Ten Sound Effects That I Couldn’t Live Without (and Some Which Might Surprise You)

I started building a sound effects library within Avid several years ago. Here are ten sound effects that I use every day.

I started building a sound effects library within Avid several years ago. At the time, it was uncommon to maintain a sound effects library directly in Avid at the time, as there was no search function in an Avid bin and a limited amount of items before a bin would become bulky and unwieldy. Most people who had a library kept a ragtag collection of named and unnamed effects on a hard drive, accompanied by spreadsheets to search through. After my third project in a row downloading the same track, I decided it was time to gather my most frequently used sound effects. This marked the beginning of my collection.

Sound Effects on CDs – Back in the Day

I spent far too much of my early career in the basement CD rack rooms of Windmill Lane (Number 4, as it was at the time), searching through walls of CDs for the right sound effect. Sound Ideas, Universal, BBC, Lucasfilm, and, for the rare need for a slide whistle or good “boink,” Hanna-Barbera soundtracks. Much of my time as a facilities assistant was spent either searching aging text lists of sound effects, locating CDs on the racks, or hunting down missing CDs and scolding editors for holding them in their rooms.

One of my greatest achievements at Windmill was digitising the entire sound effects catalog. We rigged the iTunes library to record in high-quality AIFF format, and Igor Podgorski set up a system so editors could search and download from this library across the facility.

Building a Frequently Used Library in Avid

Not having a search function for so long taught me the discipline of naming and color-coding my "Frequently Used" sound effects bin. This practice has served me well as the collection grew from a modest number to its current size of 3,348 sound effects.

The Addition of Search in Avid

One of the biggest improvements in recent years has been the search function in Avid bins. Now, by typing a term into the search bar, I can reduce the bin size and quickly find what I need. This has allowed me to expand my "Frequently Used" bin and create an "All Library Tracks" bin, which now contains a total of 37,097 sound effects.

Ten Sound Effects I Can’t Live Without (and Some That Might Surprise You)

Here are 10 sound effects I constantly return to:

1. Gun Movement (Gun Foley) – While firing guns and adding cannons are exciting, it’s the gun movement or foley sound effects that add real tension. A good gun foley can make a scene tenser than any gunshot.

   

2. Door Manor – There are countless door-opening sound effects, but I’ve found a set of manor door sounds that strike the perfect balance—distinct enough to be noticeable, yet subtle enough to blend into most scenes.

3. Cloth Flapping – Although I’m still searching for the ultimate cloth-flap effect, I regularly use my favorites to highlight a flag flapping or a character adjusting their clothing during an awkward moment.

   

4. Walla – Good walla (background crowd noise) is rare. Since post-production companies don’t share it, I’ve resorted to recording my own using Voice Memos or mini loop-group sessions in Avid. A few well-curated tracks help build the ambiance of a room.

5. Office Ambiance – Good office atmosphere sound effects are hard to find, often disrupted by fax machines or ringing phones. I typically layer office ambiance with clean walla, but I’ve found one track that works perfectly for a busy office without overshadowing the dialogue.

   

6. Anything with Meta – A sound effect with a solid bassy meta always enhances a scene.

7. iPhone Sounds – Apple provides downloadable iOS sound effects by make and model, and I find them invaluable. It’s amazing how much more authentic a character’s phone interaction feels with the right sound effects.

   

8. Tea Trolley – This might be the most versatile sound effect in my library. Whether it’s a busy train carriage, an uncomfortable bed, rattling shelves in an earthquake, or explosions, the sound of a tea trolley with a wobbly leg has proven endlessly useful.

   

The Holy Grail of Sounds (That I’m Still Searching For)

While I have some substitutes, these two elusive sounds remain on my wish list:

9. Trees Rustling Slowly in the Wind – I’ve been on the lookout for the perfect version of this sound for years.

10. Aeolian Tones and Flag Wire Banging Against a Flagpole – There’s something magical about the sound of a flagpole in a shipyard. I would love to have a clean recording of this.