Behind the Scenes: Making Household Sounds 🔉
Hey everyone! Here we are with yet another behind-the-scenes post of the sounds of Paralives! In this post, we are going over some foley sounds (which we also showed in our last post about footstep recordings that you can check out here). This time, we’ll be focusing more on everyday household items! We’ll be checking which items need a sound and how we make them 🎙️
🎥In the above video, you saw some gameplay footage of Jason using many items along with the recording footage of these items’ sounds. There are many more item sounds presently in the game but either they weren’t recorded in video or they were too long to show here. So without further ado, let’s talk about the details 🎶
Which Items Need a Sound?
There are over 1500 build mode objects in Paralives, many of which have different sounds and trigger different animations! If we also needed different variations of the same sounds, that would end up being over thousands and thousands of recordings! For that reason, we need to prioritize which sounds are the most important to add for Early Access: the sounds that stand out the most and would make the gameplay experience weird if they weren’t included in the game. Eventually, we’ll be adding the rest into the game.
How Do We Make Them?
Once we know what sounds we need, I capture some gameplay footage and record the audio over it while mimicking the movements of the animations. Sometimes it’s as simple as just recording the same object in real life (i.e. a shower), but sometimes, you need to get creative and get things that sound similar (i.e. a can opener for a screwdriver). The importance is not to make something sound realistic, but rather satisfying. I record some takes of the many different animations, edit them and put them into the game. Simple as that!
With the town being currently worked on (which we gave a sneak peek of in this post!), there are so many possibilities to add to the soundscape of Paralives! There are still many more sounds to be done, but I’m already so excited to see everything come together in the game! What was your favorite part of the video? What would you like to see in a future “behind-the-scenes” post? As always, thank you so much everybody!
Have a great week,
Andrei ♪♩♩ ♪♩♩♩
Edit - May 15th, 2025: This post is now public, feel free to share it!
Comments (73)
Revisited this video today, and my brain just wasn't correlating the walking sound of the para with sneakers. I think the footsteps don't need to be clickety-clackety if the paras aren't in heels on a hard floor. But otherwise, always lovely to see progress! 😊
I really like Andrei posts, he has a great personality
I love how for the shower sound; it's an actual shower. I guess it's hard to replicate that. Good work. I cannot wait for this game to come out. I haven't been this excited for a game in a while. This is actually the first time I'm paying for something on Patreon.
Heaven to my ears. I love these videos
I really love sound design and seeing how foley sounds get made. I like you pointing out its less about accuracy and more about satisfaction. Sound design in video games is sooo important and I really think the sound library you're creating is so perfect to the tone of your game. My fave is definitely the screwdriver, and then the humming you did while cleaning the shower. Is there more information on how the paras language/talking is developed? I really like seeing those integrations, and it definitely makes the game feel more alive.
Will the paras be as “talkative” as the sims? I only ask and use them as a comparison because the talking or little noises they make when they’re doing something adds to the ambience imo
Love this insight and very good work! The only change I'd make is to use a real wet rag/cloth on glass to get this squeaking sound for the shower glass cleaning sound. I hope it's not too late for feedback. Other than that great work!
I’m always so fascinated by these videos, getting to see how the sounds are made and with what items. Some I wouldn’t have even thought of to make the sound. Thanks for letting us see these BTS processes!
The sound effects you make for the game are so fascinating! These video uploads of them are so much fun to watch.
I feel like a broken record. I keep re=reading and re=watching every post and video while (not so) patiently waiting for early access. Everything about this game and the process of making makes me so happy and excited. Can't wait to play this whenever it comes out :) :)
those are really fun! somehow it always catches me off guard when foley sounds are just.. recordings of the actual sound lmao like the shower here. when i hear cool noises in games my brain automatically tries to picture in what weird way they managed to produce that sound - somehow simply recording the actual thing rarely crosses my mind ;D
Cool
yes!!!!!
Whoa, the way you made those "squeaking" noises was pretty neat, Andrei! Improvising sound looks like such a fun and creative process...and all your lovely creations are gonna be the heart of the game when it all comes together 🥹 I can't wait 😭 thanks for sharinggg 🎵💞
Loved this video!! do wish the puddle cleaning sounds were more squishy, like moving water around slightly yk? and as others have mentioned for the shower glass sounds to be more squeaky! amazing work as always!!
Yes! Came to say the same. A wet rag on the floor would do it! Great work though 🧡
So awesome!!! Always been fascinated by foley work so this was a delight
Thank you so much nemo!! So glad you enjoyed it!
Ok hear me out... I think the shower squeaks should be a sponge on glass. But other than that, wonderful work!
Hey Del! So glad yo liked it! Thank you so much for your feedback hehe I'll write it down!
These sounds scratched an itch in my brain that I didn't even know I had. The ambient sounds already sounded perfect to me and the other sound videos we had before were great and I loved them. But this one and hearing all the object sounds that might be taken for granted sometimes? The fact we hear the bed clothes when a para goes to bed but we can hear them when they turn too? Thank you so much for another amazing update! I'd love another object sounds update in the future if more get added. <3
Hey Trisha!! So glad you liked the post and the ambient sounds and the other foley sounds too. I'd love to make another foley post in the future!
The sounds are great, as always! Does look like we need a lot of animations still, entering the shower or bed instead of just transporting inside would be nice. Are sims not going to physically cook food and just magically teleport it to them? I hope not! Graphics look great too 😊 this game is my most highly anticipated and I can't wait. Keep up the wonderful work
Thank you so much Katherine!! Really glad you liked the post :) Paras will be able to cook different meals! I just showed a short interaction here for the fridge sound!
Sadly no Andrei in heels in this one 😔/j That was so cool to see, the process of making sounds is really creative
Hahahaha maybe another time in the future😄 So glad you liked it Ana
Can I just say Josh is handsome?!
Thank you Jaydon!
Damn animations are ROUGH
These are so neat! Thank you for sharing!! 🔊🔊
Thank you Victoria!
I love foley! It’s always so fun to come up with different ways to create a sound. Going to do it again in the near future for my brother’s game that is in development. Would love to see more recordings of foley in the future ☺️ Great job as always!
Thank you so much Anna! So cool to hear from someone who has done sound design too! It is super chaotic but super satisfying to do. Good luck with your brother's game!
So cool! I love behind the scenes of sounds! The wildest of objects can make the simplest of sounds!
They really can! Glad you liked it Pandamaru!
this is so cool
Thanks Amanda!
So neat! Love it! Thank you
Thank you Vash!
Showering with your clothes on?
Will have to do until they add laundry mechanics to the game 😔
Love it 😍
Thank you!
Genius insight Andrei; sounds don't have to be realistic, they have to be satisfying. And these are VERY satisfying. To say that I'm counting down the days is an understatement..
Thanks so much Rosa! I'm really glad you liked them! Super hyped for the future too
i love seeing the items foley artists use to create the everyday sounds of our lives :) thanks for giving us another peek into your process <3
My pleasure! It was super fun to do! So glad you liked it :)
I found the can opener sounds really satisfying ☺️ amazing job, as always!!
So glad you liked it Sarah! Thank you so much :)
These sounds are so nice! Easy on the ears and immersive. Little detail, I love how the covers move as the Para rolls over. That looks amazing!
Thank you Courtney! I love that feature too! Our programmers really nailed that one!
Ooh this is really cool! I love seeing the foley process bc it’s so interesting to see the creative ways to make up sounds!! Only critique I have is that the sound at 0:42 is a bit off. The sound of the mop should be more liquidy, and for lack of better term sloshy/sopping. Maybe a sponge dragging across a surface or a wet rag would sound better! <33
Thank so much for your feedback Kayla! I'm gonna note that down in our sounds' list. So glad you liked it!
I really like the sound effects being showcased. I also like how the game is looking so far. Obviously some missing animation (the bed covers being tucking in the parafolk by a ghost), but i really do think the sounds are very pleasant especially the bed one.
Thank you so much Carelle! So glad you enjoyed it!
Hope you're doing alright Andrei! You look a bit exhausted. Much love from Michigan, USA 💜
Hahahaha thank you Synthia! I filmed most of it in the morning... I'm not a morning person 😂
your use of different objects that create the sounds that you want. the tin opener for example. :)
That's right Stewbyyyy!! Gonna add some fried bacon around there too
Sounds good!
Thank you!
You are so talented Andrei, I’m so excited to play the game and hear everything you have worked on!!
Thank you Cesar! I'm very happy you enjoyed it! Me too I can't wait for everyone to play!
I had a good laugh watching the video, very ingenuous ideas!
Thank you Rodrigo! I'm glad it made you laugh hehe!
I am so excited, each day we’re closer to play this game 😆
Cant wait!!! AAAAAHHH
Oh this is so creative how you come up with different ways to make certain sounds. Can't wait to discover all the different sounds in the game once EA comes out
Thank you Jordan!! I can't wait either! It's gonna be so fun!
Cool video! As for ideas, I think the clown door should make a honking sound whenever you open it. This should be at the top of the list priority wise, I'm sure everyone will agree.
strangely enough i disagree on the priority of the clown door. :D
Andrei!!! 👏🏻 I love this!! Amazing work as ever 🖤
Tinks its been so long! Hope you're doing well!