Old Movie Sound Effect

Question

Hi there! I've been struggling for finding a proper way to create that retro audio that when you hear it, you know you're watching an 80's or backwards movie. I'm not referring about the "vintage radio" effect, which is the only thing I've found on the Internet when looking for a retro audio effect, but that high saturated sound that I don't know how to achieve, something like this:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_8AzKj5qlp0

You want the moon? - YouTube

So basically I would like to know how to make my audio sound like that, you can hear the audio quality that I mean on 70's and 80's movie trailers, specially the grindhouse style ones. I know it must be something really easy, but I've played around with the different audio effects on both Premiere and Audition and I'm unable to find it.

Thanks for your time!

Bob Howes · Accepted Answer

I've had to do this a number of times and have found a free plugin called "Isotope Vinyl" useful. As the name implies, it's actually designed to make audio sound like old records but, but playing with the various options, you can get various forms of noise, crackle and clicks.. iZotope Vinyl: Free Vinyl Simulator Plug-in | Free AAX, VST, AU Plug-in

On top of that, similar to Steve, I'll usually apply some EQ to make it low fi...but I just do this by ear.

SteveG_AudioMasters_ · Answer

Mostly this is about compression, and having all of the dynamics squashed out of the sound - but also you need to restrict the frequency range, to cut off everything above about 9-10 kHz and some of the bass. Specifically how you achieve the classic 'movie' sound is slightly more complicated than that, and you need to understand about the 'academy curve', which dictates what the actual response curve is.

It's not that difficult to achieve within Audition, but there's actually more than one curve you can apply - depends on how far you want to go. The later curve leaves slightly more of the higher frequencies in, and generally sounds 'cleaner' to my ears, but how far you go is up to you. Anyway, the basic information about this is here: Welcome Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity

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