An impact is a production FX used to emphasize scene transitions and key moments in video, games, and streams. Its length, attack, and decay convey movement and change to the viewer.
What it does
An impact reinforces cuts, text appearing, logos, success and failure, and rising tension with sound. Deciding why you are using it first makes choosing material easier.
Where to use it
Short sounds suit cuts and interaction sounds, while longer ones suit scene changes and build-ups. Line it up with the movement and timing of the picture so that the sound does not run ahead or lag behind.
Handling the level
A sound effect is meant to stand out, but it must not be so loud that it buries the voice or the BGM. Play the whole thing back and add a short fade where needed so that it blends naturally.
Choosing material
Pick a texture that matches the tone of the picture, such as bright, heavy, fast, or smooth. Overusing the same kind of material makes the result monotonous, so use different sounds for different roles.
Licensing terms
For distributed material, check commercial use, credit requirements, and whether redistribution is allowed. Terms of use differ from one library to another.
The basics of checking
Check with the picture and the voice included, not the material on its own. The basics of audio files are covered in the audio file format article.
