I Hate Breakcore

by **epilektric** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 7:13 pm

This is a very simple technique for creating those creepy horror movie effects. It has been used in countless films and, dare I say it, may even be a little cliche. I shared this technique years ago on another (now gone) website and was surprised that some people didn't know about this. So, let's get to it.

1. Select a sound.
Go grab a sample from your collection and load it into your wave editor. Vocal samples, especially screams, moans, groans, and whispers work really well but you could use just about anything.

2. Reverse the sound
Flip the sound around so that it plays backwards. That's kind of creepy but not quite what we're going for. Let's proceed to step 3.

3. Add Reverb
Apply some generous reverb to the sound. Large cavernous spaces like a cathedral tend to work the best. The goal is to create a nice long tail of echos at the end of the sample.

4. Reverse the sound (Again)
Flip the sound around again so that it plays forwards. The difference is that you should now have a pre-echo to the sound. This echo will gradually get louder until finally the actual sound occurs.

More Info
Why is this a creepy sound? Because it never occurs in nature. An echo or reverb of a sound never happens before the sound happens. It always happens afterwards. Hearing unnatural sounds is what helps make scary movies scary.

You might also try this technique with delay instead of reverb.

by **kloakatriposa** » Wed Mar 25, 2009 9:27 pm

It´s a tech widely used in schranz drums programming, but thx

by **kowalczyk** » Sat Mar 28, 2009 11:26 pm

I've always wondered how to do that. Thanks epilektric.

by **Pr0duct** » Sun Mar 29, 2009 9:15 pm

deffo going to try this, right now!

by **Gazmatic** » Sat May 16, 2009 1:54 pm

Didnt they use that method in The Matrix when Neo swallowed the pill? Kool advice btw, got any more tips like this?

by **infectedansy** » Wed May 20, 2009 12:31 pm

thx very much, really nice effect...

by **producer_snafu** » Wed May 20, 2009 6:44 pm

i suggest layering it with the original sample, adding reverb to a sample sometimes cuts the original volume

by **epilektric** » Fri May 22, 2009 6:20 am

producer_snafu wrote:...adding reverb to a sample sometimes cuts the original volume

Snafu speaks the truth. The sample may become a bit drowned in the reverb so layering it up with a clean copy of itself can help bring it back the surface.

by **DJ_Noodl** » Wed Jun 03, 2009 9:33 pm

yeah

i forgot about that one !!

tnx

by **EvG** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 5:40 pm

yeah you've reminded me my first steps in using Fl

thnx

by **yonosoyelquesoy** » Tue Jun 16, 2009 6:03 pm

they use this method also in nekromantik movies and other creepy gore movies.

by **DISEMBOWELLED** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 1:56 am

noice! always wondered how to get that building 'reverse delay' effect...

by **brokoloid** » Sat Jun 20, 2009 9:19 am

i remember i first heard it in aphex's stuff
then in almost every track of 8FM

by **xentibreakcore** » Tue Jun 23, 2009 1:34 am

yeah, heard it in aphex's stuff, might try it out.

by **fase** » Mon Oct 05, 2009 1:16 pm

very good tips!

I Hate Breakcore

The music we love to hate!

That horror movie sound.

That horror movie sound.

nekromantik

Who is online