Sound Effects

Walking on Grass
Unravel a few audio tapes and step on them to duplicate the sound of walking on grass.

Snow Crunching
Put a handful of cornstarch in a leather pouch and squeeze it, you will hear the sound of snow being crunched beneath feet.

Bones Breaking
Crisp celery broken in front of the microphone will give the "bone-chilling" sound of bones being broken.

Flapping Bird Wings
A pair of gloves swinging back and forth

Whoosh sound
A thin stick or dole, whipped through the air

Creaking sound
An old chair is a controllable way to recreate a creaking sound

Horse Hooves
Cut in half a coconut shell and stuff each side with padding

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Crackling Fire
Cellophane balled up and wrinkled

Punching Sounds
Old telephone books or stuffed cushions hit with a bat

Fence sound
A metal rake scratched across the a concrete surface

Gunshot sound
A empty staple gun creates a crack sound like a gunshot

Boiling Water
Blow slowly through a straw into a glass of water

Crackling Brush
A straw broom tubbed between your hands very close to the microphone

Crashes
Collect as many tins and cans and place them in a large metal tub on dump it out

Electric Spark
Take two blocks of wood and cover them with sandpaper and rub them together in one fast movement

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