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Sound Designer

Last updated: Mar 1, 2024
Reads: 27,224

Career Overview

The Sound Designer oversees the creative aspects of how a film will feel sonically and what its unified sound aesthetic will be.

Alternate Titles

Sound Editor, Supervising Sound Editor

Salary Range

$68,000-$124,000

Career Description

The Sound Designer is the position in charge of creating a production’s soundscape. Sound Designers oversee the inclusion of all diegetic and non-diegetic sound in a film, television show, commercial, or other form of entertainment.

Diegetic sound is sound inherent to the world of the film, such as dialogue and music emanating from a source in a scene, like a radio in someone’s bedroom or a bar’s jukebox.

Non-diegetic sound is sound that is not part of the world of the film. Examples include narration or a musical score.

Examples of what a Sound Designer might be tasked to do on a film include cleaning up dialogue, adding sound effects, and generally balancing the different soundtracks, including the dialogue, sound effects, and score.

The job of a Sound Designer is to ensure that each soundtrack is in harmony with the others and that the necessary dominant sound in each moment has prevalence.

What does a Sound Designer do? This video explains.

A Sound Designer is key to the success of any film. Not only do they make sure that the basics like clean dialogue and appropriate sound effects make the world of the film audible and believable, but also they help to convey the more intangible qualities of a film like emotion and atmosphere.

For a small project such as a short film, a Sound Designer may be a one-person sound department and responsible for all of the sound needs. For larger productions, they’ll head up a team of other sound professionals where those same tasks can be spread out among multiple people.

The day-to-day schedule of a Sound Designer depends on the needs of each project. They are part of the post-production team, so deadlines are determined by the delivery dates set forth by the DirectorProducer, or Film Editor.

That being said, for larger productions, the Sound Designer might come on board during even the pre-production phase to ready themselves for the oncoming needs of the project.

A Sound Designer is generally considered a freelance professional, which gives them the option to create their own schedule. If they have the time and energy to do so, they can work on multiple projects at the same time. For instance, because commercials are generally not extremely time-intensive, a Sound Designer might work on two or three at once.

But in most cases, a Sound Designer works exclusively on a feature film they’ve been hired for, as this type of project demands the full attention and detail of someone in their position.

To learn what a career as a Sound Designer is like, we talked to:

What does a Sound Designer do in film?

Daniel Lepervanche (Trailers for West Side Story, Birds of Prey, 1917)

As part of the sound post-production team, which ideally will also include Sound Editors, Foley Artists, ADR Mixers, Dialogue Editors, and Re-Recording Mixers, to name a few, Sound Designers in film are tasked to recreate sounds, invent sounds that might not exist and/or craft sounds that might be used to serve as sonic foundations for character motifs, scene enhancements, and/or bridging the gap between the score, music, and other sound elements of the soundtrack/final mix.

The magic of bringing a scene to life sonically can be a powerful storytelling device. Therefore the Sound Designer should consider providing interesting options, while also knowing how to collaborate with other creatives, Producers, Directors, [and] executives, and know that the goal should be to serve the story.

Brandon Jones (A Quiet Place, Godzilla vs Kong, Jungle Cruise)

A Sound Designer is basically responsible for creating any signature sounds that are specific to the film or the project. It involves a lot of experimentation. You have to do a lot of recording, layering, and manipulating of sounds to create the overall … I guess “sonic character” of the movie is a good way to put it.

For example, if it’s a creature movie or a horror movie, the Sound Designer will spend a lot of time developing what the creature’s vocals sound like, what their footsteps sound like, or what their movements, skin, or anything like that sound like. If it’s a car movie like The Fast and the Furious, they’ll spend a lot of time recording car engines and then taking those sounds and manipulating them, enhancing them, and making something special for that movie. If it’s a war movie, they’ll record guns, they’ll design explosions and bullet ricochets, and make them specific for the film. You don’t want to use the same bullet ricochets and the same gunshots in tons of films. You want it to sound a little different or a little specific to your movie.

I had a Mixer tell me one time, “You can tell instantly what kind of movie you’re in by the sound of the gunshots.” I thought about that and I was like, “Man, he’s right,” because if you hear the gunshots in Indiana Jones, it communicates: “This is a fun adventure movie. Everything’s over the top and wild and crazy.” But then the gunshots in Saving Private Ryan are totally different. They’re very gritty. They’re visceral, they’re scary, and they’re vicious. So you can tell right away, because of the Sound Designer’s work, what kind of movie you’re in. That’s a Sound Designer’s responsibility.

Sound Designers always work in conjunction with Sound Effects Editors. In the olden days, there was a clear distinction between the two responsibilities. A Sound Designer was creating sounds, and then the Sound Effects Editor was taking those sounds and applying them to the movie, and cutting them into sync. They would also cut the hard effects like doors and any more straightforward stuff into the movie.

Nowadays, the line is getting blurred. Sound Designers end up doing a lot of sound effects editing, and a lot of Sound Effects Editors are doing sound design. So, depending on where you work, it can be a real mishmash of the two. But in a nutshell, that’s basically what a Sound Designer does.

Benjamin Cook (Westworld, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Cowboy Bebop)

A Sound Designer works closely with the Director, Picture Editor, and Producers to create the sonic pallet, the aural world of the film. Creating naturalistic and abstract sound effects, sonic textures, and ambiances that aid in connecting the audience emotionally to the story and aid in the drama or move the story forward.

Salary

According to Glassdoor, the annual average salary for a Sound Designer is $77,875 and typical salary range runs from $68,000 to $124,000.

Because it is a freelance career, every Sound Designer gig typically involves some measure of wage negotiation, which can result in a different amount of compensation each time. Factors such as a professional’s experience, the demands of a particular project, and the turnaround time for it will impact the amount that a Sound Designer receives for a job.

Four-time Oscar-winning Sound Designer Richard King offers his advice to those new to the craft.

A Sound Designer can become eligible to join the Motion Picture Editors Guild, or IATSE Local 700, which includes a wide group of post-production professionals beyond Editors. When a Sound Designer is a union member, they will typically receive more lucrative wages, as they are protected by the salary regulations for union workers on a project.

How much do Sound Designers cost?

Anna Keizer (CareersInFilm)

The job of a Sound Designer is one that requires a specific combination of artistic and technical skills. For that reason, a Sound Designer may easily charge $100 per hour or more for their services. Given that Sound Designers may work several days to weeks on a single project, the cost to hire one may mean several thousand dollars.

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Career Outlook

The world of film is so visual-centric that the importance of sound can be overlooked by those not in the industry.

But for the Directors, Producers, and others who understand just how vital sound is to the success of their films – and who do the hiring for it – they’re constantly on the lookout for skilled Sound Designers.

So while the contributions of a Sound Designer may not be regularly recognized by the general public, a professional who has shown themselves to be hard-working, talented, and easy to work with will always be in demand.

That being said, it will likely take much time, dedicated energy, and great patience to get to a position where a professional can rely solely on their sound designing work for their livelihood. That is the nature of most every freelance position in film.

For this reason, it’s important that aspiring Sound Designers be proactive in their careers. That means taking on every viable opportunity to grow skillsets and professional networks.

Just like anyone else in the entertainment business, aspiring Sound Designers need to look after their financial well-being. That might mean not always being able to take a low-paying or volunteer gig.

But if the project can help to demonstrate a Sound Designer’s talent and includes other professionals who may be able to get them a paying position in the future, it’s a gig to at least consider.

Another reason to consider taking any opportunity that comes along is because there will be downtime in this profession. If instead that time can be filled with even a volunteer position, when you’re at the career-building level, it can be useful towards building connections, skills, and one’s work reel.

Just how difficult is it to learn sound design? This video explores this vital part of filmmaking.

When on a job, a Sound Designer may find that much of their waking hours are devoted to it. That being said, maintaining some semblance of a work-life balance is important, as burnout is a very real issue for many filmmaking professionals.

As such, an aspiring Sound Designer must be realistic about their capabilities and what they can accomplish in a given period of time. That also translates into being able to communicate with others about those capabilities.

Many professions in the filmmaking industry require strong communication skills, and that of a Sound Designer is no different. While that often means being able to communicate about the project itself, it also includes being forthcoming about expectations and one’s ability to live up to them.

The Sound Designer will typically collaborate with the Director on the latter’s overall vision. They will also get notes from the Producer and Film Editor.

Within their own sound department, they’ll collaborate with the Dialogue Editor, Foley Editor, and Background Editor. They also talk to the Music Supervisor and Composer to make sure all sounds are functioning cohesively.

The professional life of a Sound Designer can be fulfilling both creatively and financially, but it is also a career that requires constant proactivity to maintain the relationships and build the skillsets that will lead to future jobs.

Career Path

Because the craft of sound design is one that encompasses both creativity and technical know-how, often the career path of someone entering this field begins with college, where they can gain a base knowledge of the industry.

Especially with the rapidly evolving world of sound equipment, it can often prove useful to use college as a professional springboard. There an aspiring Sound Designer can familiarize themselves with the latest equipment used in the industry as they also sharpen their skills on student films and start making professional connections.

College likewise is typically when those looking to become Sound Designers can take on internships to further those skillsets and networking opportunities.

The importance of making solid connections in the film industry cannot be overestimated, as much of this business and the referrals within it come from past colleagues and working relationships.

Filmmakers within any part of the industry can be hesitant to refer someone they’ve never worked with before. So to have the greatest chance of getting that recommendation for a gig, an emerging Sound Designer has to have already made those connections. That means taking on as many viable opportunities as possible as early as possible in one’s career.

Taking on gigs as a Production Assistant in any area of post-production or Assistant to a Sound Designer offer a useful way to observe what happens once a film is “in the can” and the post-production team takes it over. From this vantage point, an aspiring Sound Designer can better understand how the different post departments work together and under deadlines.

These types of opportunities also open the door to potential mentor relationships where an established Sound Designer takes on someone working their way up as an Assistant and gives them the chance to shadow them on jobs to learn more quickly and comprehensively what it takes to be a successful Sound Designer.

Watch in real time as a Sound Designer works his movie magic.

This type of real-world experience can be immensely helpful to someone working their way up to be a Sound Designer.

However, with the wide accessibility of post-production software, regardless of whether someone works in the film industry, aspiring Sound Designers can now more quickly hone their skills as they continue to take jobs in support roles on their path to becoming a Sound Designer.

Whether through self-education or a growing resume of smaller gigs, an aspiring Sound Designer can begin to build their reel of work that will hopefully gain attention and get them future jobs with more seniority and responsibility.

Many major cities like Vancouver, Atlanta, and Houston have growing production communities where aspiring Sound Designers can be successful. Moreover, now more than ever many facets of post-production, including sound design, can be done remotely from anywhere across the globe.

That being said, the more established production locales like Los Angles and New York still remain the most popular places to be, as that’s where the bulk of the work remains. Plus, even if a client is largely fine with their Sound Designer working remotely, they may still want face-to-face time to initially discuss the project and have periodic meetings.

What does Sound Designer mean?

Anna Keizer (CareersInFilm)

To say that you are a Sound Designer means that you are the professional on a film or similar type of entertainment who creates sound tracks for those projects. You both create and acquire audio elements that in turn to help tell the story of the film, television show, commercial, or other production.

How do you get started in sound design?

Brandon Jones (A Quiet Place, Godzilla vs Kong, Jungle Cruise)

If you wanna get started, start recording sounds right away. That’s huge. Really have an eagerness to experiment and just try things. If you have a Pro Tools rig and you’ve recorded a bunch of sounds, start playing with those sounds. I mean pitching them up, pitching them down, and seeing what you get. Trying different plugins and everything.

One of the things I did early on when I wanted to get into sound design was I started advertising on Craigslist. I don’t know if Craigslist is like this anymore–this was like ten or twelve years ago that I was doing this. But I would pore over listings every day and I would send my résumé.

My first gig was a UCLA student film that was advertised on Craigslist. He said, “I need a Sound Designer for my short film,” and I got the gig. I think I did it for like $200 or something. I was probably making less than minimum wage because I put so many hours into that thing. But then he ended up recommending me to his classmates, and so I did another UCLA short film, and then another student film. Within a couple of years, I was doing a steady stream of student films for USC and UCLA.

Then from there … I’d get a TV pilot, then I’d get a small, independent feature film, and then I’d get another feature film. After five or six years, I was actually working pretty steadily in the independent film world. So for me, it really was a slow, gradual process.

You can go that route, but if you’re fortunate to have connections and know people in the field, I would say use any connection you have. Reach out to take people to lunch often and kind of pick their brains, ask them about things and tell them that you’re interested in getting into sound design, and maybe an opportunity will pop up.

There’s been a big imbalance in terms of gender in the industry. It’s been really male-heavy for a long time. So it’s a great time for young women to get in the field because the opportunities are really, really great. They’re trying to correct that imbalance that’s been there for so many years.

I’d encourage people to be persistent and send out 100 resumés. Don’t be afraid if ninety-five of them come back as “no” or get no response. Be persistent and keep trying. And don’t be afraid to start out on your own and just do your own independent film projects or anything that you can find.

Record a lot, work really hard. Try to have an open mind and try to think outside the box and be as creative as possible. That’s what it’s all about.

Daniel Lepervanche (Trailers for West Side Story, Birds of Prey, 1917)

I believe research is key in the beginning of any endeavor. Read articles, trade magazines, attend panels about the sound craft, and meet other sound professionals to see if it resonates with you. If you decide to take the leap, get your hands on some recording gear, a computer workstation, learn and master a DAW (Digital Workstation such as Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, etc.), record source materials, and keep practicing the skills.

Like Guitar Players learning to shred by listening to records and playing to the greats, deconstruct and redesign your favorite film scenes, trailers, video games, or any other audiovisual content you might be leaning towards. Build a website with your contact information and demo reels, make a resume, start networking, constantly scout all the job search engines, and maybe even try to get your foot in the door as a Runner, PA, or Coordinator in any sound house or sound crew.

Benjamin Cook (Westworld, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Cowboy Bebop)

You can get started by just simply starting to tell stories with only sound…it’s a great exercise. Then practice redesigning existing scenes from film and TV and if you want to push yourself, do it with only a few or a single sound file and use all the sonic tools available to manipulate that sound into dozens of others.

You learn by doing, so do lots, even if it’s just practice or you’re not getting paid. Internships at sound facilities and studios are a great way to get your foot in the door and these will often lead to getting a position. If nothing else, you will get the context of what different positions do and what is required and expected from them.


How long does it take to become a Sound Designer?

Brandon Jones (A Quiet Place, Godzilla vs Kong, Jungle Cruise)

I would really stress that you have to be patient if you wanna become a Sound Designer. If you’re talking about getting in the union and working in Hollywood movies, a lot of Sound Designers start off as Assistant Sound Editors. They’ll do that for several years and get experience, learn Pro Tools, and learn how a Sound Department works. Then they can move up to become Sound Editors, and they’ll work at that for years and years, and then they can move up to be Sound Designers.

It really depends on where you work. If there’s a lot of opportunity, you can move up really quickly. But I know some places where people end up working as Assistants for like ten years and they wanna move up, but there’s just no opportunity. I know of other places where someone starts off as an Assistant and it’s a small company, so people end up leaving, and after a year, they find themselves being Sound Editors. Really, it’s kind of a crapshoot as far as that goes.

Just be patient. Don’t expect to be a Sound Designer your first year out of college. It takes a lot of time to learn the craft, get experience in a wide variety of film styles, and make thousands and thousands of mistakes along the way. That’s the only way you’re gonna learn, you know?

Daniel Lepervanche (Trailers for West Side Story, Birds of Prey, 1917)

There are many factors but, sure thing, if you have the skills, contacts, and some luck, the red carpet could potentially happen overnight, but for others, it might take more patience and perseverance. In this industry thick skin is a necessity, as well as humble confidence, and the tenacity to pursue the dream. The delicate balance of vocation, profession, passion, and mission might take some time, but if you’re lucky to find it, then you do your best to try and hold on to it.

Also, when projects are looking for Sound Designers, it sometimes means they might be looking for an individual that can handle all the aspects of the Sound Post-Production workflow, so communication is key when establishing working expectations and delivery capabilities, or be ready to expand your skillset, step up to the challenge, and grow professionally. Furthermore, a good, positive, team player attitude will take you further than any sound chops you might have, so be kind, be tasteful, and step out of the creative comfort zone.

Benjamin Cook (Westworld, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Cowboy Bebop)

There is really no time requirement to be a Sound Designer…it’s more a matter of doing, learning the craft, and like any artistic endeavor–finding your voice.

Experience & Skills

No matter what area of filmmaking a person works in, their colleagues want to know that they are dependable and will get their job done.

Because so many people are largely unfamiliar with what goes into sound design, it becomes all the more important for a Sound Designer to instill confidence in others that they are competent and qualified for the job.

That means having examples of prior work to show a potential client, which can only come from past experience. Again, while building a career, this is exactly why it’s so important to take on any jobs that one can feasibly do while also looking after their everyday needs.

With experience comes not only greater skill in terms of creativity and technical expertise, but also quickness. Unfortunately, the post-production world is often rushed. Clients want yesterday what you said could be done only today.

While a more experienced Sound Designer might come with a higher wage rate, clients might agree to that higher rate because they have more confidence in the Sound Designer’s ability to deliver what needs to be accomplished in the timeframe provided.

How important is sound design really? This video demonstrates the storytelling impact of this part of filmmaking.

So in addition to being proficient in the latest sound-specific post-production equipment and keeping fresh that creative spirit that’s vital to any project, a Sound Designer who wants to have a long and productive career in this industry must also handle the sometimes demanding time constraints of projects and work well under those pressures.

Speaking of creative spirit, it’s important for Sound Designers regardless of their time in the industry to remain inspired to do their work well. Getting that inspiration often comes from watching movies with interesting and unexpected sound design. It also means maintaining and growing strong creative connections with others in the industry to be able to explore and discuss ideas with them.

A great Sound Designer must also know how to collaborate and parse out what their colleagues might be looking for even if they aren’t able to articulate those wants.

Sound Designers translate the emotions filmmakers want an audience to feel into sound. They need to not only be creative in their approach to Director notes, but also be able to explain why they made the choices they did for every single component of their soundscape.

To help grow and strengthen these skills, some tips:

  • Learn Pro Tools, which is an industry-standard software program.
  • Listen to different environments and imagine how you’d artistically represent them.
  • Research successful Sound Designers and try to get an internship at their post-production companies. Without overstepping boundaries, try to get in touch with them to ask about any potential work opportunities such as internships or PA opportunities.
  • Watch – and listen to! – movies. With your eyes closed, can you still understand the story being told?

What makes a good Sound Designer?

Benjamin Cook (Westworld, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Cowboy Bebop)

A good Sound Designer will have an appreciation of drama, literature, music, sound and the movie-making process. A musical nature is beneficial. Interest and background in recording, sampling, synthesis is also extremely helpful as well as a familiarity with modern DAWs.

Daniel Lepervanche (Trailers for West Side Story, Birds of Prey, 1917)

As the legendary Randy Thom said during one of the recent panels I attended, “A great craftsman knows how to avoid accidents. A great artist knows how to use them,” and another golden nugget he gave us: “If you’re not making mistakes, you’re probably not making anything very interesting. You’re probably just repeating something from before.” I also believe a good Sound Designer knows how to actively listen, properly employ the power of silence, and make good use of the tools at hand.

Whether obsessively recording sounds to have as source materials for processing, diving deep into your DAW of choice (Digital Workstation such as Pro Tools, Logic, Cubase, etc.), experimenting with different plug-ins, VSTs, Synths, etc., or checking out other programs for inspiration, practice is a key fundamental to sharpen your skills and potentials for success.

Brandon Jones (A Quiet Place, Godzilla vs Kong, Jungle Cruise)

For me, it’s recording a lot. I always have a handheld recorder with me wherever I go. If I hear something cool and interesting, I just record it and catalog it in my sound library. A lot of the time, I have no idea what I would ever use it for. But it’s just about being able to hear sounds in the world around you.

Then if you record enough over many years, you can get a really respectable collection of sounds, and those can be sounds that no one else in the world has. You can kind of develop your own signature sounds or your own style through the sounds you record. So it’s a really big deal to record a lot of sounds.

Once you have those sounds recorded, you have to completely forget about what the source of the sound was because that can be misleading. You need to just focus on the sound itself and focus on the quality. Does it sound metallic or wooden? Does it sound big or small? All these different things.

If you can forget where the sound came from, it opens the door to use sounds that you would never really expect would work for a certain scene in a movie. If you can really think outside the box, you can come up with some cool, interesting ideas that can be really effective in the film.

Obviously, you have to know Pro Tools in and out. That’s the main program that we use. There are a few other programs that some Sound Designers use, but Pro Tools is the standard. So really having a full, working knowledge of that is important.

Education & Training

If someone is looking to begin their career as a Sound Designer with college, they can generally pursue one of two options.

They might decide to attend a school with an audio production/recording program. This type of program can provide a highly detailed level of learning for aspiring Sound Designers with sound-specific classes that cover topics like signal flow, recording software, microphone choice, and so on.

Seeing with your ears is one way to describe sound design in film. This video offers a look at how the role of it has transformed and heightened many of Steven Spielberg’s most memorable movies, including Munich.

Because of the growing acknowledgement of just how important sound is to the overall experience and success of a film, many film schools now provide specialized programs for students who are looking to enter this sector of the movie business.

While they will receive an education fairly focused on sound design and its role in filmmaking, aspiring Sound Designers can also learn about all the many other facets of making movies, such as directing, producing, and even screenwriting, that can all help to strengthen one’s perspective as it relates to their specific medium of sound design.

Do Sound Designers need a degree?

Benjamin Cook (Westworld, Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse, Cowboy Bebop)

A formal education isn’t necessary, but film and music schools will provide an opportunity to learn equipment and software and to foster relationships with like-minded people that often have a long-lasting career impact–it’s a very relational job.

There are a lot of non-degree courses in sound recording and media creation that will give you some valuable skill sets. Nowadays there are a ton of free and low-cost courses and training available online and on YouTube, Vimeo, etc.

Daniel Lepervanche (Trailers for West Side Story, Birds of Prey, 1917)

In my opinion and personal experience, any type of higher education, whether it is a certificate program, technical school, or a university degree, could give you the rudiments, fundamentals, research skills, and experience that can potentially make a Sound Designer a more well-rounded professional and overall human being.

In addition to all the networking opportunities that can arise from these types of institutions, [you will acquire] the portfolio that you might also leave with as school projects become part of your early body of work. I am lucky I still get to work with some schoolmates, we support each other, and continue collaborating in different capacities. Finally, having a formal higher education might not necessarily be essential to make it as a Sound Designer, but in the big picture, I don’t think it hurts to have that little paper hanging on the wall.

Brandon Jones (A Quiet Place, Godzilla vs Kong, Jungle Cruise)

That’s a great question because you definitely don’t need a specific degree to become a Sound Designer. I’m a perfect example. I was a classical guitar major … and I ended up in sound design. So it’s one of those things that happens. In fact, I know a lot of people that tried to be musicians who kind of hit a wall and then found themselves doing sound design instead.

There are some degrees in film sound design, but a lot of them have popped up in recent years so it’s difficult to see what the long-term track records for those schools are. But there are schools like Full Sail University, which has been around for a long time. They have a great program and several people who have come out of there have been very successful.

I also know a lot of people who have gone the film school route. They’ll go to UCLA or USC and they’ll be in the film school program … but they can do an emphasis on sound. Those schools are great because you have built-in connections to Hollywood.

I worked at a company called E² for a long time, and many of their Sound Assistants came out of the USC film school. Those Assistants went on to become Sound Editors after years. Then from there, they could move on up to Sound Designers, et cetera.

So, there’s no standard route. I’ve seen so many people have different paths. Some people are lucky enough to get into the union as a Sound Designer or a Sound Editor Assistant right out of college. And some people, like myself, work for eight or more years doing other stuff, and then they finally find themselves in the union and working on Hollywood films. There are a lot of different routes you can take.

Fun Facts

The very first Academy Award for Best Sound was given in 1930 for the film The Big House.

Who is a famous Sound Designer?

Anna Keizer (CareersInFilm)

Though they provide an indispensable service in the filmmaking world, Sound Designers do not normally acquire the same kind of fame that a Director or even a Cinematographer would gain. That being said, many are well-known and respected within the film community. This group of individuals includes Ben Burtt, Christopher Boyes, David Acord, Gary Rydstrom, and Will Files.

Additional Resources

Daniel Lepervanche recommends this excellent Los Angeles Times article on how to start a career in sound design.

The Association of Sound Designers, or ASD, has an online archive of past seminars that can be viewed about all aspects of sound design.

Lynda.com and YouTube may also have decent sound design tutorials. There are also Facebook groups like Sound Design and Sound Design Only that can be great resources.

Even online sites such as Masterclass can prove beneficial to aspiring Sound Designers who are looking for free or low-cost options to develop their understanding of sound design.

Sound Designer Benjamin Cook
Benjamin Cook

A 20+ year veteran in the post sound industry. He has worked at or for all the major studios and several independent facilities in Hollywood. A 10 time Emmy Award nominee–winning 4. He has also been nominated for a CAS award for his mixing work on Westworld, and several MPSE Golden Reel Awards. In 2006, Apocalypto was nominated for an Academy Award.

“I was introduced to Post Production taking a part-time job at night transferring 1/4” production sound rolls, while pursuing a music career in Los Angeles. A love of movies and my interest in samplers (sampling) and midi keyboards served me well. I had already been using time code to synchronize tape machines to various midi devices (drum machines and keyboards). So, it wasn’t a huge leap to synchronize a DAW to a 3/4” deck. My first job cutting sfx was on Hercules – The Legendary Adventures and its spin-off Xena – Warrior Princess. Twenty years later my love affair with technology and sound continues. I have been very fortunate to work on great projects balancing work in both television and film.”

Notable Television credits include Deadwood, Rome, The Pacific, Black Sails, Lost in Space, Jack Ryan, Westworld….and most recently The Old Man. Film credits include Apocalypto, Secretariat, Spiderman: Homecoming, and Spiderman: Into the Spiderverse.

Sound Designer Brandon Jones
Brandon Jones

Brandon Jones is a Sound Designer, Sound Supervisor, and Re-Recording Mixer based in Los Angeles. He grew up in Chicago, then moved to LA to pursue a career in music. He studied classical guitar at Pepperdine University with world-renowned Guitarist Christopher Parkening, then earned his Masters’s in guitar performance at USC. It was years later that he moved into the film industry, doing sound design and mixing for small independent projects, eventually working his way up to feature films. He has been fortunate enough to work on such films as A Quiet Place, Godzilla vs Kong, Jungle Cruise, Detective Pikachu, The Shallows, Sonic the Hedgehog, and many more.

Sound Designer Daniel Lepervanche
Daniel Lepervanche

Daniel Lepervanche was born in Venezuela, raised in Miami, and is a proud Los Angeles resident. An accomplished Music Director, Composer, Sound Designer, and Re-Recording mixer, he has over ten years of professional experience in music and sound post-production.

Daniel has had the honor of working with award-winning music companies, sound houses, and creative agencies on projects for major motion picture studios such as Paramount Pictures, Warner Bros., Disney, Sony Pictures, Fox Studios, NBCUniversal, and Netflix; production companies such Freemantle, and Endemol Shine Group; videogame developers such as Activision, Cygames, and Netmarble; and brands such as McDonald’s, Diesel, Powerade, Snickers, and Honda.

Furthermore, he holds a Bachelor’s and a Master’s degree in Music Technology, and being fluent in Spanish has allowed him to work with diverse teams, multicultural content, and global campaigns.

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