How to create text scroll sound effects
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What is a text scroll sound effect and when would you use it?
A text scroll sound effect is used when there is text in a video game that gets written out, often as a character is talking (but you cannot hear their voice). In sci-fi games, this sound will usually include a digital or computer sound.
This can be challenging sound to make just right, so today I am going to walk you through how to create your own text scroll sound for video games.
You can also download 25 text scroll sound effects for FREE that you can use royalty-free on any project.
What sound source recordings do you need?
For these sounds, digital or sci-fi sounds (synthesized sounds) tend to work best but you can definitely experiment with a lot of different sound sources. Even sounds like wood can work well.
What software do you need?
I have found that granular synthesizers work best for creating text scroll sound effects. I recommend using either Padshop 2, a granular synth that comes with Cubase, or you could also use a synth such as Massive by Native Instruments. If you decide to use a synth, check out the video tutorial as the approach is slightly different.
How to create the text scroll sound effect?
Now that you have your software ready, you’ll want to load your sound source into a granular synth and play around with the grain settings until you can come up with a sound that is tonal in quality. For Padshop 2, I like to increase the purity to 100% and increase the grain amount to at least 4. After that, experiment with randomizing the position of the grains, as well as grain speed and grain start parameters.
There is not really a right or wrong way of doing it at this stage. You just want to play around until you get a tonal sound.
Once you’ve got your settings at a place you like, the key to making this text scroll sound is to use a step sequencer. I use the one built into Padshop, but you could just as easily do it with a step sequencer plugin.
For the step sequencer, I like to choose a preset (just to save time) and then increase the tempo so that the sequencer speed is faster. Now you may want to go back change the start position to find a place in the sample that has the sound quality you are going for in a text scroll sound effect. But if you had a tonal sound to begin with, at this point, you should already have a text scroll sound effect.
Once I have my settings in place, I like to experiment some more by importing other types of sounds to see what other text scroll sound effects I can create.
Make your own text scroll sound effect
Get creative and have fun creating your own text scroll sound effect, or download 25 FREE text scroll sound effects here and use them royalty-free on any project.
You can also watch the full video of how I made these text scroll sound effects on my YouTube channel.
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