Last updated: July 18, 2023

Sound Effects - especially for Radio Plays

by Tony Palermo, professional radio sound effects artist

Tony's SFX rig for 'The Gorilla Radio Hour', which starred Steve Carell, Jason Alexander and Garry Marshall
 

Check out Tony's RuyaSonic Radio Plays - All scripts come with with how-to detailed "SFX Cookbooks"

Tutorials on Radio Sound Effects by Tony Palermo

•  Radio Sound Effects Primer - SFX, from whisper to a scream

•  Catalog listing of Manual Sound Effects Catalog - A catalog of "how to" make sounds

•  Basic Radio Play Sound Effects Kit - A detailed description of what to get/make

•  Building Mechanical Sound Effects Devices - How to build several important sound effects devices

•  Tony's Sound Effects Table for Radio-On-Stage Shows - How I set up my SFX table for professional work

•  The Sound Truck - Radio Sound Effects Playback Rig - a work-in-progress page showcasing SFX and music playback rigs

•  Tony's 'Sparx Sound Effects Spectacular!' Programs - about my assembly programs teaching sonic storytelling

Articles on Radio Sound Effects by Tony Palermo

• 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 of radio drama.

• Zounds! What Sounds! - My "How To SFX" columns from the National Audio Theatre 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

• Partners in Rhyme - an online sound effects and music library

• Vintage Percussion instruments used for accompanying silent films.

Pre-recorded sound effects tracks available on-line

Please note that many SFX track demos sound terrible because of low-sample rates. I suggest you buy a few, select SFX tracks before making any big purchases.

• Sounddogs "Over One Million" sound effects and production music tracks online. Since 1997."

• The Recordist - "The place for incredible sound effects".

• Sound Ideas - "The world's largest publisher of professional sound effects"