How to create horror sound effects Asbjoern Andersen


Sound designer Joe Dzuban worked on five films with horror director James Wan, starting with Insidious in 2010. Since then, he's designed and/or mixed the sound for a dozen top horror films including The Conjuring, Annabelle, Malignant, Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark, and Crimson Peak.

Here, Dzuban shares his insights and tips on how to design amazing horror sounds!


Interview by Jennifer Walden
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Animal Hyperrealism IV Is Here!

Sound designer/re-recording mixer Joe Dzuban (at Warner Bros. Post Production Creative Services in Burbank) is an undeniable authority on designing and mixing sound for horror films.

Sound designer & Re-Recording Mixer Joe Dzuban

Sound designer & Re-Recording Mixer Joe Dzuban

He’s worked on some of the best-known horror films by top horror directors like James Wan and Guillermo del Toro. His credits include Wan’s Insidious (re-recording mixer / supervising sound editor), The Conjuring (sound designer / supervising sound editor), Insidious: Chapter 2 (re-recording mixer / sound designer / supervisory sound editor), The Conjuring 2 (supervising sound editor), and Malignant (re-recording mixer / supervising sound editor), and del Toro’s Crimson Peak (re-recording mixer / additional sound design).

Dzuban was sound designer and re-recording mixer on two films from director John R. Leonetti: Annabelle and Wish Upon, and sound designer on director André Øvredal’s Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark and director Jacob Chase’s Come Play. He also mixed Paranormal Activity 3 (directed by Henry Joost and Ariel Schulman) and Paranormal Activity: The Marked Ones (directed Christopher Landon).

Get ready for some great tips on designing horror sounds, courtesy of Joe Dzuban!

 

What are five essential tips you’d share on how to design gory/scary/cringe-inducing horror sounds?

1. Record something! Find something unusual and unique to record for your gore. Try various things you can tear and destroy to get a variety of interesting textures. Take a trip to the grocery store!

2. Don’t over-do it: As sound editors, we love to layer our sounds. But when it comes to gore, fewer layers are better. Give the audience something strong to hold onto. Don’t clutter the moment.

Evocative sounds will make the picture all the more squeamish.

3. Sync is optional: Don’t get too tied to picture. Make a sound that works and tells a story, and 9/10 it’ll work to picture. Evocative sounds will make the picture all the more squeamish.

4. Don’t stack all your sounds: Think of moments in terms of double or triple events. So a stab isn’t just a single sword ‘shing;’ it might be a tear followed by a thrust, followed by a juice splat.

5. Try, try, and try again: Try your sounds to picture, live with them for a few days, revisit them, and then try new sounds. Experiment with different types of sounds and rhythms until you get to that ‘moment’ where it works!


Sound highlight - article continues below:

Popular horror sound libraries:

If you're looking for horror sound effects for your projects, these sound libraries are trending right now:

  • ⏰ For a very limited time:
    Add this library to the cart and enter ah4launch in the cart coupon field – to sprinkle an extra launch discount, on top of the current discount!

    Animal Hyperrealism Vol IV is a sound library containing animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 2000 individual sounds in 294 files. The sounds were recorded in zoos, and wildlife centers.

    The asset list includes but is not limited to: hippos, hyenas, vultures, dwarf mongooses, elephants, African cranes, parrots, tigers, pigmy hippos, rhea ostriches, brown bears, pheasants, wildebeests, African wild dogs and many more. The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K, an Avisoft CMPA and a Sennheiser 8050 for center plus two Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.

    The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

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  • FOUR ELEMENTS - Rock The Speakerbox Professional SFX

    Master the Art of Bending the Elemental Forces

     

    Unleash the raw power of fire, water, earth, and air with this comprehensive 9 GB sound library featuring 3050 high-quality sound effects across 630 files. Whether you’re designing cinematic soundscapes or enhancing video games Four Elements delivers the tools you need to harness the energy of the natural world.

    Construction Kit – 2443 Sounds

    A treasure trove of raw, organic, and processed sounds including seamless loops divided into Fire, Water, Air, Earth and Explosion categories. Customize every detail with an extensive selection of sound components.

    • Organic Fire: Campfire sizzles, torch whooshes, and flame bursts.
    • Processed Fire: Distorted impacts and unique crackles.
    • Organic Earth: Rock crashes, gravel scrapes, and heavy stone hits.
    • Processed Earth: Stylized rumbles and granular textures.
    • Organic Water: Ocean waves, hydrophone bubbles, and fluid splashes.
    • Processed Water: Underwater whooshes and stylized liquid smashes.
    • Organic Air: Bamboo swishes, cloth movements, and pressure bursts.
    • Processed Air: Filtered gusts and dynamic noise sweeps.
    • Explosion: Firework detonations, Butane bursts, and cinematic impacts.

    Building Blocks – 416 Sounds

    Game-ready sound layers featuring Impacts, Whooshes, and Textures as seamless loops. Elevate transitions and enhance atmospheres with loops and pre-designed sound layers.

    • Fire: Explosive bursts, blazing infernos, and warm embers.
    • Earth: Ground-shaking impacts, crumbling terrain, and heavy collisions.
    • Water: Cascading waves, serene rivers, and underwater ambiences.
    • Air: Whispering breezes, stormy turbulence, and slicing gusts.

    Design Kit – 192 Sounds

    A collection of ready-to-use sound effects divided into Attack, Bend, and Explosion categories for quick integration into your projects. Perfect for high-energy scenes and immersive storytelling.

    • Fire: Crackling flames, fiery bursts, and roaring infernos.
    • Earth: Crushing impacts, shifting ground, and massive land eruptions.
    • Water: Splashes, fluid manipulations, and crashing tidal waves.
    • Air: Slicing winds, swirling currents, and thunderous gusts.

     

    Four Elements gives you complete creative control, blending organic recordings with processed sound layers to meet the demands of any project. Master the forces of nature with Four Elements. Let your creativity ignite.

     

    Keywords:

    Elements, Fire, Water, Earth, Air, Wave, Water, Liquid, Rock, Cast, Stone, Pebble, Torch, Gas, Flame, Campfire, Sizzle, Burst, Scrape, Whoosh, Impact, Texture, Attack, Bend, Bending, Explosion, Processed, Surge, Quake, Hit, Flow, Burn, Ignite, Drop, Smack, Destruction, Rumble, Hiss, Blow, Wind, Cloth, Movement, Underwater, Bubble, Ocean, River, Lake, Firework, Firecracker, Bang, Blast, Detonation, Magic, Fantasy, Forces, Fire Magic, Water Magic, Earth Magic, Fire Air, Fire Effect, Fire Whoosh, Water Whoosh, Seamless Loop, Loop, Fire Cast, Water Cast, Earth Cast, Air Cast

  • Hyper Thunder is a colossal collection of thunder and lightning, 100% crafted from the ground up using innovative synthesized technics and props recordings. Not a single real life thunder recording was used. using synthesis and props manipulation crafted to deliver impact far beyond natural recordings. Built entirely from innovative synthesis and props recordings, this library pushes the boundaries of weather sound design—perfect for when you need the raw energy of a storm dialed up to cinematic extremes.

    Featuring over 800 files, Hyper Thunder spans everything from subtle distant rumbles and rolling thunder to razor-sharp lightning strikes and earth-shaking impacts. With both designed hits and source layers, you have full control—drop in ready-to-use power or sculpt your own stormscapes using the source recordings.

    Created in collaboration with Bruits.Studio’s Vincent Fliniaux and Tibo Csuko—longtime SoundMorph contributors to acclaimed libraries like Robotic Lifeforms 2 and WATER— Hyper Thunder blends technical mastery with bold creativity.

    Key Features

    • 800+ files of synthesized thunder and lightning
    • Both designed hits and source layers for full creative control
    • Covers subtle distant rumbles through to massive cinematic impacts
    • Crafted 100% from synthesis for a unique, larger-than-life sound
    • Perfect for film, games, trailers, and any project needing storm power
    • Created in collaboration with Bruits.Studio’s Vincent Fliniaux and Tibo Csuko (Robotic Lifeforms 2, WATER)

    From atmospheric detail to explosive drama, Hyper Thunder gives you thunder and lightning that are bigger, subtler, and more versatile than nature itself.

  • Khron Studio - Spells Variations Vol 4

    Spell Variations Vol. 4 marks the grand finale of our magical sound series, delivering a diverse and powerful collection of spell effects. Inside, you’ll find summonings, blood spells, petrifications, healing spells, dark incantations, and much more!

    This volume includes 255 high-quality sound effects, organized into 27 distinct spell types, each with multiple variations (3 to 17) to ensure no spell sounds the same, even when reused across your project.

    Each spell type is carefully named and sorted into individual folders, giving you intuitive navigation and maximum flexibility for magical scenes, game effects, or cinematic transitions.

    Recorded, edited, and mastered in 192 kHz / 24-bit, these sounds deliver exceptional clarity and full adaptability for pitching, layering, or creative processing.

    A must-have library for professional sound designers seeking drag-and-drop magical sounds for video games, trailers, animations, or any audiovisual production.

    More about the pack
    – Intuitive file naming
    – All you’ll ever need regarding magical sounds [Use them again & again
    Use the sound effects over and over, in any of your projects or productions, forever without any additional fees or royalties. Use the SFX in your game, in your trailer, in a Kickstarter campaign, wherever you need to, as much as you want to.
    – Totally mono compatibility
    – All sounds have several variations.
    – Use your imagination and feel free to use any sound for a creature other than the one described, remember that the world of sound is totally subjective.
    – For any questions or problems: khronstudio@gmail.com

    Features
    – 255 spell sounds
    – Number of Audio Waves: 255
    – Format: 192KHz / 24 bits
    – Win/Mac: Yes
    – Minutes of audio provided: 19:21

Search for more horror sound libraries

What’s your approach to creating effective jump scares? (Any tips to offer on how to make the best/most effective jump scares?)

Jump scares work best when the audience least expects them. Much of the success of a scare comes from picture editing. But as sound folks, we can help those moments by trying to ‘lull’ the audience before the big jump. We want them to lean in a bit. Getting into that lull is the creative challenge and is different for every film. Sometimes the lull lives for say 15 seconds before the scare, other times it’s a brief pause just before the action.

Take the transient ‘edges’ off of door closes or footsteps, or EQ them a bit so they are tucked into the mix…

I make sure all the sounds preceding scares are ‘rounded’ and less staccato. Take the transient ‘edges’ off of door closes or footsteps, or EQ them a bit so they are tucked into the mix – we don’t want any sounds capturing the audience’s attention.

Also, try to find a way out of music so that we really minimize the soundtrack.

For the sting itself, use sharp, strident sounds and play them ‘loud and proud.’

 

Bonus: Download 13 free horror / gore sound effects from Soundbits:


Want horror sound effects? Get 13 free horror sounds courtesy of Soundbits below, for free:
 
Download 13 gore sound effects from Soundbits for free (opens in a new window)

Explore the full Soundbits catalog here.

Anything that sound designers should avoid when creating sounds for a horror film?

Avoid excessive sounds in horror films. Don’t overdo the soundtrack with a classic ‘Hollywood’ feel. We don’t need to hear EVERY footstep, EVERY hand-pat, or 30 layers of BGs!

Find those few sound elements in a scene that tell the story and make them come to life.

Horror soundtracks tend to be concise, compact, and incorporate only the bare essentials of what is needed to tell the story. Find those few sound elements in a scene that tell the story and make them come to life.
 

A big thanks to Joe Dzuban for sharing excellent tips on designing horror sounds and to Jennifer Walden for the interview!

Want to learn more about horror sound?
Check out the Ultimate Horror Sound Guide below:

 
The Ultimate Horror Sound Guide

Explore the Ultimate Horror Sound Guide here

 


 

Shortcuts:

Click below to jump straight to your desired topic or story in the Ultimate Horror Sound Guide:

How to make your own horror sound effects:

How to Design Fierce Creature VocalsHaunting Horror Sounds Effects for Interfaces5 tips for making the most of Dehumaniser 2How to create horror sound effects that are truly scary (and gory!):Tips: How to create your own horror sounds


Exclusive horror sound stories:

Midnight MassCandymanHalloween KillsThe Black PhoneBodies Bodies BodiesSpeak No EvilThe QuarryArchive 81MasterPreyTwin Peaks: Fire Walk With MeDemonicContagionThe Conjuring: The Devil Made Me Do ItThe Haunting of Bly ManorThe Third DayLovecraft CountryHalloweenThe Haunting of Hill HouseHereditaryThe NunA Quiet PlaceAnnabelle: CreationIt Comes At NightAlien: CovenantBlair WitchThe MistPenny DreadfulLights OutThe Conjuring 2


Bonus: More horror sound stories:

Behind the sound of Inside The Exorcist, Darq, Through The Woods, The Evil Within, Outlast, and Colina: Legacy + how scarehouse sound is made & How Sound Is Used To Create Suspense In Horror Movies


Ready to scare: Nightmare-inducing horror sound effects:

Highlighted horror sound effects librariesPopular horror sound effects librariesNew horror sound effects librariesSearch for horror sound effects

 

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THE WORLD’S EASIEST WAY TO GET INDEPENDENT SOUND EFFECTS:
 
A Sound Effect gives you easy access to an absolutely huge sound effects catalog from a myriad of independent sound creators, all covered by one license agreement - a few highlights:

  • ⏰ For a very limited time:
    Add this library to the cart and enter ah4launch in the cart coupon field – to sprinkle an extra launch discount, on top of the current discount!

    Animal Hyperrealism Vol IV is a sound library containing animal vocalisations, from real to designed creatures totaling more than 2000 individual sounds in 294 files. The sounds were recorded in zoos, and wildlife centers.

    The asset list includes but is not limited to: hippos, hyenas, vultures, dwarf mongooses, elephants, African cranes, parrots, tigers, pigmy hippos, rhea ostriches, brown bears, pheasants, wildebeests, African wild dogs and many more. The content has been recorded at 192KHz with a Sanken CO100K, an Avisoft CMPA and a Sennheiser 8050 for center plus two Sennheiser MKH8040 for stereo image.

    The resulting ultrasonic spectrum is rich and allows for truly extreme manipulation of the content.

    15 %
    OFF
  • Hyper Thunder is a colossal collection of thunder and lightning, 100% crafted from the ground up using innovative synthesized technics and props recordings. Not a single real life thunder recording was used. using synthesis and props manipulation crafted to deliver impact far beyond natural recordings. Built entirely from innovative synthesis and props recordings, this library pushes the boundaries of weather sound design—perfect for when you need the raw energy of a storm dialed up to cinematic extremes.

    Featuring over 800 files, Hyper Thunder spans everything from subtle distant rumbles and rolling thunder to razor-sharp lightning strikes and earth-shaking impacts. With both designed hits and source layers, you have full control—drop in ready-to-use power or sculpt your own stormscapes using the source recordings.

    Created in collaboration with Bruits.Studio’s Vincent Fliniaux and Tibo Csuko—longtime SoundMorph contributors to acclaimed libraries like Robotic Lifeforms 2 and WATER— Hyper Thunder blends technical mastery with bold creativity.

    Key Features

    • 800+ files of synthesized thunder and lightning
    • Both designed hits and source layers for full creative control
    • Covers subtle distant rumbles through to massive cinematic impacts
    • Crafted 100% from synthesis for a unique, larger-than-life sound
    • Perfect for film, games, trailers, and any project needing storm power
    • Created in collaboration with Bruits.Studio’s Vincent Fliniaux and Tibo Csuko (Robotic Lifeforms 2, WATER)

    From atmospheric detail to explosive drama, Hyper Thunder gives you thunder and lightning that are bigger, subtler, and more versatile than nature itself.

  • Inside an airplane cockpit, we captured control manipulation sounds (knobs, levers, switch…), alarms, and ambiences.

    Recorded from a 737 cabin, with the help of a certified pilot. Get maneuver sounds with original and ‘cleaned’ version (from background noise); but also ‘loopeable’ ambiences. See file list.

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  • All files are recorded 32bit, 192 kHz, with RØDE NTG1, Line Audio Omni1 and FEL Clippy XLR EM272 microphones, Sound Devices MixPre-6 II & Zoom F3 recorders. Library contains wav files of driving, foley, mechanical and electrical sounds. It is only available in UCS.

  • PLANES & HELICOPTERS contains flybys, takeoffs, and landings of 13 aircraft models and 5 helicopter models, including small and medium-range passenger planes, private jets, tiny planes and firefighting aircraft. Recorded as close as possible to the aircraft, in airports. You’ll find turbojet, turboprop, and propeller-powered aircrafts. You’ll also find military and civilian helicopters sound effects.
    The sounds can be used for a realistic purpose but you can design spaceships or futuristic vehicles.

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    All files are recorded 32bit, 192 kHz, with RØDE NTG1, Line Audio Omni1 and FEL Clippy XLR EM272 microphones, Sound Devices MixPre-6 II recorder. Library contains wav files of driving, interior and exterior foley, mechanical and electrical sounds. It is only available in UCS.

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    A comprehensive fridge hum library with 60 sounds / 2+ hours of hums, buzzes, beeps, industrial room tones, clicks, drips and more

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    This library delivers the raw power of this legendary military transport helicopter. Originally recorded for the acclaimed Netflix series Money Heist: Part 5, this library captures every rotor, engine, and maneuver with pristine detail and fidelity—now available for your own productions.

    From the thunderous rotor blades slicing through the air, to the deep roar of its twin turbines, and the massive fly-bys that shake the ground, this collection delivers 46 minutes of sounds from one of the most iconic helicopters in history.

    Recorded using a multi-mic setup, every nuance has been preserved – from the hurricane-like rotor wash to the natural echoes bouncing across the runway and hangars. This library is a perfect fit for war films, military documentaries, AAA video games, or any production in need of authentic and cinematic helicopter power.

    What’s inside:

    • APU start ups, takeoffs, landings, and hovering sequences.
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    • Fully edited and UCS-compliant metadata for fast and easy search

    With CH-47 CHINOOK, you’ll have a rock-solid, versatile, and epic sound resource at your fingertips – ready to take your projects to the next level.

    Note: The SoundCloud demo contains radio communiactions and some cockpit switches. These are not included.

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