Any vibrations in a gas, a fluid (a gas is a kind of fluid), or a solid, if they are somewhere
between 20Hz and 15,000Hz, and if strong enough in amplitude, can be detected (sensed) by the hearing apparatus of most people. But categorizing a sound and deriving meaning from a sound is a completely different process from merely knowing a sound is happening. We categorize and interpret sounds by comparing them to other sounds we’ve heard, and how we and others responded to those sounds in the past.

To interpret a sound as speech, an animal call, music, thunder, etc., our brains rely heavily on comparison to sounds previously experienced. Though it’s true that certain kinds of sound dynamics: a sudden, “startling” sound for example, can have an emotional effect on us even if we have no idea what the sound is, that’s a pretty low bar in terms of the potential storytelling power that film directors depend on. You can “jump-scare” me easily and cheaply, and that can be fun, but that’s not going to bring me into the story in the ways that sounds I can relate to and already have feelings about can.

Newborn infants can be jump-scared with sound, and they are more likely to be soothed by harmony than by dissonance, but once again that’s a very low bar. Experiments have shown that infants don’t respond any more positively to intricate harmonies than they do to a steady set of two tones that are harmonious rather than dissonant.

There’s a strong myth that some of the most emotionally powerful sounds in film history were unlike anything previously heard. Did you know that voice of the Wookie in Star Wars is a bear? And not even an exotic kind of bear, just a normal black bear that most of us have heard since childhood in nature documentaries and in zoos. The main element of the T-Rex voice in Jurassic Park is an elephant, barely manipulated at all.

But part of movie magic, when it really gets to us, is that we are easily “hypnotized” by it, and we go into a state where we stop being analytical. If somebody plays a recording for us of a black bear vocalizing, most of us would guess what it is if we heard enough of it. But the fact that this reasonably familiar sound seems to be coming out of this very exotic-looking Wookie creature somehow shuts off the part of our brain that would normally and consciously compute “bear.”

It's extremely difficult for most directors, when they are watching scenes from their own movies, to stop being analytical and simply fall into the dream of the film. So their “bear detector” or “elephant detector” tends to be on constantly. They forget that the audience,
caught up in the story, is very unlikely to know or care in that moment exactly what they are hearing as long as it makes “emotional sense.”

So, directors, please don’t ask me to create a completely unique sound, one like nobody has ever heard. Even if I could produce one, and I don’t think anyone ever has, it would be very close to meaningless, and completely non-evocative to your audience.

You don’t want that.

In this blog’s word graphic you see twenty storytelling jobs that sound can perform in almost any kind of artistic medium that has a sound component … certainly in film, video, and games.

help define a character        Draw attention to a detail, or away from it

clarify the plot   heighten ambiguity or diminish it    describe an acoustic space

In Episode 328 of the Tonebenders Podcast, host Timothy Muirhead sits down with Dick Maitland, Sesame Street’s 25-time Emmy award winning Foley artist & sound designer, and Steve “Major” Giammaria, who joined later as re-recording mixer, to explore the hidden sonic world behind one of television’s most beloved institutions.
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From the very first seasons to today, Sesame Street’s soundscape has played a crucial role in giving life to its characters, environments, and emotional impact. Maitland recalls performing live foley and sound effects on set in the early days of filming, a hands-on, craft-driven workflow that helped shape the show’s signature auditory feel.
 
Maitland also dives into the importance of signature sounds, those tiny sonic markers that anchor a character or environment. These sounds were always carefully considered, in order to make the puppets feel real. Together, Maitland and Giammaria, alongside host Muirhead, map out the show’s sonic evolution across decades, spotlighting key decisions over time.
 
If you’ve ever wanted to learn more about how Sesame Street was conceived and maintained over time, this is a must-listen.
 
You can listen to the full podcast episode here to dive into the full story.
 
As proud sponsors of Tonebenders, Sound Ideas is honoured to support content that celebrates the depth and discipline of sound design. Whether you’re building immersive worlds, crafting character cues, or designing rich ambiences, our sound libraries give you the tools to bring your vision to life.

Director Zach Cregger’s latest film, Weapons, has made waves both critically and at the box office, thanks in large part to its innovative sound design. In the latest episode of the Tonebenders Podcast, the host, Timothy Muirhead, dives deep into the audio magic behind the film, featuring insights from Luciano Vignola (Supervising Sound Editor & Re-Recording Mixer), Filipe Messeder (Sound Designer & Re-Recording Mixer), and Jake O’Brien (Dialogue Editor).

Listeners get a front-row seat to what makes horror sound so effective. The episode explores the art and science of jump scares, discussing why certain sounds provoke tension and surprise in audiences. The conversation also highlights the role of ambiences and foley in shaping the psychological impact of horror films, showing how subtle layers of sound can manipulate emotion and immerse viewers in a scene.

Beyond technique, the episode sheds light on the collaborative process in post-production. This Tonebenders Podcast episode is a fascinating look at how meticulous planning, creativity, and teamwork come together to create a cinematic experience that resonates long after the credits roll.
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Listen to the Full Episode

Want to hear all the insights and stories from the Weapons sound team? Tune into the full episode for a deep dive into the craft of creating sound for horror.

As proud sponsors of the Tonebenders Podcast, Sound Ideas is thrilled to support conversations that celebrate sound design. Our libraries provide professional-quality sounds, from cinematic ambiences to detailed foley, giving creators the tools to bring their own projects to life. Whether you’re building tension, creating a cinematic world, or experimenting with unique sonic textures, Sound Ideas has you covered.