Sound Effects - The Art of Noise

What to use and how to make a racket

Sound Advice from Tony Palermo

• SFX Primer - From whisper to a scream
• SFX How To - A catalog of "how to" make sounds
• Basic SFX Kit - A detailed description of what to get/make
• Building SFX - How to build several important sound effects devices
• SFX photos - Photos of vintage and new Sound Effects
• Sound Effects RIgs for Radio-On-Stage Shows - How I set up my rig for professional work
• The RuyaSonic.com Depot - Devices I make and sell
• Sparx Programs - about my assembly programs teaching sonic storytelling

Commentary and tributes

• Using Walla Walla Crowd Sounds in Radio Drama - theory and practice for this important sound effect.
• Cliff Thorsness - Sound Effects Great - an appreciation of my mentor--a CBS sound man from the golden age.
• Zounds! What Sounds! - My "How To SFX" columns from the National Audio Theater Festival magazine
  • Using Expression When Playing Sound Effects
  • Over-Reliance On Sound Effects
  • Using Manual Sound Effects Instead of Samples
  • Controlling Sampled Sound Effects
  • A Basic Manual Sound Effects Kit
  • Creating Authentic Telephone Sound Effects   ALSO: Getting Authentic Telephone Voice Sounds
  • The Visual Side of Sound Effects
  • Working with Difficult Directors
  • Pre-recorded Sound Effects Playback Devices
    

Other Sound Effects resources

• The Art of Foley - the term for manual sound effects used in films.
• Old Time Radio Sound Effects
• Crazy Dog Audio Theater's SFX page --with photos and explanations!
• The Prairie Home Companion show's Tom Keith
• Radio Show sound effects page - Jerry Stearns' tips about the use of sound effects in the creation of radio theater
• CBC Radio Drama Studio Canadian Broadcast Company site with pictures of SFX devices and sounds.
• Audio Theater - Sound Effects info - Henry Howard's great links page and photos.
• Digital Playroom - Jay Rose's website has SFX and engineering info. Check out Jay's books too.
• Live Sound Effects - A short list of instructions for making sounds.
• Audio Browser - Sound Effects - an online source of sound effects.
• Partners in Rhyme - an online sound effects and music library
• Film Sound Design - Sven E Carlsson's online course in sound theory, much of which also applies to radio.
• Google SFX listings - a search page with links to music and SFX samples--many are free.
   

Sound Effects available on-line
Please note that many SFX demos sound terrible because of low bandwidth rates. Try a few SFX before making any big purchases.

• Ljudo.com -  free access to more than 1200 sound effects
• SoundFX.com  - "The largest collection of Sound FX on the Planet" -- with free ones too.
• Soundeffects.com  - "The #1 Sound Effects" store on-line" -- also with free sounds.
• Sounddogs  -  "235,000 sound effects and production music tracks online, immediately available in Mp3, WAV, and AIFF. Since 1997."
• The Recordist - "The place for incredible sound effects".
• F7 Sound and Vision - "Sound effects that scream"
• Sound Ideas - "The world's largest publisher of professional sound effects"
• Sounds Online- Hundreds of SFX for $1.00 each--just download.
                                                                                                                                        
• Sound Artists -- Producer Joan Schuman's article on artists using sound (not just sound effects).
• Sound Art Links -- The Transom website offers links to innovate sound artists works.

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TONY PALERMO is an audio theatre producer, performer, and educator living in Los Angeles, California.
He performs professionally, conducts workshops, and produces programs for hire.

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Last modified: 07/16/08