Blastwave Labs

We had a new library to show off at NAB this year, BUGS!

At the conference, Ric took the time to give the scoop on how BUGS! came to be.

BUGS! is the newest library from Blastwave FX–recorded, edited, and mastered in 24-bit/96kHz with top quality microphones. No need to go camping when you’ve got this high-definition collection of creepy-crawly sounds.

Michael Bartnett AES / NAB, NAB, Videos 24 bit 96 kHz, Blastwave FX, Bugs, high definition sound effects, Ric Viers, video

NAB 2010 was a success. We spent time meeting new clients, catching up with old ones, and having friendly battles with our respected rival, Hollywood Edge (watch the video below).

To re-iterate the words of Ric Viers, “Don’t be a lazy sound designer. Don’t just ‘use’ stock sounds. Design and create your own sound effects with them!”

Why is Blastwave FX Different?

The most frequently asked question at NAB was, What makes Blastwave FX different from the other companies out there? For a video answer to that, watch the NAB 2010 Promo video below.

Traditional Text Answers:

• Your library grows as we grow: If you purchase a Comprehensive Lifetime Sound Design Solution, you will receive quarterly, free updates as long as Blastwave FX exsits.  It’s not just a one-time purchase but a sound investment.  (Couldn’t help the pun. Forgive us.)
• Contemporary Realism: Our sound effects were recorded within the past four years, and we continue to record new sounds on a weekly basis. It’s vital for your media to sound as modern as it looks, so if your production features cars, computers, phones etc. of the present time, a sound effect recorded ten years ago simply won’t cut it.  Times change and so do sounds.
• All of our  sound effects libraries are High Definition: Sure, the term high definition is often misused or somewhat vague, but our use is technical: It simply means our sounds were recorded, edited and mastered in 24-bit/96kHz with the highest quality microphones out there.  This means the highest frequencies were captured cleanly and you get greater dynamic range than analogue recordings that were digitized to 16-bit/48kHz.

Michael Bartnett AES / NAB, NAB, Videos

Numerous people have asked us questions about the competition, so we thought we’d post an FAQ section here.

Q: What is the deadline?

A: May 5, 2010 is the new deadline

Q: I only see an intro and outro in the competition download pack. Where is the rest of the video? Do I just sound design over a black screen?

A: Actually, you are required to make your own video as well as design a soundtrack for this competition.  As we’re giving away the AVID Media Composer as well as Pro Tools, we are requiring not just audio, but video, too.

Q: Can we collaborate with other people?

A: We strongly encourage you to collaborate with fellow filmmakers, editors, even actors or animators. The grand prize (turnkey post system) contains a great set of equipment that can help get any basic Audio/Video post studio up and running.

Q: Does the video have to be original?

A: You can use un-original material but you must credit the source and copyright owner either in the video itself or a credit list that you send to us.

Laura Sinnott Blastwave FX and AVID Competition, Sound Design Competitions audio, avid, Blastwave FX, digidesign, pro tools, sound design competition, video

We’ve teamed up with AVID/Digidesign for our next sound design competition.  This time, the stakes are high!  The grand prize includes the AVID Media Composer, SONOPEDIA, Pro Tools LE, Mbox 2 and much more.

Skip Lievsay (No Country for Old Men), Jacob Ribicoff (Nine) and Ric Viers (Blastwave FX) are our esteemed judges, and you’ve got until Cinco de Mayo (May 5, 2010) to get your entries in.

Oh and one more thing, just by registering, not only will you receive 45 free sound effects, you will be automatically entered to win a basic post package retailing $1800.

Laura Sinnott Blastwave FX