The Boom Box Post blog provides insights into the creative sound design process of Boom Box Post's owners and employees.
Viewing entries in
Learn About Sound
It’s been some time since we’ve discussed the art of designing backgrounds here on the blog. Although backgrounds aren’t the sexiest food group in the sound editorial process, they’re absolutely crucial for providing the foundation of storytelling for every scene.
I was recently cutting sound effects on a scene for my apprenticeship project that included a slo-mo sequence. During the spotting session, my supervisor was discussing proven ways to get in and out of slo-mo sequences with different stingers and sub dives as the bread and butter. He referenced this specific sound effect to me and I thought it would be a fun idea to try my hand at recreating it.
What’s that sound? The holidays are right around the corner! Use the provided sound effects along with the rhymes and written clues below to complete this winter holiday crossword puzzle!
As sound professionals, we always have our ears open for interesting sounds. This isn’t limited to just sound effects I can record but also interesting ways sound can interact with the spaces we inhabit. Over the years, if I find myself in an especially interesting space, I’ve made a point of recording myself clapping once, so that I can later farm that sound as an Impulse Response, recreating the space. This practice carries the same nostalgic feelings as my field recordings, but expands the idea to my mixing. I can put any Impulse Response (the clap) through a reverb plugin that will, like magic, recreate that space. You too can be out there capturing wild and interesting spaces for your work!
We recently received a request from one of our readers: “can you show me how to create a fight cloud?” Ask and you shall receive! Here’s how we approached designing the sound of a classic fight cloud!
Picking up where Kate left off back in 2015, I decided to try my hand at crafting a soundtrack that evoked the spirit of slasher movies! Including all the cliche hits like chainsaws, blood curdling screams, jump-scares and spooky forests. Take a listen!
Do you know your sound terminology? Use the clues to test your skills in the crossword below! Type your answer directly into the crossword and it will turn green if correct!
Let's review a classic SFX sequence that occurs in The Loud House and The Casagrandes!
Cold calling a company can be intimidating and daunting. However, as you look for your first job out of school, or a new job, it is often necessary. As the Boom Box Post Office Administrator, I answer all kinds of phone calls and some leave bigger, better impressions than others. I hope to give you some real world advice to help you move your call past the receptionist and onto the next level by leaving a positive impression.
When done right, the music montage is a wonderful thing. The right song or classic bit of score can bring an audience to an entirely new emotional level. If you don’t believe me, go watch the first ten minutes of Pixar’s “Up,” some incredibly devastating filmmaking; a master course in montage.
So how do you approach music montages in your mix? What are some of the basic techniques and rules to follow? Below, I lay out my best practices.
One of my favorite aspects of sound mixing is building up the ambient sound in the universe of each show and sculpting it all together into a cohesive sonic world. Diegetic music is one piece of the soundscape puzzle that is often misunderstood by new editors and mixers. Diegetic means that the element exists within the world of the characters, and is able to be heard or seen by them. This contrasts with the non-diegetic musical score, which exists outside of their world and is not heard by them.
As a re-recording mixer, it’s our job to create the final sound balance for a film or TV project. Here at Boom Box Post, we edit and prep both the dialogue and sound effects. The score however comes directly from the composers. The music has been both organized and mixed but it’s now our job to fit it in to the rest of the soundtrack. That’s where this post comes in. For this Music Mixing Basics posts, I’ll be covering the steps we take to work the score into the final mix.
It’s very rare that a sound editor will cut in a single sound effect to match a visual on screen. Usually, we’re layering multiple effects together to create something new. Why do we do this? Because the result is usually something more rich and interesting than a single effect by itself. But layering can be unnecessary and frustrating for your mixer if you don’t do it with purpose. I’d like to talk about the right and wrong ways to layer sound effects to get the most out of your editorial.
Let’s discuss distinct winter sounds to capture and enhance your sound library!
Over the past few years, Dolby Atmos has become an increasingly common format in the industry. We are starting to see more and more movies, TV shows, and albums released in Atmos. What was once originally reserved for Hollywood blockbusters, has now trickled down to smaller scale productions, animation, and even childrens content. Thanks to advancements in technology, Atmos has grown increasingly accessible. Gone are the days when Atmos was a gimmick that could only be experienced in major theaters. With new affordable products such as soundbars, Atmos has been introduced into households across the world.
Foley is a crucial element in the world of filmmaking and audio production. It refers to the art of creating and recording sound effects to synchronize with the visual elements of a film or other visual media. The history of Foley can be traced back to the early days of cinema, and it has since evolved into a specialized and essential field within the film and television industry.
Before I began learning how to mix professionally, Pro Tools automation was a complete mystery to me. Working in post production often necessitates at least some understanding of automation, and if you’re mixing, you need to be an expert.
At Boom Box Post, we have the opportunity to work on various different types of animation, ranging from children’s animation to adult animation. When it comes to animation, whether it's targeted at children or adults, sound effects have a significant impact on the overall feel and immersion. Sound plays an important factor in bringing animation to life. In this blog post, we'll delve into the fascinating world of sound effects and explore the key differences between those used in children's animation and adult animation.
Jayson Niner recently moved from his position as assistant sound editor to editor here at Boom Box Post. We sat down with Jayson to get his thoughts on his new position, and if he has any advice to offer.
Did you enjoy What’s That Sound part 1, 2, and 3? Let’s see if you can guess what sounds we have come up with this time! Listen carefully!
