sound effects
A sound effects artist creates the sound of thunder by shaking a large metal sheet.
Noun (plural): - Artificial or recorded sounds: "sound effects" refer to sounds that are artificially created or reproduced to enhance the realism or mood of a film, play, video game, or other media. These sounds mimic real-world noises (e.g., thunder, car engines, footsteps) or create imaginary ones (e.g., alien voices, laser blasts).
- (Artificial sounds added to the film to increase suspense.)
- (A simple prop used to imitate a real sound.)
- (Recorded or synthesized sounds for interactive media.)
"Foley sound effects": a specific type of sound effects created by a Foley artist, who reproduces everyday sounds (like footsteps, cloth rustling, or glass breaking) in a studio to match the action on screen.
- The Foley artist added sound effects of footsteps on gravel to make the scene more immersive. (Custom-made sounds recorded in sync with the visual action.)
"Ambient sound effects": background noises that establish a setting, such as wind, rain, or city traffic.
- The ambient sound effects of birds chirping and leaves rustling made the forest scene feel authentic. (Environmental sounds that create atmosphere.)
Sound effect (noun, singular): a single artificial or recorded sound.
- That one sound effect of a door slam was used repeatedly in the cartoon. (A specific noise.)
Sound effects library (noun phrase): a collection of pre-recorded sounds used by editors and producers.
- The editor downloaded a sound effects library for the podcast. (A digital archive of audio clips.)
- Audio effects: sounds added to a recording for artistic or practical purposes.
- Noise effects: a less common term for sounds that are not musical or spoken, often used in technical contexts.
"All sound and fury" (from Shakespeare): refers to something that is loud, dramatic, or impressive but ultimately meaningless or empty. This idiom is sometimes used in reference to excessive sound effects.
- The movie had amazing sound effects, but the plot was all sound and fury. (The noise was impressive but lacked substance.)
"Sound and light show": a performance that uses sound effects and lighting to tell a story, often at historical sites.
- The sound and light show at the ancient castle used dramatic sound effects to recreate a battle. (A multimedia event relying on audio-visual effects.)