Ka-Ching! Money Sound Effects As Heard in Apps and Movies

The ka-ching of a cash register’s bell is about as close as we’ll ever get to a universal symbol for money. Isn’t that interesting, how this sound effect is actually a symbol of financial transaction, rather than the sound of paper money or coins.

Take the following example from Superbad (2007). A kid tries to purchase several large bottles of alcohol from a liquor store. The cashier cards him and after struggling a bit, she accepts the exchange. The modest cha-ching of the register signals a big win for the kid.

In a strange twist of fate, the liquor store is robbed immediately after. As the robber reach into the cash register, we hear the sound of his hand snatching up the paper money and banging into the metal bill weights.

The cashier’s bell sound is sometimes used symbolically rather than as simple foley, like the example below from Lord of War (2005).

In this scene, the shot from a guerrilla fighter’s AK 47 crossfades into the sound of a cash register opening. We hear the sliding component over the gun’s chamber morph into the sliding open of the register. As the bullet casing flies from its chamber, we hear the register’s bell.

This clever use of audio symbolism is a wink from the director to the audience, underscoring the deep ties between war hawks and their economic motives in keeping the conflict in play.

Family Guy, Twin Peaks: Money Bags & coin spins

Cash register bells aside, metal impact sounds also play an important role in coin related sfx. Imagine a merchant, some two centuries ago, setting money bags on the table in an offer to trade. The rattling of nickel and silver tokens with the pounding of a heavy weight was part of their bargaining tactic.

Money bags usually combine an impact sound with the brief rattling of small metal items. In one example from the Family Guy montage above, a coin bag splits open and they roll all over the ground. Collections of coins rolling together is a less common money sound effect.

A final example above comes from the cult classic Twin Peaks. All of the best money sounds of a casino can be found here. We get ambient slot machine music, the sound of a single coin drop in multiple tiems, the winding and release of the lever, and the big coin payout when he hits a jackpot.

Scarface, Sam & Cat: Paper money bill sounds

Paper money is the third, most common category of money sound effects. When a person or machine counts bills, it’s the shuffling sound of each sheet being moved over. The pace of humans is slower and more deliberate than ATMs.

Of all the beeping sounds made by an ATM, it’s the paper fluttering tone of cash being dispensed that really makes the hair stand up on people’s necks.

This next scene from Scarface (1983) features the textbook money counting machine sound effect. But listen closely to the beginning of the clip and you’ll hear the expensive rings on their fingers tapping lightly against each other as they load money into the counting machine.

Subtle sounds like the rings knocking together are a common, under-recognized technique in creating audio for films. In this case, it’s a symbolic reminder of the characters’ money and wealth. It’s functionally similar to the sound of expensive crystal wine glasses tapping together during a toast.

There’s also the sound of printing paper money on an industrial machine. The transition sequence above comes from To Live and Die in LA. We hear the rhythm of the printing press in sync with the music, from the pounding of paper slabs and razors cutting fresh money to the conveyer belts rolling and pushing the operation along.

Creating money sounds with audio manipulation

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Using simple functions like duplicating, pitch shifting, and time stretching can help you transform a coin or two into a jangly jackpot! Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this using popular DAWs and audio effects plugins.

Step-by-Step Instructions:

1. Select Your Source Audio

• Start with a high-quality recording of coin sounds. Ensure they are clean and isolated from background noise.

2. Duplicating Sounds

• DAW Techniques:
  • In most DAWs (e.g., Ableton Live, Logic Pro, Pro Tools), select the coin sound you want to duplicate.
  • Use the keyboard shortcut (usually Command+D or Control+D) to duplicate the sound multiple times.
• Technique:
  • Arrange the duplicated sounds in a rhythmic pattern to create a sense of movement and complexity.
  • Experiment with different spacings and overlaps to find a pleasing sequence.

3. Pitch Shifting

• DAW Techniques:
  • Most DAWs offer built-in pitch shifting capabilities. For instance, in Ableton Live, use the Clip View to adjust the pitch.
  • In Logic Pro, use the Pitch Transpose or Flex Pitch features, and in Pro Tools, use the Elastic Pitch function.
• Plugin Recommendations: Soundtoys Little AlterBoy, Waves PitchShift, or Melodyne.
• Technique:
  • Pitch shift some of the duplicated sounds to create harmonic variations. For example, shift some sounds up a few semi-tones and others down to create a richer texture.
  • Combine pitch-shifted sounds with original pitches to maintain the fundamental tone while adding variety.

4. Time Stretching

• DAW Techniques:
  • In Ableton Live, use the Warp feature to stretch or compress the duration of the sound clip.
  • In Logic Pro, use Flex Time, and in Pro Tools, use the Time Compression/Expansion tool.
• Plugin Recommendations: Serato Sample, iZotope RX Time & Pitch.
• Technique:
  • Time stretch certain duplicates to elongate the sound, creating a more drawn-out effect. This can add suspense and build-up to the sequence.
  • Use time stretching in conjunction with pitch shifting to maintain the original pitch or to create pitch changes over time.

5. Enhancing with Audio Effects Plugins

• Reverb and Delay:
  • Add depth and space using reverb (e.g., Valhalla Room, Waves H-Reverb) and delay (e.g., EchoBoy by Soundtoys).
  • Apply subtle reverb to give the sounds a sense of space, making them feel more natural and immersive.
• Distortion and Saturation:
  • Use distortion (e.g., MeldaProduction MDistortionMB, Output Thermal) to add harmonic richness and complexity.
  • Apply gentle saturation to warm up the sounds and make them more engaging.

6. Automation and Mixing

• Automation: Automate pitch, volume, and effects to create dynamic changes throughout the sequence. This adds interest and variety to the soundscape.
• Mixing: Balance the levels of the duplicated, pitch-shifted, and time-stretched sounds to create a cohesive mix. Use EQ (e.g., FabFilter Pro-Q 3) to carve out any problematic frequencies and ensure clarity.

Example Workflow in a DAW:

1. Import Coin Sounds.
2. Duplicate the Sound using Command+D (or Control+D).
3. Pitch Shift individual duplicates using the DAW’s pitch shifting feature or a dedicated plugin.
4. Time Stretch selected sounds using the DAW’s time stretching tools or plugins.
5. Apply Reverb and Delay for depth using built-in or third-party plugins.
6. Use Saturation to add harmonic richness.
7. Automate Parameters for dynamic effects and mix to balance all elements.

By leveraging these simple yet powerful functions, you can create intricate, engaging soundscapes from basic coin sounds, transforming them into a rich, jangly jackpot. Popular DAWs provide the necessary tools to make this process straightforward and efficient, enabling you to focus on creativity and experimentation.

Access royalty free music & money sound effects

If you’re looking for royalty free sfx to use in your own projects, we’ve procured a collection of twenty wav files near the top of this page. You can go ahead and download them at no cost.

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