Royalty Free Sound Effects & Sound Libraries
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Royalty Free Sound Effects & Sound Libraries
5 files • 24 bit / 96 kHz • 1.4GB • 45 min
Welcome to sunny California! If you need to travel between Orange County and Los Angeles, you’ll most likely find yourself on the highways and interstates. But have you ever really listen to the sounds of the road? One fellow sound designer did, and he asked us to capture those typical Los Angeles interstate sounds. So, off we went on a 45-mile journey to Silverlake, and along the way, we recorded some great driving sound effects back in 2017!
Before we hit the road in our trusty 2008 Toyota Yaris, we fixed the pistol grip from Rode between the handlebars with tape. We were a little worried about vibrations, but the pistol grip shock mount is designed to reduce handling noise while recording, and it did a great job. We used an Audio-Technica mono microphone, which is now discontinued, but still a reliable tool for sound recording.
If you’re from Los Angeles or have ever driven there, you’ve probably noticed that the sounds of the highways and interstates are different from each other. Different concrete, patched roads, potholes, and even the speed of your vehicle all contribute to the unique driving sounds. Driving over a bridge will also produce a different sound. And if you change lanes, you’ll hear a loud rumbling sound every time you hit one of those little white dots on the road.
If you drive a different car, van, or truck, you’ll notice a different sound too. Depending on the tires, they will create a variety of sound effects.
For us, it was important to capture these recordings at night. Driving the same route during the day would have meant being stuck in rush hour traffic (but hey, that’s a different sound, and if you’re working on a film project and your actors are stuck in traffic, that’s perfect too!)
So next time you’re driving on the interstates, take a moment to appreciate the unique sounds of the road. And if you need some of those sounds for your next project, you know where to find them!
Be sure to check out more sounds on our Transportation Page and this LAX Airport Sound Library.
Who would have thought a handy sound recorder in Cambodia would lead us here?
Hi there we’re Marcel and Libby and every sound on this site has been recorded by us. For nearly 7 years, we’ve been traveling around the world recording unique sounds for others to use!
If you’re curious and want to learn more about our journey traveling full-time as sound recordists you can read on here or on CNN Travel.
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