Busting my brains, what is this sound!?

[Elan Hickler]

What is this sound? http://www.elanhickler.com/d/Snare%20Bangs.mp3

I called it snare bangs because I think that's what it is, but I don't know how one achieves this sound. It sounds like a combination of snares and a bass drum of some sort, but even when I tried it out, I couldn't get very close to that sound.

This mp3 is clips of 3 compositions from the game Sacrifice. The composer also composed for Invader Zim and the game Majesty if anyone knows of these things. I forgot his name though. [:O]ops:

[mathis]

These are metall impacts. Hammer on the elevator door and it sounds similar. Not sure if there is an ordinary orchestra percussion instrument which sounds like that, I don't think so.

[Elan Hickler]

Any idea if there's a possiblity of creating this sound without recording samples myself (sample libraries)? Anyway, if I had to record it I'd have no idea where to start. [:P]

[PoppaJOL]

Elan:

You might try some of the sound effects libraries. There are several on-line sites that sell all sorts of sounds in a variety of formats, either individually or in groups. In many cases, you can audition the sound before you buy the sample. Also, there are lots of CD collections of sound effects that aren't very expensive. It might be that you can either find exactly what you want or modify something if it's already close.

Hope this helps.

Be Well,

Poppa

[zouf]

Specifically, to me it sounds like what we now refer to as a Mahler Hammer. Interestingly enough, the repeated bass notes are also very similar to the beginning of Mahler's 6th symphony, where he introduced the instrument. It is a large hammer made of wood that is brought down upon a big wooden box. Mahler wanted to musically depict the 3 blows delivered by fate. He basically invented a new instrument. Very effective, and emotionally devastating in the context of his tragic 6th.

Here is one version of it (Mahler's was a bit different)

http://www.redwoodsymphony.org/images/boom.jpg

I can try and see if I have a sample of something like that for you.

Hope this is useful info,
Zouf

[Dietz]

@Elan Hickler said:

What is this sound? http://www.elanhickler.com/d/Snare%20Bangs.mp3
[...]

Typically, sounddesigners sample closing hangar-doors, falling car-wrecks and stuff like that, put reverb on it and combine it with bass-drum or timpany-hits for a more "organic" texture. You might even succeed in tuning down a seemingly harmless metallic sound (like closing the door of a cupboard with glasses in it) an octave and use it like outliend above. [:)]

Years ago I owned a sampling-CD called "Fields of Motion" with quite a few of this techno-organic combinations. I used these sounds to death and lost the CD in the meantime, so I can't give you a more detailed hint, but in general, this was good stuff.

HTH,

[mathis]

sounddogs.com is a good source for individual sound fx. You will find your material there. search for "metal impact".

[fcw]

@Another User said:

search for "metal impact".

I read that as "mental impact".

Did someone say 'coffee'?

[Michel Mudde]

Try a taiko drum with low brassy (cuivre) horns and trombones ...