Once your sound effects are recorded, it's time to dump them into your computer for some serious editing. Although you can record from the audio output of your camcorder into your computer sound card, the easiest way to capture the audio from DV tape is through the FireWire connection. If your video capture program doesn't record audio separately, just capture the whole clip with both video and sound. Group all the clips together on the timeline, and then export an audio-only version for editing. Open the resulting audio file in your favorite audio editing program.

For Windows computers, there are several audio-editing applications - some are even free. Two popular options on Windows machines are Sound Forge and Cool Edit or if you are a Mac fan, you could try Peak or sonicWORX. All of these programs offer similar features, but approach editing in different ways. If you don't already have one of these programs, get a copy. You won't regret it.

Now that your sound effects are open, the entire world of digital manipulation is at your fingertips. Some simple trimming is first, isolating the individual sounds and minimizing leading and trailing background noise. As you edit, it's simple to save each sound effect as a different file. Make sure you save the original in the highest quality possible (48kHz at 16 bit for DV), and the edited versions with different file names (thunder01, thunder02, etc.). This makes it easy to go back to the original source for every variation.

If you are editing realistic sound effects, that may be the end of your session. But if you want to have some fun, explore all the options provided by your audio editing software. A little reverb can add a sense of space to a sound. Try the Reverse and Time Stretching functions. Try them together. Use the tone controls to morph your sounds into completely new versions. Add some echo or flanging to spice things up a bit. Add effects to other effects for some bizarre combinations. And you can always go back to the original sound and start over as many times as you like.

Collect your best sound effects and create your own library. Who knows? Maybe George Lucas will call you for Episode III instead of Ben Burtt.

Here are some techniques for making common sound effects:

• Cornstarch in a leather pouch makes a good snow crunch.
• An old chair can produce very controllable squeaking sounds.
• A heavy staple gun makes the sound of gunshots. Warning! Do not use a real gun for gunshots. The concussive sound can destroy your mike. It is even worse when you point the shotgun right at the mike.
• Crumpling cellophane makes a crackling fire.
• A large sheet of sheet metal suspended and shaken produces thunder.
• Coconut shells, cut in half and stuffed with padding, will make the sound of horse hooves.
• Use a heavy rolled up and taped phone book or hit a raw chicken or turkey for punching sounds.
• Break celery to create the sound of breaking bones.
• Step on tape from an unraveled audio cassette to make a convincing substitute for walking in grass.

[Sidebar: Squeaky Doors Make Great Sounds]


My wife was after me for weeks to oil the hinges on our front door. She didn't understand that I was waiting for the squeak to season to perfection. The day it was just right, I set up my equipment and recorded the ultimate door creak - perfect for a horror piece or maybe a radio commercial. Interesting sounds are everywhere. If possible, capture and edit them for later. You never know when you or a friend will need a unique sound effect that isn't in your library. After capturing the creak for posterity on tape, I gladly lubricated the hinges.