Myth & Magic Sound Design

We recently had the pleasure to collaborate on a Nordic-themed fantasy film, which was an incredible experience. This project allowed us to create sounds using historically accurate weapons and armour, and gave us the opportunity to build an environment abundant in texture. However, since it was a fantasy film, the soundtrack had to be steeped in myth and magic, yet still retain an earthly sound.

Brainstorming

A great way to motivate and energize yourself and/or your team for a big new project is to organize a planning session for the post-production journey of the film. It's beneficial to be part of the sound design discussion right from the beginning with the director in order to ensure success. The earlier you start involvement, the better.

During our brainstorming with the director, we decided that the soundscape should include hyper-realistic original sound effects. Showcasing earthly sounds such as rain and thunder, as well as historically accurate foley of chainmail, shields, swords, and the otherworldly sound design of an oracle and supernatural raven.

Implementing Your Ideas Into A Scene

The film features a supernatural raven that can ensnare and disturb the mind of anyone who looks upon it. For these more mystical scenes, we wanted to ensure that the fantasy elements still had an air of realism. We opted for abstract interpretations of natural noises, using recordings of thunder, wind, and earthquakes to create whooshes, risers, transitions, and dopplers. These natural elements are then used to underscore the gurgling croaks, scratchy caws, and haunting shrieks of a raven.

‍We hope you enjoyed checking out this article! How would you have approached this scene?

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