Sound design tools for sci-fi/futuristic technology SFX?

[rs_sfx]

Hey everyone,

I've recently been introduced to Tonsturm's Traveler VST and realized I'm a little lacking in this "new wave" of plugins that are specifically geared towards game audio/sci-fi movie style sound effect design. Can anyone suggest tools that are in a similar vein? Suggestions from game audio pros are very welcome as well (upcoming job mentions game audio a fair bit).

Thanks!

[mixyguy2]

I wouldn't call these "sound design tools" exactly (depending on what you mean by that), but for general "space sounds," game-oriented or otherwise, check these synths which oh btw are all free:

Abakos
Cygnus
Effem
Esfera
PAL9000
Symptohm

[i need Help]

For glitchy type sounds I'm a fan of:

NI Driver
Unfiltered Audio's stuff in general, specifically Indent 2 and SpecOps

I use these for sound design in music but I guess a "Pew! Pew!" in a electronic dance song is as good as a "Pew! Pew!" in a Sci-Fi space movie lol.

Edit: Thinking about my application of these types of plugins, I'll add that IMO the bulk of the sound's character actually comes from the source material, i.e. making glitchy metal-y, wavetable-y sounds. These plugins are most of the time (but not always of course) just the sprinkles on top.

[rs_sfx]

I wouldn't call these "sound design tools" exactly (depending on what you mean by that), but for general "space sounds," game-oriented or otherwise, check these synths which oh btw are all free:

Abakos
Cygnus
Effem
Esfera
PAL9000
Symptohm

Thanks! Generally not after synthesizers, more so sound effects, but Cygnus looks interesting. Will check it out

For glitchy type sounds I'm a fan of:

NI Driver
Unfiltered Audio's stuff in general, specifically Indent 2 and SpecOps

I use these for sound design in music but I guess a "Pew! Pew!" in a electronic dance song is as good as a "Pew! Pew!" in a Sci-Fi space movie lol.

Edit: Thinking about my application of these types of plugins, I'll add that IMO the bulk of the sound's character actually comes from the source material, i.e. making glitchy metal-y, wavetable-y sounds. These plugins are most of the time (but not always of course) just the sprinkles on top.

Definitely - that's what I'm looking for as well, something to help source material really shine. Did not know about SpecOps, thanks!

[whyterabbyt]

Hey everyone,

I've recently been introduced to Tonsturm's Traveler VST and realized I'm a little lacking in this "new wave" of plugins that are specifically geared towards game audio/sci-fi movie style sound effect design. Can anyone suggest tools that are in a similar vein? Suggestions from game audio pros are very welcome as well (upcoming job mentions game audio a fair bit).

Thanks!

I'll list some stuff primarily aimed at sound design for game/film/tv etc...

Most Krotos stuff is relevant, thought Weaponiser and Igniter are probably the most obvious 'scifi' but Dehumaniser and Reformer would be useful for wider game audio.

If you find yourself doing a lot of voice mangling/processing, then as well as Dehumaniser, there's Ircam TRAX, and Antares' Vocal Effects, like Mutator and Articulator.

Soundmorph have a few, though some, like Evil Twin are Reaktor ensembles, and others are more standalone tools. Wavewarper is in the same territory as Traveler, I think.

Tonsturm obviously have Whoosh (another one built in Reaktor) as well as Traveler.

IrcamLabs TS, another standalone, might be useful if you want timestretching beyond your DAWs capabilities.

LeSound do specialised stuff for sound effects generation like wind, weather, fire, electrical noises, etc, as DAW plugins, but also some of them as plugins for the FMod game audio engine.

[mixyguy2]

Thanks! Generally not after synthesizers, more so sound effects, but Cygnus looks interesting. Will check it out

Some of the stuff in those could be used as effects, depending on what you're looking for. It's more general "spaceyness" vs gaming sounds though.

Here's another one but requires Kontakt or Logic: https://puremagnetik.com/products/blip- ... ic-samples

[Robmobius]

S-Layer by Twisted Tools would be one of the big ones.

[fairlyclose]

If you are using Reaper then these tools may be useful https://nvktools.gumroad.com/

Soundmorph Wave Warper2 https://www.soundmorph.com/product/66/wave-warper-2
Soundparticles https://soundparticles.com/products/sou ... s/overview

also the GRM Tools which are classics and go on sale fairly cheap at times

[VariKusBrainZ]

DeepAudio can do some crazy shit along with SpectraLayers

[Clem Bennett]

Creepshow Industries have a small range of plugins with glitchy sounds like broken electronics, time and pitch stretching, random stutter effects, extreme wow and flutter, all kinds of audio degradation, bit-crushing, ghostly backwards reverb effects - all aimed at sound designers and record producers who have a love of 1950's sci-fi and horror. I often une their MISHBY plugin when a piece of music has to sound tortured, bent out of shape and broken.
Their visual design aesthetic and cold-war era looking promotional videos are well watching, for fans of everything dystopian, haunted and nostalgically over-populated with flying saucers.