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.

Step into realms of wonder and intrigue with our latest library, Magical Spells & Creatures Sound Effects. Whether you’re crafting a fantasy film, building a video game, designing immersive storytelling, or adding that spark of mystery to your audio production, this collection is your gateway to sonic magic.

At the heart of this library, there are 584 meticulously crafted magical sound effects. From shimmering spell casts and teleportation poofs to eerie creature motions and enchanted ambiences, every sound effect is built to bring your creative vision to life. 

Inside the Magical Spells & Creatures Sound Effects collection you’ll discover:
- A full spectrum of magic sounds: appear/disappear, bursts, flashes, shimmers, teleportation and more.
- A diverse range of creatures & entities: beasts, ghostly figures, dark angels, and fairies.
- Designed sound elements: risers, morphs, zaps, rumbles, and synthetic atmospheres. 
- Embedded UCS metadata for the entire library.

This sound effects library gives you the tools to bring any magical world to life. With the versatility and high quality needed for professional production environments, you’re equipped for anything from indie games to cinematic trailers.

Ready to level up your sound design? Dive into the magic today and explore the full library of Magical Spells & Creatures Sound Effects. With premium quality audio, available in 4 different formats, this collection will transform your next project into something truly spellbinding.

Looking for more than just magical sounds? Explore our full collection of sound effects and royalty free music tracks to find everything you need. 

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

Our newest release, Explosions, Fire & Mayhem Sound Effects, brings an earth-shaking level of energy to your productions. Designed for filmmakers, game developers, and sound designers who need maximum intensity, this collection is packed with the raw power and realism to make every moment explode off the screen.

Featuring 600 dynamic sound effects, this library covers everything from cinematic detonations and fiery bursts to destructive impacts, rumbles, and blasts. Each sound has been meticulously recorded and designed to deliver clarity, depth, and dimension, whether you’re recreating the chaos of an action scene or adding subtle background tension to your mix.

The Explosions, Fire & Mayhem Sound Effects collection offers unmatched versatility. Create immersive battle sequences, apocalyptic game environments, or dramatic transitions with sounds that range from small, controlled bursts to large-scale explosions and roaring infernos. This high impact sound effects library is packed with over 5GB of audio and is available in 4 different formats. Every file is ready to drop into your workflow, professionally mastered, and organized with UCS Metadata for effortless integration into your favourite tools. 

Whether you’re crafting cinematic moments or designing powerful soundscapes, the Explosions, Fire & Mayhem collection delivers the perfect blend of realism and impact.

Experience the power for yourself. Explore all 600 premium sounds this library has to offer and add explosive energy to your next project today.

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.