How can I make nice sound effects for a user interface?

April 15, 2008 12:58 PM

What software can I use to design sounds for a user interface?

I'm looking for software (ideally free or open source) that can be used to design clicks, beeps, chirps, and other sounds for a graphical user interface.

I've looked at Audacity and FL Studio as potential options. FL Studio's synthesis tools are close to what I think I need, but are too music-centered rather than sound effects-centered. Any ideas?

posted by ciocarlia to media & arts (6 comments total)

If you like working with the building blocks of synthesizers (oscillator/filter/envelope/etc) I highly recommend PD.
posted by waxboy at 1:22 PM on April 15, 2008

I may just be impatient, but I think PD is probably overkill for what you're trying to do.

It's been ages since I looked at Fruity Loops, but I would take a look at the SimSynth Live instrument that appears to be included in the demo. (Which I presume is what you have.) Just set up a loop with one note in it so you can hear the tweaks your making and export a .wav file when you're done.

If SimSynth isn't included in the demo, look for another VST Plugin synthesizer that you can trigger through FL Studio.

or... I can't vouch for this but it looks like an earlier standalone version of the SimSynth included in FL Studio.
posted by clockwork at 2:04 PM on April 15, 2008

I would recommend AudioMulch.

Link
posted by GS1977 at 2:30 PM on April 15, 2008

If you like programming, you might like csound.
posted by DarkForest at 2:31 PM on April 15, 2008

I remember finding some great progs years ago for one off sounds from this SynthZone software list. In particular Orangator. But it doesn't appear on that list anymore. This place has a screenshot and a zip to DL Orangator.

Stomper was also really damn powerful. I think the synth engine ended up being absorbed in to some 'hardware' based drum sequencer.

This is all old tech, but perfectly useful if you just want to create one off bleeps and blips.
posted by mnology at 2:59 PM on April 15, 2008

Way overkill, but Reason has synths and LFO's and a graintable synth, all sorts of thingys to coax new sounds out of.
posted by Mach5 at 3:56 PM on April 15, 2008