Expert info on the art and science of sound effects, live and recorded.

Sound Effects - The Art of Noise

Tony Palermo's Sound Effects Closet

What to use and how to make a racket

Sound Advice from Tony Palermo

Sound Effects Primer - SFX, from whisper to a scream
Sound Effects How To - A catalog of "how to" make sounds
Basic Sound Effects Kit - A detailed description of what to get/make
Building Sound Effects - How to build several important sound effects devices
Sound Effects 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

Tony's 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 Theatre Festival magazine

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
The Art of Sound Effects by Ray Brunelle
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.
Audio Solutions - Jay Rose's valuable sound columns from the Digital Video magazine website
NOTE: You'll need to register to view Jay's pages, but it's free.
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.