A riser is a production sound effect used to emphasize scene changes and important moments in video, games and streams. Its length, its attack and its tail communicate movement and change to the viewer.
Basic role
A riser reinforces cuts between shots, text appearing, logos, success and failure, and rising tension. Deciding why you are using it first makes it easier to pick the right material.
Where it is used
Short sounds suit cuts and interface actions, while longer ones suit scene changes and build-ups. Align it with the movement and the timing of the picture so the sound does not run ahead or lag behind.
Handling the level
Sound effects are meant to stand out, but it is important not to make them loud enough to bury voices or music. Play back the whole thing and add a short fade where needed so it blends naturally.
Choosing material
Pick a texture that matches the tone of the picture: bright, heavy, fast or smooth. Overusing the same kind of material makes the impression monotonous, so use different sounds for different roles.
Licensing
For distributed material, check commercial use, credit requirements and whether redistribution is allowed. Terms of use differ from one source to another.
Checking your work
Check with the picture and the voice included, not the sound on its own. The basics of audio files are covered in the audio file format article.
