In this edition of the Sunday Sound Effects Round Up we take a look at libraries from Airborne Sound, Tonsturm, HerronSFX, WorkRoom Audio Post, Big Room Sound Inc, If A Tree Falls and SonicSalute as well as look at a 6 part tutorial series on how to use the Edward Ultimate Foley instrument bundle from Tovusound.

Airborne Sound Release New Free Sound FX Library - Construction

At Airborne Sound, they love sharing sounds with the community but it’s been almost two years since they last shared a free sound fx pack. To rectify that they are sharing a new sound effects library free of charge: the Construction Micro Pack. We all know it is not easy recording clean sound. Over the years, many urban sounds have intruded into our working day. The team at Airborne sound decided rather than being disappointed, they decided to record the racket instead. For this free library, they captured both ambiences and focused, performed sound effects. Many of them offer two perspectives with different tones of the same subject. These include...

• Jackhammer
• Angle grinder
• Brush chipper
• Demolition hammer
• Abrasive chop saw
• Tools working
• Construction
• Demolition

The package is available with these 3 options:

• Pro: 96 kHz/24-bit stereo WAV files with Soundminer metadata.
• CD-quality: 44.1 kHz/16-bit stereo WAV files with Soundminer metadata.
• MP3: 44.1 kHz 320 KB stereo MP3 files with ID3 tagging.

These tracks are completely free of charge. They just ask that you do not give them to anyone yourself, even for free. Instead, if you know someone who may be interested in them, please send them to Airborne Sound instead as they would love to share the sounds with them.

There is one paid-for option. As an additional option, you may also download an add-on to the construction clips of 12 bonus looped version for $0.99. That delivers the original 14 files plus 12 new loop-able tracks for under a dollar.

• 14 sound fx + 12 bonus loops.
• 862 megabytes.
• 3 formats
  • 192 kHz/24-bit
  • 44.1 kHz/16-bit mono WAV files
  • MP3 320 kilobits.
• Includes 19+ fields of metadata in 4 formats (Soundminer, BWAV, MacOS Spotlight, ID3v2).

Tonsturm Release Raging Fire

To produce Raging Fire Tillman and the team at Tonsturm, countless recording sessions took place to deliver what they describe as "the most impressive fire sound effects library available".

Many of the included effects have been recorded both interior and exterior. Huge fire fireball whooshes, bursts, gasoline trails, black powder, various torches and lycopodium flashes were recorded in acoustically diverse environments like abandoned protection bunkers and industry halls. For the outdoor recording sessions, they found the ideal gravel quarry in Germany. In cooperation with their pyrotechnician and with permission of the local police department they were able to arrange an insane recording session where they were able to totally burn out 3 cars still containing most of their interior fittings.

They also teamed up with their partner Tapio Liukkonen from Finland who contributed some amazing recordings for this library, especially his massive custom build gasoline flamethrower which provided the fattest sounding fire streams they had ever heard.

Everything was covered with multiple microphone setups featuring different sound flavours and perspectives. AKG, Schoeps, Sennheiser, Sanken e.t.c.

Finally inspired by Richard Devine they also did some recordings of burning wood embers recorded underwater, which captured the weirdest chirping and chattering from an out of this world jungle chorus, all captured with the Ambient ASF-1 MarkII hydrophones.

Tonsturm Raging Fire Library Specifications:

• 15,9 GB in total
• 419 sound files
• Multiple effects per file
• Perspective variations
• Microphone variations
• 96kHz / 24bit
• Formats
  • 5.0 Surround - 3 Files
  • LCR - 13 Files
  • Stereo - 403 Files
• Price: $249

HerronSFX Release Downtown Los Angeles Ambisonic Library Vol 1

Downtown Los Angeles Ambisonic Library is the first volume in a new collection of Downtown Los Angeles ambisonic sound recordings from HerronSFX. The collection is designed to suit the varying needs of today's sound professionals from 360º VR to sound editorial for film and beyond. The Downtown Los Angeles Ambisonic Library serves as a base building block and starting point for any project requiring urban sounds or sounds specific to the Los Angeles area.

The Downtown Los Angeles Ambisonic Library comes in two variants: B-Format for complete flexibility and stereo for those who just need to keep things simple. For those purchasing the Ambisonic sound library please keep in mind no stereo sound library is included but can be purchased at a discount if needed.

• Bit Depth: 24 Bit
• Sample Rate: 96 khz
• Metadata Embedded - All files embedded with metadata readable by Soundminer, Basehead and many other sound library management platforms
• Formats
  • Stereo - All files are stereo WAV Files - 14.64GB compressed - 22.78GB expanded
  • B-Format - All files are in Soundfield B-Format. You will need 4 channel track support and a B-format decoder plug-in like the free SurroundZone2 Plug-in by or any third party B-Format decoder with support for soundfield B-Format (WXYZ layout) - 31.26GB compressed - 45.55GB expanded
• Pricing
  • DL0118 Downtown Los Angeles Ambisonic Library – $120.00
  • DL0118 Downtown Los Angeles Stereo Library – $80.00
  • DL0118 Downtown Los Angeles Ambisonic Library Sampler – $0.00

WorkRoom Audio Post Announce The Release Of South African Ambiences Interior

This library is a myriad of uniquely South African interior ambiences. You will get true interior ambience sounds of South Africa in this authentic collection. The South African Interior ambiences sound effects library features recordings from places in and around Cape Town, hospital, airport, restaurant, various shopping centres, boxing gym, hotel lobby, residential interiors and many more.

• Specs: 36 files
• 24 Bit / 48Khz
• 3.2 GB Includes metadata 
• Duration: Approx. 160 minutes total
• Price: $35 plus taxes

Big Room Sound Inc. Release Babies Library

Babies is two children recorded when they were 2 weeks old and 3-6 months old. Plenty of cute and cuddly coo’s, baby talk, breaths, efforts, sighs, yawns, coughs, snorts and crying. Lots of subtle sounds for when you just need a bit of presence from that baby onscreen.

• Specs: 66+ sounds
• Quality: 24 bit / 48 kHz
• Size: 103 MB Includes metadata 
• Duration: Approx. 11+ minutes total
• Price: $19

If a Tree Falls Release Lifts & Elevators

The ‘Lifts and Elevators’ library contains a collection of sounds sourced from 19 different elevators. Each model bringing their own unique sonic qualities and character. From slick and smooth modern elevators to weathered old freight and goods lifts, these high-quality recordings have been carefully captured in:

• Hotels
• Offices
• Studios
• Flats/Apartments
• Schools/Universities
• Warehouses/Industrial Units

Each elevator has been recorded in motion, opening and closing its doors (manually and mechanically), producing metallic rattles, creaks, groans and more. Additionally, Button pressing, alarm bells, buzzers and stationary room tones, have been captured in crystal clear detail.

All sounds have been recorded in high-quality 24 bit, 96 kHz using Sound Devices recorders and Sennheiser MKH8040, MKH416 and MKH30 microphones. Each file has been also tagged with detailed Soundminer metadata to speed up workflow and increase organisation.

The majority of recordings contain both a stereo MS decoded and ORTF version. The Mid Side has a narrower stereo image whilst the ORTF provides a wider version.

• Specs: 223 files
• Quality: 24 bit / 96 kHz
• Size: 6.99 GB Includes metadata 
• Price: $35 plus taxes

SonicSalute Release Seagulls

The Seagulls sfx library includes 28 tracks of both single, isolated seagull screams, and bigger flocks of nesting seagulls, calling out to each other and their chicks. There are plenty of classic call sounds, but also some weird throaty and raspy screaming, and what could sound like seagull laughing sounds.

All tracks are recorded with the zoom function of the Telinga microphone and dish.
The library includes both untreated tracks, and noise reduction processed tracks in two separate folders. Noise reduction processed tracks have carefully been cleaned up with a CEDAR NR system.

Though these birds are in an abundance around most harbours and industry around here, they are not always easy to record. You mostly hear them from a distance, or from places not easy to access. When you try to get close to them, they will usually fly away. Consequently, many hours have been spent on rooftops, gardens, backyards, a junkyard, and different harbours to get this material.

• Specs: 28x2 files
• Quality: 24bit / 96kHz
• Size: 1.4 GB Includes metadata 
• Price: $35 plus taxes

Tovusound Release Edward Ultimate Video Tutorial Series

Josh Reinhardt, a Foley Supervisor from Los Angeles, shows you the magic of the Edward Ultimate SUITE workflow in this brand new video series.  Whatever your style, these simple tips and tricks will help you get started or discover something new with Edward. 

Above is the first video all about how to set up Edward Ultimate in a stand-alone instance of Kontakt and how to feed that into your DAW like Pro Tools. 

There are 6 videos currently in the series...

1. Set Up - Setup Edward in Stand-Alone Mode and record into any DAW using Soundflower.
2. Bare Feet - A nice and delicate inside scene that needs barefoot sounds.
3. Asphalt - Watch Josh mixing two decks and learn how to call up the configuration using snapshots.
4. Dirt - Use the mod wheel and the volume knob while performing to match a scene.
5. Waitress - Add scuff sounds to the performance to add details.
6. Wood Creak - An old, abandoned house needs some special sound character.

You can watch all these videos from the dedicated Training Series page on the Tovusound website.

The team at Tovusound acknowledge that many customers have developed their own techniques to tickle the best possible out of Edward. They recognise that these videos describe one perspective how their tools can be used. Consequently, they would love it if you share your experiences directly with them via Facebook or email.