WRITTEN BY JEFF SHIFFMAN, CO-OWNER OF BOOM BOX POST
I am currently knee-deep into recording an extremely comprehensive auxiliary percussion library for Boomboxlibrary.com. The idea is to produce pristine recordings which we (and other sound editors) can use as source material for new creative sound design.
As the recordings pile up (and I procrastinate having to edit them all) I have been playing around with some of them, just to see if my hunch was correct; that these would help me create great cartoon sound effects that are high quality and new but harken back to the classic Hanna Barbera sounds we all know so well. I got so excited with the experiments, I decided to share my process (and the results) with you here on our blog. This is just a sneak peak into the new library, but the hope is that you too will be creatively inspired by the process.
Tools of the trade
SILLY RUNS
These sounds are great for when characters are scrambling on or of screen, or when feet are flying in a circle but going nowhere
SOURCE RECORDINGS - Frame Drum, Wooden Djembe
Pitch and time graph
I started with a really low pitched drum here, since we’ll be both pitching and time compressing it way up, about two full octaves. Once complete, I ran it through a graphic pitch/time plugin, drawing slight changes somewhat randomly. This gave the sound some variation to make it even more interesting to the ear.
For this second silly run, the first two steps were the same, with a slight difference in overall pitch. I then chose to run it through an EQ, losing a bit of the low and high end, which gave it more of a vintage/classic sound.
HOLLOW HEAD HIT
This is typically used when a character gets bonked on the noggin. It’s cartoony and fun, like a coconut, which helps lessen the violence of the moment.
SOURCE RECORDING - Toy Wood Block
This one was super easy. Since I started with a fairly high pitched sound, I was able to get a cool somewhat lo-fi result by pitching it way down. These hits were pitched in amounts ranging from -16 semitones to -2 octaves.
TWINKLE TOES
Think Fred Flintstone bowling, or a silly walk.
SOURCE RECORDING - Large Wood Block
This build was probably the most complex. It helps to start with a very even tempo/rhythmic recording. I took my wood block rolls and pitched them up. I then duplicated the recording and pitched the second set up even more (specifically a major 4th for you music majors) but purposely did not change the time. I then cut out every other instance from each file, to create a funny back and forth rhythmic tinkle. Could I have recorded two wood blocks and saved myself some trouble? Sure. But this allowed me to precisely control the pitch interval, and I think we can all agree a major 4th is inherently hilarious.
FUNNY CRASH
Appropriate for any large cartoonish crash.
SOURCE RECORDINGS - Plastic Tambourine, Wood Djembe, Splash Cymbal
Did you know if you pitch a tambourine down within an inch of its life, it sounds insane? I practically turned it into a hubcap roll, with some really great texture and flavor. With that as my base, I added a pitched up djembe hit (for thud) and a huge 21 inch crash cymbal with the attack removed to get this super funny crash.
HEAD SHAKE
Another silly indication of a vacant head, this works well for zany back and forth head shakes.
SOURCE RECORDING - Cow Bell
Once again, sometimes simplicity is the answer. I just pitched up this cowbell trill and the rest is history.
I hope you’re feeling inspired to scavenge for instruments and start recording! Be sure to record at 96kHz, which will allow for much more pitching flexibility with less degradation.