Thud Sound Effects: From Stomping Monsters to Minecraft Blocks

How have thud sound effects been used in cinema?

Films tend to use thud sounds for diegetic purposes, meaning that they’re part of the sound environment heard by the characters. As background noise, they can contribute to the ambience of a scene. When a thud’s volume is cranked up and synced up to a dramatic moment, they have even more emotional weight. Let’s have a look at some examples.

Jurassic Park, Jumanji: Stomping thuds and stampeding monsters

Tension and anticipation build during the following scene from Jurassic Park (1993). A power outage has left everyone in the dark and exposed them to a dangerous T-Rex that’s broken free from its paddock.

As the dinosaur approaches, the ground begins to rumble with stomping thuds. As it arrives on camera, each impact sound is massive and conveys a deep sense of dread, tempered by Jeff Goldblum’s cool and collected attitude.

Stampedes are a common variation on the monster stomp. Instead of one-off thuds, stampedes are built from rolling impacts sounds that grow in volume as the creatures approach.

The clip above comes from the 1995 film Jumanji. A horde of animals approach with a rumbling sound resembling thunder. A small statue of Beethoven rattles on the library shelf, providing a mid-to-high frequency counterpoint adding to the character’s indoor presence. The scene reaches a climax when the animals burst through the wall and chase everyone through the house.

Harry Potter: Pounding thud sounds from a door

Stomping sounds imply a downward pressure into the ground. High end frequencies are rolled off to represent the thud as it’s absorbed into the earth.

In contrast, characters pounding against a vertical surface will encompass a more dynamic range acoustically.

In the scene below from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Hagrid arrives at the cabin and slams his fist against the door. Huge thud sound effects are coupled with a crunching sound, representing the wood breaking slightly. If you listen to the first pound closely, you’ll hear the subtle sound of glass breaking, implying that the vibration from the pound was intense enough to have knocked glass objects off a table.

These secondary sound effects help the audience understand what’s happening even though the breaking objects aren’t visible in the dimly lit room.

Inception: Non-diegetic thud sound design

A diegetic sound is one that occurs within the context of the film. Non-diegetic sounds, on the other hand, can’t be heard by characters in a scene. Cinematic trailers and high production value movies often use non-diegetic thud sounds as emotional triggers.

The scene below, taken from the sci-fi action film Inception (2010), opens with a thud and crash sound that don’t correlate to anything on camera. Slowly, as the city begins to fold in upon itself, the thuds evolve into rumbling sounds.

The Matrix: Punches, kicks and body slams in a fight scene

Punches and kicks are often paired with thud sounds. The importance of the strike is mirrored by the presence of low end in the mix. For example, a playful punch on the arm between friends only requires a light thud while a serious fight scene will incorporate more low end frequencies to give the strikes gravity and weight.

This iconic fight scene from the Matrix (1999) offers an example of deep, cinematic fighting sound effects. Each punch and kick is synced to a moderate impact, but when Morpheus spins Neo in the air and pounds him into the mat, we hear the largest thud sound. Increasing the volume and dynamic range of a thud can help to punctuate climactic moments.

Minecraft: Gentle thud sounds in games and apps

Thuds have a special place in video games. They can take on all the same characteristics of cinematic impacts, but players who take the same action repeatedly need protection from ear fatigue. Soft thuds and thumping sounds are a popular solution to this problem.

In Minecraft, players hear a soft thud whenever blocks are placed on the ground. If these thuds were too intense, gamers could become irritated and mute the game audio, detracting from their immersion and detracting from their overall enjoyment.

By scooping out most of the low end and softening high-end frequencies, Minecraft’s sound designers created a pleasant sound that can be heard hundreds of times in a short period. Mobile apps use similar gentle thud sound effects for notifications, to engage users without bothering them.

Recording your own thud sound effects

Disclaimer: Audio Design Desk doesn’t sell link placements or place affiliate links in any article. We’ve added callouts with links in this next section, in order to help you find the right tools for the job. We are not partnered with any of these companies. 

Creating convincing thud sounds involves carefully considering proximity, reverb, frequency control, and layering. These elements help ensure the thud impacts make sense within the visual context and add depth to the sound design. Here’s a detailed guide on how to achieve this:

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating Thud Sounds

1. Capturing and Preparing Source Sounds

• High-Quality Recording:
  • Capture high-quality recordings of various objects making thud sounds, such as hitting a heavy bag, dropping a large book, or striking a padded surface.
  • Use close microphone placement to capture the proximity effect, emphasizing the low-end and impact.

2. Reverb Control

• Choosing Reverb Type and Size:
  • Select a reverb that matches the visual context of the impact. For example, a small room reverb for indoor thuds or a large hall reverb for outdoor impacts.
  • Plugin Recommendations: MeldaProduction MConvolutionMB, Convology XT, Altiverb.
• Adjusting Early and Late Reflections:
  • Control the timing of early and late reflections to match the space depicted in the scene. Early reflections help define the size of the space, while late reflections add depth and tail.
  • Set early reflection times to be short for small, intimate spaces, and longer for larger environments.
  • Adjust the decay rate to match the material of the impacting objects and the space. For example, a quick decay for carpeted rooms and longer decay for metallic surfaces.

3. Frequency Bandwidth Control

• Using EQ:
  • Apply EQ to restrict the frequency bandwidth, enhancing the thud’s clarity and impact.
  • Use a low-pass filter to remove unnecessary high frequencies and a high-pass filter to eliminate rumble below 20-30 Hz.
  • Plugin Recommendations: FabFilter Pro-Q 3, Waves Q10, or Logic Pro’s Channel EQ.

4. Maintaining Volume Balance

• Proper Gain Staging:
  • Ensure the thud sound is balanced in volume within the mix, making it prominent without overpowering other elements.
  • Use compression to control dynamics and keep the thud consistent and punchy.
  • Plugin Recommendations: Native Instruments Supercharger GT, Soundtoys Devil-loc, or FabFilter Pro-C 2.

5. Adding Sci-Fi Elements

• Layering Bass Synth Hits:
  • Layer in bass synth hits or braaams to add a visceral, sci-fi spark to the thud.
  • Synth Recommendations: Serum, Massive, or Omnisphere.
• Using FM Synth Hits:
  • Add squelchy FM synth hits for a futuristic, techy feel.
  • Synth Recommendations: FM8, Dexed, or Operator.
• Blending and Balancing Layers:
  • Balance the volume of the synth layers with the original thud sound. Use EQ and compression to ensure they complement each other.
  • Adjust the reverb settings for the synth layers to match the space of the thud sound, creating a cohesive audio experience.

Tips for Effective Thud Sound Design

• Proximity Emphasis: Close microphone placement is key to capturing the proximity effect, making the thud sound more impactful.
• Reverb Matching: Adjust reverb settings to match the space and context of the visual scene, focusing on the timing of reflections and decay rates.
• Frequency Control: Use EQ to restrict bandwidth, ensuring the thud remains clear and powerful.
• Layering for Depth: Combine thud sounds with sci-fi elements like bass synth hits and FM synth hits for added depth and interest.
• Attention to Detail: Fine-tune each element to ensure a cohesive and professional result.

By following these steps and tips, you can create believable and impactful thud sounds that enhance the visual and emotional experience of your audio projects. Experiment with different techniques and effects to develop your unique sound design style.

If you’re ready to try your hand at syncing thud sounds with a video project, download the royalty-free sound effects from this article. You can download these WAV files from us directly or pick up a free copy of Audio Design Desk to access an even greater library of sounds.