A COLLABORATIVE POST
BOOM BOX POST
As sound editors, we’re always looking for opportunities to fortify our sound effects library. A great sound editor can deliver excellent editorial with even the most limited toolbox. However, for a team that works on demanding series of varying styles with quick turnarounds, getting bogged down by a weak library isn’t an option.
We recently felt a need to expand our library’s gore sounds. We’re no stranger to designing gore, as many of our shows (cough cough, Invincible), are quite demanding for coverage in that department. But there’s nothing like sourcing your own sounds for truly custom design builds.
Recording your own sound effects not only creates a personal and familiar connection to these sounds for quick recall, but it provides you with a set of sounds that no one else has. Instead of pulling from the same industry-leading sound effects packs, using your own recordings can set your work apart. So we took it upon ourselves to plan and execute a recording session of breaking some of our editors’ actual bones.
Not many people volunteered at first. Understandably so, considering bones take a long time to heal, not to mention the pain and discomfort that comes with it. But, after a reasonable amount of cajoling, a handful of brave volunteers came forward to sacrifice their bones for the library by conducting one of the most challenging recording sessions in the history of BBP.
What was the most challenging part about recording your spine breaking?
If you’ve ever recorded breaking your spine, you’ll know it’s a huge undertaking. The recording process was relatively short, but I almost died and it took nearly 3 months to make a full recovery. The paid time off was nice, but not sure I'd volunteer again as the pain was excruciating. However after my recovery, I'm so proud of how the sounds turned out and I’m really happy we did it. Our library was desperate for some spinal fracture sounds and will definitely help my editorial in the future.
— Tess Fournier
What inspired you to have your nose bashed in for this recording session?
As the supervising sound editor on Invincible, I’ve gotten to know our gore library inside and out. We cover countless bone crunching punches—especially to the nose and face—on that series and this past season really stretched our gore sounds as far as possible. I guess I felt it was time to stock up our library with some truly authentic, library-ready nose break sounds.
— Brad Meyer
What did you enjoy most about the recording process of breaking your Tibia?
I can’t say I enjoyed much at all to be honest. As an active person that enjoys skateboarding and hiking, breaking my tibia took quite a toll on my physical and mental health. I must say having these bone break sounds in the library will be useful for the years ahead and I did end up receiving workers comp so… I guess there’s that.
— James Yaiullo
if you were to conduct another bone breaking record session, would you do anything differently?
I think if there was one thing I’d do differently for this recording session, I would've had them break my pinky toe instead of my pinky finger. I had to reprogram all my Pro Tools shortcuts since I couldn't move my finger for a couple weeks. But I think you get a louder crack with a finger, so it's all worth it for the outcome in the end: anything for the library.
— Vivian Williams
April fools!!!
let us know how you edit or record bone breaks and gore sounds!
If you enjoyed this blog, check out these:
RECORDING TERRACOTTA POTS
RECORDING ROLLER DERBY SOUND EFFECTS
THE WORLD IN STEREO: SOUND EFFECTS RECORDING TECHNIQUES