Horror/thriller mixing tips/tricks

[okta]

Hello there,

Any of you guys familiar with horror/thriller movie soundtrack mixing?
I've been working on the soundtrack of this low budget horror movie for a few weeks now and got tired of what I am doing.
-soft eerie music with sudden in your face hit.
-soft to annoyingly loud automation.
-super big reverb.
-short delay for out of tune piano/bell.
etc...

so if you guys have any ideas to make my work more interesting throw it out. Would be fun to try it out.

cheers!

[Rogervandeberg]

I think mixing movies like thrillers and horrors is a lot about drastic dynamics in the music. Build up string parts from a very low volume until very loud and let them fade away again. use fast staccato arrangements in quick screen changes.

Also those little kid-wind-up-music boxes seem to do it well in a lot of horror movies. Add chorus and split-harmonizer to taste!

good luck!

[Mark1353]

Seemingly random arpeggiated pizzicato and violin "bulpyness"?

Didn't notice this was only about mixing. How about some kind of pseudostereo effect to make the sound appear to come from side or behind? That would freak me out.

[soundfx]

Don't underestimate the power of silence.


Roger, love the avatar. "Maybe there are some happy trees in your mix. Its your mix...there is no right or wrong."

[alexstringer]

Silence is the key!
Modern horror movies sucks.
If you want good references, watch a lot of these 70's horror/terror movies...You'll notice that a lot of the atmosphere from the movie is essentially built using Silence .

[kk@jamsync.com]

I've done my share, unfortunately. I would rather be nibbled to death by baby ducks.

30 Hz for the bottom end of punches works wonders.

The last one I did (a few years ago) had a section where there were naked 60-year-old women for an appalling five-second shot. I told my then-partner, "don't you dare schedule any more of *these*!!!"

[kk@jamsync.com]

Originally Posted by soundfx

Don't underestimate the power of silence.


Roger, love the avatar. "Maybe there are some happy trees in your mix. Its your mix...there is no right or wrong."

Ha! It is awesome!

[Josh Donnelly]

Low budget, you say? Reaktor all the way. I "scored" a short film recently using nothing but the scariest Reaktor ensembles I could find (and the occasional bit of Ivory). Worked really well.

[dr.sound]

Use Dynamics. I do Horror movies all the time.There is a lot going on.
Use all 6 of your speakers.
It can be a lot of fun if the clients give you some rope!
As for "modern Horror Movies Suck", we'll I was never a fan
growing up, but once you get to mix a few it can be fun.

[okta]

Thanks guys, keep em coming...

Yea, played a lot with the dynamics. Give them a big boom when they lease expect it :D

Low budget, you say? Reaktor all the way

Well, I'm just the engineer not the composer.
Most of the music are Orchestral instrument base. the typical trem strings. Big drum boom. Some bells here and there. And all mix ITB.

How about some kind of pseudostereo effect to make the sound appear to come from side or behind?

Any plugins you can suggest to do this? the free one would be nice :)