Helpful Links

Helpful audio links for beginning sound designers to build a sound library, buy high-quality equipment, find jobs, and learn more about the industry.

 

Recommended Free Sound Libraries


Recommended Professional Sound Libraries

 

UCS - Universal Category System

The Sound Design community has created a system to try to standardize sound effect naming conventions.


Free Sound Effect Search Programs

 

http://www.creativefieldrecording.com/2017/08/16/metadata-app-roundup-updated/

 

Pro (Paid) Sound Effect Search Programs

 

Figuring out project/hourly rates:

 

Cool Free Plugins

 

Royalty-Free Music

 

Ear Training Games

 

Recommended Inexpensive Headphones 

Recommended Expensive Headphones 

 

Recommended Inexpensive Audio Interface

 

Recommended Inexpensive Vocal Microphones

  • Audio-Technica AT4033
  • Shure SM7B
  • Sontronics STC-2 
  • Lauten Audio LA-220
  • sE Electronics sE2200
  • Warm Audio WA-87

Recommended Expensive Vocal Microphones

 

Recommended Expensive Pro Studio Monitor Speakers

You have to get minimum of 6 inch speakers so it can reproduce all frequencies.

 

Switcher Box

  • SPL Switcher Box 2489 or something similar

 

Microphone Shootouts

 

Some good audio job aggregators / search engines:

 

Other Helpful Sound Lists 

  

Orchestral Audio Libraries

  • Performance Samples Vista Strings
  • Spitfire BBC Symphony Orchestra Discover (free)
  • 8Dio - Adagio Violins 2.0
  • Arturia Augmented STRINGS Intro
  • Impact Soundworks - Tokyo Scoring Strings
  • Metropolis Ark, Orch Tools
  • Berlin Woodwinds
  • Berlin Percussions
  • ProjectSAM Swing More!
  • ProjectSAM Symphobia 1
  • Atelier Series - Sasaki Trumpet
  • RealiTone Screaming Trumpet
  • Broadway LITEs by Fable Sounds
  • Drums - Strikeforce Cinematic Percussion
  • Drums - Stormdrum 2 and 3
  • Cinesamples - Cineperc
  • Vienna Symphonic Library - HARP GLISSANDOS
  • Vienna Symphonic Library - Flutes
  • Vienna Symphonic Library - Woodwinds

 

Useful Plugins

  • Sound Toys 5
  • Oeksound Soothe 2
  • Tape Piano plugin
  • XLN Audio’s XO
  • Wavesfactory Trackspacer
  • Youlean Loudness Meter (free)
  • Master Fader plugins - 1. FabFilter EQ, 2. Softube saturation, 3. Slate FG-X mastering plug, 4. Waves WLM+ LUFS meter
  • Master Fader plugins - Ozone 5, Softube Console 1 (the SSL channel strip), Oxford Inflator, Shadow Hills Mastering Compressor, UAD SSL G Bus Compressor, Manley Massive Passive, Elosis AirEQ. Don't use all of the plugins all of the time.
  • Inspirata Reverb

 

Podcasts

 

Sound Design Advice Columns

 

Recommended Acoustic Treatments 

 

Good Demo Reels:

 

Procedural Music Info:

 

Sound Conferences

 

Sound Societies

Good Post Programs

 

VR/AR Info

 

List of USA Game Companies

 

Good Recruiter Companies

 

Job Applying Tips

 

And check out these websites

 

Good Media Newsletters


Good Audio Talks

 

Audio Workflows

 

Good Audio Groups

 

Good Audio Blogs

 

Studio Construction Info

 

Audio Equipment Advice

 

Finished Pro Tools Session Screenshots

 

Audiobook Info

 

Pure Data and Python

 

Good Videos about Audio Creation

 

Other Cool Stuff

 

Sound Designers Portfolios

 

Sound Designer Sample Resumes

 

Fun Stuff

 

Audio Book

 

Financial Advice