Foley is a sound term used in video, streaming, games and audio content for sounds that add to the impression or the information of a scene. Separate from the music itself, it conveys place, movement, transitions and emotion.
Basic role
Adding foley fills in atmosphere, a sense of distance and movement that pictures or words alone convey poorly. Deciding what you want to communicate to the viewer before choosing material makes it easier to use.
Where it is used
It is used for scene changes in video, the start and end of a stream, actions in a game, and shots showing a city or nature. Keep the level and the length from getting in the way of the lead voice or music.
How to choose
Check the length, brightness and density of the sound, and whether it still works when repeated. Even within the same type of material, a close-sounding take and a distant-sounding one give different impressions. Judge them against the actual footage and dialogue.
Editing notes
Cutting the start or the end abruptly can sound unnatural. Add fades where needed and adjust the level. When layering several sounds, check that the low and mid ranges do not get crowded.
Licensing
When using distributed material, check the license for commercial use, credit requirements and whether redistribution is allowed. Being able to download something is not the same as being free to use it in a published work.
Checking your work
Play back the whole piece at close to final level rather than auditioning the sound on its own. The basics of organizing and exporting audio material are covered in the audio file format article.
