I recently sat in on a predub session with re-recording mixer, Jacob Cook. He was mixing a super heavy sound effects portion of an episode and I noticed he would regularly glance over at his loudness meter. See, he had the mix in the ballpark, but for this pass he was punching up certain scenes, making more creative choices and giving it a more dynamic, story-driven polish. Now although the decision making of his mixing was first and foremost informed by the story he was telling, he had to make sure he was still working within the guidelines of the delivery loudness specifications. This prompted me to look a bit deeper into loudness metering to help myself understand it a bit more for when I mix my own projects. Loudness can seem technical and intimidating at first, but what I’ve gathered is that it’s really about one simple idea: making sure your mix sounds balanced and consistent wherever it’s played.
Mixing for multiple mediums is difficult. What once was a straight forward process (project A is for theatrical release, project B is for TV, etc) has evolved over the years to become much more complicated. Every film, though it may start out in theaters, will undoubtedly also be consumed on an iPhone.
I for one think we need to stop panning materials like it’s all going to a giant screen. I try to live life by the “everything in moderation” mantra and I think it serves us well to approach mixing for multiple mediums in this way.
In the spirit of Halloween, we brought back another edition of the “Death by Sound Effect” series! For those unfamiliar with this sound design challenge: we brainstorm a list of some imaginative (and gruesome) ways one’s life could end, then ask our sound editors to pick one and design the sound of it. Let’s see what they came up with!
A filled out library is essential for any sound effects editor. We here at Boom Box use the BBP original libraries on the daily, but there’s some disagreement on which library is the best. I decided it’s time to settle the score!
Artificial intelligence use has recently become top of mind for many of us, especially those of us in creative industries like sound and music. So, I wasn’t completely surprised when Soundgirls invited me to take part in an panel at their upcoming virtual conference regarding AI in the sound industry. I had an intensely fun and engaging first conversation with the other panelists, each of whom are in different areas of the sound industry, where we shared our personal hopes and fears. But it occurred to me that I would love to hear what your thoughts are on AI.
It’s already that time of the year again! Judging for the 4th Children’s and Family Emmy Awards has just commenced. Boom Box Post was fortunate enough to submit 9 projects for consideration this year! We’re extremely proud of our sound work on these series and would love to share with you. Below you’ll find our highlights and a first look at some of our favorites.
As we prepare to flip our calendars from September to October and officially enter Spooky Season, I felt it was appropriate to take a look and listen to the origin story of these iconic soundtracks, and how they shaped our perception of the sound of Halloween over the years.
Sometimes it’s good to revisit the highlights! Our Inside Sound Design series has given us the chance to pull back the curtain and share the creative process behind some of our favorite projects. Whether you missed them the first time around or just want a fresh dose of sound design inspiration, here are five of our favorites (plus a bonus honorable mention) that worth another look!
You may have aced our previous sound effects crossword puzzles, but let’s see how you do with these audio post terms! This puzzle will test your knowledge of the tools and workflows of our industry. Good luck!
As sound editors and mixers, we spend our workdays in rooms isolated from the outside world, buried in our waveforms and plug-ins. But sometimes the most valuable exercise is simply stepping away from your workstation and listening to the world around you.
Do you typically arrange your plugins and windows in a specific way for your editorial and mixing work? What if your window layout loaded up the same every time opposed to requiring you to reconfigure from scratch? Let’s break down how to take advantage of Pro Tools Window Configurations!
Premium mix stages: Designed for Comfort, built for Atmos
Bring your next project to life in one of our three state-of-the-art re-recording mix stages, each equipped with Dolby Atmos 7.1.4, pristine acoustics, and the comfort your clients and creatives deserve.
In June of this year, Pro Tools released an update that caught my attention. Version 2025.6 features “Speech to Text,” a new AI-driven technology that seems to have the potential to be a leap forward in how we handle dialogue in post production sound. I know, just the mention of AI can be scary for all of us - trust me, I get the concerns. But I do firmly believe that when used solely as a tool, there may be some very helpful applications for AI in our workflow. Is Speech to Text a game changer feature for Pro Tools? I decided to give it a try.
Co-owners Jeff Shiffman and Kate Finan recently sat down for a conversation with host Grant Fisher for the Small Business, Big Engine podcast! They cover a ton of ground in this conversation from the past to present, highlighting the decisions they've made along the way as successful business owners. In addition to how they run their business and the creative work itself, they share their outlooks on work culture, the future of the sound industry, AI and more.
You’d be surprised just how “quiet” raw gunshot recordings can sound without any processing. When played back dry, the recordings sound like weak little pops, lacking detail and punch. But with some basic processing, we can turn those thin pops into powerful, rich, cinema-ready gunshot sound effects.
Every productive day starts with the right mindset—and the right snacks. Long days of editing, mixing, and sound designing can’t run on caffeine alone! Here’s a peek at the snack lineup that powers the Boom Box team through long mixes, heavy editorial and the occasional plugin crash.
Building out your studio desk and workspace can become very expensive. But not every upgrade has to break the bank. Sometimes it’s the small, thoughtful additions that end up having the biggest impact on your workflow, comfort, and overall studio vibe. Here are five wallet-friendly upgrades you can make to your home or professional studio that make an impact without hurting your wallet (too much).
As sound professionals, our most important tool isn’t a plugin or piece of gear, it’s our ability to hear. You’d never trust a mix on broken studio monitors or faulty headphones, so it makes no sense to overlook the health of your own ears! In this post I’d like to discuss our ears and how to care for them to ensure a long and prolific career in audio post.
What does a Mustang, a parking lot, and ten pounds of ice have in common? They’ve all played starring roles in our journey to capture our own custom sound effects for shows like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more. In sound design, originality matters. Whether it’s the roar of the Shellraiser or the chilling movement of an Ice Dragon, there’s no substitute for getting your hands dirty and your mic in the middle of it all.
We’ve gathered five of our favorite behind-the-scenes recording sessions that showcase what it takes to build immersive, character-driven sound from scratch. Each one includes real recording footage, final demo clips, and a glimpse into the creative process. Hope you enjoy!
With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, it felt like the perfect opportunity to put together a sound design sketch that captures the magic of this holiday, as I fondly remember it in childhood.
![Death by [Sound Effect]: A Halloween Sound Design Challenge Part 3](https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/54813413e4b0034aade3a0bc/1761344310319-S56G4931ROGALDCGAVRO/cesar-guadarrama-cantu-mybWf9ialag-unsplash.jpg)
