Underwater Sound Effect at DVinfo.net

Brian Mitchell Warshawsky · April 5th, 2007, 09:32 AM

Can someone recommend either a plug-in or audio workflow to achieve an underwater sound effect?

Specifically, I am going to apply it to a boat engine sound.

Thanks in advance,

Brian

Preview of "CATCH A RISING BULLET"
http://films.thelot.com/films/34064
Short Film "Lipstick & Lithium"
http://films.thelot.com/films/23105

Douglas Spotted Eagle · April 5th, 2007, 09:41 AM

Get an aquarium.
Put a speaker next to it.
Put a microphone in a condom
Put it inside the aquarium, you'll need BB shot to help hold it down.
Put a CD of engine noises in your CD player and play it out to the speaker.
Move the water around.

Presto~ underwater sounds.

Or you can spend a lot of time twiddling EQ, chorus, flange, phase, compression. :-)

There is an old book on sound design, can't recall the name. They went through the same things we did when working on a submarine film; they tried to create the sound design in a studio, and found it worked better to go to the local swimming pool, and also to use large aquariums. YMMV

Brian Mitchell Warshawsky · April 5th, 2007, 09:45 AM

Spot,

You always come through with the answer.

In my entire film, this will amount to all of five seconds, but I think I'll do it anyway.

Thanks again!

Brian

Steve House · April 5th, 2007, 09:47 AM

Don't forget to include the "PING" "PING" of sonar sweeps. Everybody knows they're always present in any underwater environment, even swimming pools, heck, even bathtubs!

<Couldn't resist!>

Deke Ryland · April 13th, 2007, 05:01 PM

More importantly, don't forget to notify the wife before she sees any condoms lying around.

Generally the underwater sounds you hear on TV are effects emulating scuba. The sonar ping is classic, but unless you are editing Crimson Tide 2, it might be a little over the top.

As a side note, I accidentally left my mic recording sitting right next to a noisy computer once, and when I got it in my audio app, I didn't remember what it was. After playing it many times, I finally remembered and played with the EQ's and dropped the lows... it sounds just like you have water in your ears from a swimming pool. I'm still waiting for when I use that one.

Mark OConnell · April 13th, 2007, 07:43 PM

Or use a recording of an engine idling, slow it way down, and play with damping points in the EQ to get that somewhat muffled, not quite present underwater thing.

April 5th, 2007, 09:32 AM	#1
Brian Mitchell Warshawsky Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 216	Underwater Sound Effect Can someone recommend either a plug-in or audio workflow to achieve an underwater sound effect? Specifically, I am going to apply it to a boat engine sound. Thanks in advance, Brian Preview of "CATCH A RISING BULLET" http://films.thelot.com/films/34064 Short Film "Lipstick & Lithium" http://films.thelot.com/films/23105

April 5th, 2007, 09:41 AM	#2
Douglas Spotted Eagle VASST Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Stockton, UT Posts: 5,648	Get an aquarium. Put a speaker next to it. Put a microphone in a condom Put it inside the aquarium, you'll need BB shot to help hold it down. Put a CD of engine noises in your CD player and play it out to the speaker. Move the water around. Presto~ underwater sounds. Or you can spend a lot of time twiddling EQ, chorus, flange, phase, compression. :-) There is an old book on sound design, can't recall the name. They went through the same things we did when working on a submarine film; they tried to create the sound design in a studio, and found it worked better to go to the local swimming pool, and also to use large aquariums. YMMV __________________ Douglas Spotted Eagle/Spot Author, producer, composer Certified Sony Vegas Trainer http://www.vasst.com

April 5th, 2007, 09:47 AM	#4
Steve House Inner Circle Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Posts: 5,742	Don't forget to include the "PING" "PING" of sonar sweeps. Everybody knows they're always present in any underwater environment, even swimming pools, heck, even bathtubs! <Couldn't resist!> __________________ Good news, Cousins! This week's chocolate ration is 15 grams!

April 5th, 2007, 09:45 AM	#3
Brian Mitchell Warshawsky Major Player Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Bay Area Posts: 216	Spot, You always come through with the answer. In my entire film, this will amount to all of five seconds, but I think I'll do it anyway. Thanks again! Brian

April 13th, 2007, 05:01 PM	#5
Deke Ryland Major Player Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Washington, USA Posts: 213	More importantly, don't forget to notify the wife before she sees any condoms lying around. Generally the underwater sounds you hear on TV are effects emulating scuba. The sonar ping is classic, but unless you are editing Crimson Tide 2, it might be a little over the top. As a side note, I accidentally left my mic recording sitting right next to a noisy computer once, and when I got it in my audio app, I didn't remember what it was. After playing it many times, I finally remembered and played with the EQ's and dropped the lows... it sounds just like you have water in your ears from a swimming pool. I'm still waiting for when I use that one.

April 13th, 2007, 07:43 PM	#6
Mark OConnell Major Player Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Seattle WA Posts: 420	Or use a recording of an engine idling, slow it way down, and play with damping points in the EQ to get that somewhat muffled, not quite present underwater thing.