Making evil voices? -Sound Forge - PC - MAGIX Community Forums Archive

Subject:Making evil voices? Posted by: timkline Date:5/3/2003 11:23:25 PM I'm working on an independant movie with a friend, it's sort of a horror/comedy and we would like to distort the voices a bit in some parts. I'm using Sound Forge 6 right now, just what's right out of the box, no special plug ins added. What we are looking for is something that will make voices sound evil or "demonic". Good examples would be the scarey voices in the Evil Dead movies, or even the alien voices from that old "V" TV show. I'm pretty new to anything more than generic sound editing, but still the only one that will be able to do it at all right now, and I'm kind of lost. I've tried altering the pitch, playing with the gapper/snipper .. I just can't get it to sound right, it just sounds lower. Anyone have any advice on how I can get the kind of sound I might be looking for?
Subject:RE: Making evil voices? Reply by: Chienworks Date:5/4/2003 8:49:08 AM This will be a bit difficult to do in SoundForge because it's not a multitrack application, but it's still possible. It would be a lot easier in Vegas or even Vegas LE, however, if you're creative enough and open two SoundForge windows simultanously you should be able to do this: 1) Record the original part speaking as rapidly as possible. 2) Slow it back down to normal speed using Pitch Bend. This will drop the pitch as well. 3) Play this version back in one window while recording in the other. 4) While re-recording, mix in the person whispering the same words in sync with the original recording. Obviously steps 3 and 4 are easier in Vegas. I've used this procedure with very good effect. Some of the audience didn't even want to listen to the whole scene because it scared them so much. OK, true, the audiance was mostly 10 year olds ... but still, it worked well ;)
Subject:RE: Making evil voices? Reply by: Iacobus Date:5/4/2003 11:47:00 AM Adding to what Kelly said, try copying the entire vocal, then paste to new (CTRL+E). Take the copy and use Effects>Pitch>Shift on the menu bar. Pitch shift using the "preserve duration" option. Click OK. Select all the data, then click and drag the data back onto the original. (Bring the cursor all the way back to the beginning so that it lines up.) Mix as appropriate. Try also a combo of using the Effects>Pitch>Bend effect (also with a "preserve duration option"). Finally, add the famous "ghostly reverse reverb" effect by reversing the waveform (Process>Reverse), adding a lot of reverb and then reversing the waveform once more. HTH, Iacobus
Subject:RE: Making evil voices? Reply by: timkline Date:5/4/2003 12:24:43 PM Thanks! The reverse reverb was exactly what I needed :) I don't have vegas, but I can mix a few different versions all together with premiere at least :)

Subject:Making evil voices?

Posted by: timkline

Date:5/3/2003 11:23:25 PM

I'm working on an independant movie with a friend, it's sort of a horror/comedy and we would like to distort the voices a bit in some parts. I'm using Sound Forge 6 right now, just what's right out of the box, no special plug ins added.

What we are looking for is something that will make voices sound evil or "demonic". Good examples would be the scarey voices in the Evil Dead movies, or even the alien voices from that old "V" TV show.

I'm pretty new to anything more than generic sound editing, but still the only one that will be able to do it at all right now, and I'm kind of lost. I've tried altering the pitch, playing with the gapper/snipper .. I just can't get it to sound right, it just sounds lower. Anyone have any advice on how I can get the kind of sound I might be looking for?

Subject:RE: Making evil voices?

Reply by: Chienworks

Date:5/4/2003 8:49:08 AM

This will be a bit difficult to do in SoundForge because it's not a multitrack application, but it's still possible. It would be a lot easier in Vegas or even Vegas LE, however, if you're creative enough and open two SoundForge windows simultanously you should be able to do this:

1) Record the original part speaking as rapidly as possible.
2) Slow it back down to normal speed using Pitch Bend. This will drop the pitch as well.
3) Play this version back in one window while recording in the other.
4) While re-recording, mix in the person whispering the same words in sync with the original recording.

Obviously steps 3 and 4 are easier in Vegas.

I've used this procedure with very good effect. Some of the audience didn't even want to listen to the whole scene because it scared them so much. OK, true, the audiance was mostly 10 year olds ... but still, it worked well ;)

Subject:RE: Making evil voices?

Reply by: Iacobus

Date:5/4/2003 11:47:00 AM

Adding to what Kelly said, try copying the entire vocal, then paste to new (CTRL+E). Take the copy and use Effects>Pitch>Shift on the menu bar. Pitch shift using the "preserve duration" option. Click OK. Select all the data, then click and drag the data back onto the original. (Bring the cursor all the way back to the beginning so that it lines up.) Mix as appropriate.

Try also a combo of using the Effects>Pitch>Bend effect (also with a "preserve duration option").

Finally, add the famous "ghostly reverse reverb" effect by reversing the waveform (Process>Reverse), adding a lot of reverb and then reversing the waveform once more.

HTH,
Iacobus

Subject:RE: Making evil voices?

Reply by: timkline

Date:5/4/2003 12:24:43 PM

Thanks! The reverse reverb was exactly what I needed :) I don't have vegas, but I can mix a few different versions all together with premiere at least :)