Kickas.org Forums Ankylosing Spondylitis General Discussion Helpful Tips CiaraCeasg looking for real help...

Hi friends, peers, bosom buddies, and confreres, this is terrible. I need y'all's help.

My son is in a band of 13-18 year old boys (some are from very troubled lives) and as the youngest (and frankly unable to actually play an instrument) he is sort of in charge of 'incidental noises'. And cowbell. Shut up. So anyway this performance he has to come up with some sound effects for the show. It's his big chance. And I know I should ask Dow, but I think that would fall in the category of meeting a doctor at a party, and asking him to look at the boil on your butt. And I only have 'layman's tools'...
We need to make two sound effects, which must be reproducible several times. I thought you guys might have some ideas;

1; the sound of a hedgehog getting his neck snapped

2; the sound of a hamster getting smooshed

It's a very serious performance with a top organization, and his chance to get some respect from the older 'cooler' kids. Thank you all so much!

cc

hedgehog getting neck snapped... they have a slap thingy for percussionists. like 2 thin boards attached a certain way to make a snap or whip crack sound.

you could just get some sticks and pretend you are STOMP and break them in a mic!

hmmm.. something getting smooshed... some kind of GAK or putty jelly stuff.. I know if you make a large bowl of jello and stick a large spoon in it & pull it out, it makes a smooshing, gurgling, slushy sound...


sorry.. that's all I can come up with!

accckkkk! i don't even want to know.
just the thought sends shivers up my spine.

sue

What about looking for sound effects on the net?

Congrats to your son, that's great he is in the band!

I feel compelled to say that I find it disturbing that there is this implied violence toward animals. I don't know the background of the musical piece, so I won't guess about what the subject is, but when there are troubled kids involved, I would hope that they are learning kindness toward animals. I know that many children with emotional needs, such as coming from abusive homes, have problems with being compassionate toward others. I work in special education.

I hope your son and the kids and you have a great night!

Jan

Sound effects artists are known as Foley Artists. I did a quick google search on Foley artist and found a few sites with info including Wikipedia that had an example of a bone snapping using a stick of celery. Wikipedia - Foley artist. Depending how loud or if he can use a mic will depend on what you use, maybe a stick breaking would make a louder "bone" crack than celery in this instance. Found this idea for a squishy sound at another site "'Flubber' (they sell it in toy stores) is great for wet swuishy sounds; so is gelatin and liquid hand soap." There were also links within Wikipedia to other sound effect sites, so have a look around and I'm sure you'll find something.

Thanks Anon4now, great sites and ideas! Yes, gooey stuff... that'll really help.

Trudi... jello...duh!

Thanks Wendy, yes I'll look for more...

Hi naj, no worries, these are these really nice kids, even the most pierced and tattooed among them are sweet to those that are more challenged. They are putting together something along the lines of Humpty Dumpty... all done in good fun... and under very very good guidance. I just thought I'd share the joy with everyone...

Hey CC, I'm recording foley right now, .. I think I can handle it.

Do they want it funny (like a cartoon) or serious, as in realistic? I'm thinking you want funny

Hi CC,

Just read your message again, now at home. Now maybe I understand that rather than have me give you some sound FX from my library, or record some new foley, he'd rather do it himself, and you are looking for some ideas on how to do it?

If he wants to do it himself, you've already gotten some good tips from this thread.

For the head snap, the celery suggestion is a classic, or also uncooked spaghetti, that will get that idea across!

For the squishing sound, Trudi's idea of GAK, is excellent!

Or you could use hair gel, that will work! In fact, here is a silly YouTube of Marsha and me doing that very thing for "The Magic School Bus" a show we did the sound FX for a LONG time ago:


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5QYHlsskRmI

omg, perfect,. The plunger made all the difference from what we were trying (not that we weren't having fun anyway...). Awesome fun vid! I can't believe you sound exactly like you read! And MSB was not a long long time ago, it was exactly recent enough to give you major street cred with a 13 year old. As soon as he wakes up I'm gonna show him, and he's gonna be on a new career path, for sure....
Is that Sam or Gandy on your lap? Even more beautiful in 3d... (Marsha, too... could she come across as any more fun?)

1] thank you so much, we're gonna have a blast with this.
2} what fun it's been seeing you two, everyone here should post a 'what I do for a living' vid... such a neat peak!