DESIGN
A collection of tips for making your production sound its best.
Need soundscapes for your production?
A soundscape is a complete, linear sound mix that can contain both ambience sounds and added effects. It can be created from scratch or based on existing on-location recordings and can be tweaked so that it completely fits your production and the environment and mood you want the user to experience.
A complete soundscape is fitting for scenes with a fixed length and structure. Soundscapes are created on a per minute basis, so calculate the total length of scenes or elements that require sound design to get an overview of what you need.
When are single sound effects needed?
Single sound effects are called for when the sounds are triggered by user interaction or if you want to implement the sound effects yourself. Note every instance in your production where a sound effect is desired and pass on this information to the sound designer. Pay particular attention to repeated events.
It is often a good idea to have alternative versions of certain sounds to avoid tiring the user with the same sounds over and over again. If you find it hard to get an overview of exactly where a sound effect is needed, ask the sound designer to help out.
Creating an environment
Sound effects and soundscapes can be sculpted to create just about any kind of aural landscape you want. Consider whether you want an environment that sounds completely lifelike, or if you want to bring out certain elements, events, feelings or expressions.
If you can, provide scripts/design documents, concept art or rough edits to help key in the sound designer to the setting and mood you're looking for.
Storytelling through sound
Sound plays a vital role in the narrative aspect of any production, so getting the sound designer keyed in on your direction and the target audience can really bolster the story you're looking to tell - and the sound can even tell a story in its own right.
Bring in the sound designer early in the process to get creative input on how sound can work in your production.
Finding references
Explaining how a sound effect or soundscape should sound can be tricky, so see if you can find references for the sound you're going for.
Describing the overall environment you're looking to create can help shape the general soundscape for scenes in your production, and you may also be able to find examples of the sound you're looking for in other productions, or by using real-life examples.
Staying organized
For larger projects with numerous sound files, try to keep all sounds organized with descriptions and tags if possible. It can also be a good idea to agree on a file naming scheme and retain this structure throughout the project.
This makes it a lot easier to keep track of revisions and updates, and will you help track down that one sound you're looking for in the collection.
Technical considerations
Your targeted platform can affect the choice of sound effects and how they're mixed and processed. There can be level and/or surround mixing considerations if they are to be used on TV, or in the cinema. Or perhaps you need sounds for a device with engine limitations with regard to sample rate, memory resources or output capabilities?
For game audio, consider whether any third party audio middleware solutions are being used.
Fill in your sound designer, so the sounds, the mixing and the integration can be adjusted accordingly.
What's the typical development process?
1. Based on a project brief or meeting, we help you determine the number of sound effects and soundscapes required, and go over elements in your project that require particular emphasis.
2. We deliver the first batch of sound effects and/or soundscapes, and revisions are made if needed.
3. The final soundset is delivered.

Custom-created sounds by award-winning sound designer David Filskov

Full soundscapes or single sound effects, built from our large selection of custom recordings

Mixing , processing and tweaking for full sound integration into your target platform
David Filskov is in charge of sound design, voice acting and post processing at Epic Sound.
David has delivered sound design and sound effects for more than 60 video games, for numerous multimedia productions, presentations, commercials and countless voice-over projects.
David worked for five years as an in-house senior sound
designer
and composer at a game development company, a
position he
left in 2002 to co-found Epic Sound.
Contact David Filskov
Selected references and end-users
20th Century Fox Television • A. Film • Cartoon Network • China Mobile • Cisco • Citibank • Coca-Cola • Creative Assembly • Dirol • Disney • ECCO • Fanta • Fox Kids • Fruittella • GN Otometrics • Geberit • Grundfos • Honda • Hugo • Jamo • Kohberg • LEGO • Limelite • MTV • Maersk • Nickelodeon • Novo Nordisk • Pfizer • Rentokil Initial • SEGA • Sky Bet • Sony • Sprite • Stimorol • Superbest • Teliasonera • Triumph • V6 • VELFAC • Zentropa
Honours and awards
We've worked on a number of critically acclaimed productions - a few highlights:
All-time best-selling Danish animated feature film •
Banff World Television Award nominee •
Best-selling Danish film, 2006 •
Best-selling Danish film, 2007 •
Bodil Award •
Cannes Award •
Cartoon Movie Award nomination •
D3 Best Children's Game Award •
Danish Game Award nominee •
Danish TV Oscar nominee •
Danish World Award •
Danish World Award nominee •
Develop Awards: Audio Excellence finalist •
Develop Industry Excellence Award nominee •
EBU Golden Link Award •
Gamasutra Best Inde Game •
Gamasutra Top 5 PC Game of the Year Award •
Gamespy Editor's Choice Award •
Gamingheaven Heavenly Gold Award •
Glass Bear: Berlin International Film Festival •
GuldDok Award: Best Production •
IGN Best Strategy Game Award •
IGN Editor's Choice Award •
Katapult Award •
Metacritic Universal Acclaim •
Moondance International Film Festival Atlantis Award •
Odense Film Festival Grand Prix Award •
PCFormat Gold Award •
PCGAMER MUST BUY award •
PROMAX World Silver Award •
ROBERT Award •
SILVERDOCS Sterling World nominee •
Silver St. George Award •
Strodhary Special Jury Price •
Sundance Dramatic Audience Award •
TVPRISEN Best Documentary Series Award •
TVPRISEN nominee •
The True Award: Best Campaign & Best Viral Film •
Tribecca nominee