How sound designer Ben Burtt made Star Wars’ iconic sound effects | Roadtrip Nation

[@madnessbydesignVria]

Ah, the old days. When audio engineers were almost like archaeologists, uncovering hidden sounds in the world around them. His humility is amazing... :)

[@marielizysurourcq]

it also shows that "constraints" and not complete freedom is spurring creativity

[@madnessbydesignVria]

@@marielizysurourcq Absolutely! My most creative times are when I have to find a way to do what I need to, when I don't have 'the right tool'... :)

[@forbello]

You smoking mate?

[@madnessbydesignVria]

@Nickcummingsmusic Software today is amazing, but you still need the ears and the creativity to get anything out of it... :)

[@NinjaSushi2]

Detectives*

[@eon14873]

The Tie fighter engine is always my favorite sound effect in star wars. He is a genius

[@AlexTrain5249]

Funny how elephant sounds was the basis of the Tie Fighters.

[@lloydfisher1548]

I wanna make a custom muffler for my truck that sounds like it but im still trying to find out how imma to that

[@AlexTrain5249]

What kind is it?

[@anttitheinternetguy3213]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/p5mnXoOZq8-nmas at 5:00 Mark on that video 💥

[@BE60IFR]

To me, the Tie Fighter sounds like the dive siren on a Stuka Dive Bomber from WWII, recorded electronically.

[@jacksonwilliams6845]

These sounds literally effected millions, and made millions of childhoods amazing. Thank you

[@roberth8254]

Correction, tens if not hundreds of millions

[@edwardliu111]

I'd argue billions at this point considering Star wars is almost 50 years old now.

[@moaningpheromones]

*affected. millions get that wrong.

[@salazam]

@@moaningpheromones I can't tell if it's ignorance, or an attempted pun using the words "sound effect". I'm leaning towards the former.

[@salazam]

@@edwardliu111 I doubt that. Not everyone's kids are nerds like you guys.

[@Jabber-ig3iw]

For me the sound effects are the most iconic part of Star Wars, that and the score.

[@KennyEvansUK]

It's so awe inspiring to think that Ben went out and sourced all those component sounds with an idea of how they might work together, he is as much of a musical genius as any well known composer and inspired an entire industry into what was possible with sound.

[@ruthlessrubberducky5729]

This guy is a creative genius.

[@RebelGaming4U]

This man literally made the sounds for what people recognize as a lightsber for both jedi and with. Ive noticed that the darkside sabers sound a lot more deeper in tone than jedi lightsabers and think that's pretty awesome. Not just just colors but the sounds too. Just a nice detail. (Please correct me if I am wrong).

[@annointedbytalos5673]

They absolutely sound deeper. I've noticed it too with Vader and dooku.. But I also believe most of them sound different like the greens ones too. If you're interested in more sounds you should listen to the different sounds in the video game fallen order, there are a bunch of different lightsaber qualities.

[@arcy_arts7378]

You're not wrong...Luke have a different lightsaber sound too (the green one).

[@jayluck8047]

Ok. You incorrectly spelled, Sith.

[@Zoidd_Bergg]

@@jayluck8047 they didn't incorrectly spell it actually, autocorrect changes sith to with unless you use the word sith a lot, my phone still autocorrect it to with

[@famousbowl9926]

@Poykeh Music in cannon his kyber crystal is cracked thats why

[@KhakiShorts]

In 2019 I was lucky enough to be able to sit down with Ben Burtt in his studio at Skywalker Sound. He could not have been more generous with his time showing us how he came up with some of the sounds and talking about some of his other projects. He even let me hold his Oscar for sound editing for Star Wars and shoot his laser cannon! That was a visit I'll never forget.

[@anotherDnightmare]

The metal press used for the ATAT’s walking was astounding. Outside of the TIE Fighter scream, it’s my absolute favorite

[@TiL_Deimos]

a man we can alll love

[@loganmendoza5382]

Is no one gonna talk about how this man has an ACTUAL TURRET THAT MOVES AND SHOOTS!!

[@marcb5343]

Nope. 🙂

[@salazam]

lol what a retard

[@josephjackson1956]

I always find that the “physical stuff” he talks about with sounds in movies and TV shows make the “magic”.

[@MaximilianoAedo]

Ben Burtt will forever be iconic for the sound effects of the Star Wars universe.

[@arthouston7361]

When I was five years old, I wanted to do what Ben does. I saw how sound effects were made for old time radio, and that morphed into Foley work. I went down a different path, but I never lost my love of sounds. In 1976, I read an explanation of the light sabre sound, but Ben gives a much better explanation here. I tip my hat to the master!

[@oncydium]

He's like a master chef of sounds instead of flavors. Absolutely amazing talent on a par with all the Star Wars practical modelers and visual effects artists.

[@joeyb4ever]

Pure analog creations. No digital sounds, all created from altering real sounds. Brilliant.

[@DailyShit.]

He literally used a synthesizer right in the beginning. I know it is still hardware but digital nonetheless.

[@torstenbokdenward1491]

@@DailyShit. Actually, the ARP 2600 is an analog synth, not a digital

[@comradecameron3726]

@@torstenbokdenward1491still synthetic.

[@lococomrade3488]

It was the top technology of its day. Just more Luddite bullshit.

[@iteachvader]

@@comradecameron3726 But with human input that gave it a lifelike quality you can't get from purely digital sources. Burtt is an absolute genius.

[@SlyHikari03]

The lightsaber sound design is my favorite part of this. Projector hum and mic interference. And then re recording that and swinging a mic by the speaker for movement. Ben was a cut above. He knew what he was doing.

[@THOMMGB]

I so thoroughly enjoyed this video. Ben must've patiently told these stories many hundreds of times, yet he made it sound like he was describing it for the first time.

[@zeebrook]

When we made films in the 60's and 70's on small gauge film 16mm and 8mm as opposed to 35mm, all the sound effects and dialogue were done post-sinc. It was hard work going over and over to get it right but, when you did, it was amazing. The audience did not realise that 99.9% was done post-sinc. We did take a tape recorder and recorded live sounds to add in the background. The foley artists do an amazing job, and it's good that they do get the recognition they truly deserve.

[@salazam]

"post-sinc"

[@salazam]

"post-sinc"

[@robpolaris7272]

I was on a ventilator in the hospital and I was shocked how Vaderesque it sounded. Its funny they used a diving rig instead of a ventilator.

[@salazam]

no one cares about your asthma, nerd.

[@Wh40kFinatic]

To imagine visiting this man and learning how he did everything... ugh. The dream.

[@carolynchurch4642]

Fun Fact: budgies (parakeets) are excellent at mimicking R2-D2's sound.

[@jauregi2726]

The Force is strong with him.

[@lounatic7370]

And the ego

[@scudman51]

@@lounatic7370 EGO?!? This guy seems super humble. WTF are you talking about?

[@SuperGorak]

so while kenny baker is the body of R2, this guy is the voice? And there's no credit??

[@Saint_Magnapinna]

Sound designers are seriously underrated.

[@bossman98293]

@@Saint_Magnapinna they won Oscars

[@Rhythmicons]

@@bossman98293 screen credit though.

[@gregwessendorf]

@@Rhythmicons He's literally credited as sound designer, what do you want? If every person was individually credited for every individual contribution, credit rolls would be an hour long.

[@Rhythmicons]

@@gregwessendorf I think maybe your reply was to the OP instead of me.

[@WhiteBloggerBlackSpecs]

Of the most iconic sounds in cinema history happened completely by accident

[@frostburn6784]

Accident or was it fate? Is he not the chosen one?

[@Waluiginumberone]

I love that he talks about "listening to movies" like they're albums. A true sound designer through and through

[@robertjosephkeil]

Ben Burtt is a genius. And a genuinely nice person. He should teach a master class.

[@DerekMoore82]

My favorite sound effect is the Slave 1's seismic charge.

[@salazam]

That's because you're pedestrian. Or what the kids used to call "basic", I believe the term now is "mid".

[@donaldduck4867]

Star Wars will always be the best movies of all time. Especially the old school ones.

[@dr.nizamsarkawi-personal7101]

@Donald Herboid except SW in Disney version.

[@Oathbreaker.]

*the distant sound of horns* ----> ''Forth Eorlingas''

[@robertomondello2447]

I hope that one day Ben Burtt and other sound designer that have created all sound effects for all nine star wars movies, all tv shows (animated and live action, like the Mandalorian) and the spin off movies, will create a file for download all sound effects that they have created❣️❣️❣️

[@MrLordExdeath]

Like John Williams, Ben Burtt gave us the sounds wich everyone knows from Star Wars... Really everyone knows it and loves it ^^ like my example with John Williams and his music from Star Wars

[@mikek7660]

The fact he made the sound of the movement of the lightsaber by moving a microphone is almost legendary

[@wickedwood04]

This man is a genius that has helped fuel imagination and play time for generations now. How many Millions upon Millions of people(not just children) have pickup up a broom stick and start swinging that thing making light saber sounds.

[@steveverboom]

What an amazing man. He created the sound effects for Star Wars (and other movies) that made the experience so much better. His work will live on in these movies forever.

[@nobrien1]

What hoot to just discover this video! I was pleased to see that the Ben I knew when we went to school together through high school is still l the same creative, personable and helpful person he was back then. This room reminded me of his attic 'lair' where he experimented with cast off audio visual equipment, looping Tarzan yells, and running a speaker line down to the trash cans out by the street to startle kids going by with the 'talking trash cans'. Early on, he learned that the space ship sounds in the 1930's Buck Rogers serial were actually from Schick electric razors and I guess that fueled his career. Fun fact: in our senior year of high school Ben set a county record in the pole vault!

[@AlexTrain5249]

That electric TV tube buzz actually happens to me sometimes when I put my phone close to my computer speakers except it makes this rhythmic popping sound.

[@Gryphon2026]

Ben Burtt is a genius!!!!❤❤❤ He made what has got to be some of the most identifiable sounds in all the modern world! Just amazing 🤯🤓

[@WhoTouchedMyReindeer]

I had a big grin on my face watching this. Incredibly interesting.

[@orboakin8074]

This was wonderful to watch. Ben Burtt, George, and crew really did amazing things to give us teh wonderful world of Star Wars.

[@hab9609]

That’s amazing the artistry they created to make us believe everything we heard. I love Lucas used to steal cable and banged on it to get the sound of a blaster. We can create a lot more sounds today with computers, but I believe creativity isn’t what it once was

[@salazam]

I'm pretty sure George Lucas makes enough money he doesn't have to steal cable

[@nicholaskasper6468]

I think I would have been just like those kids and be in total awe listening to all the ways he came up with and how!

[@HansCholo619]

awesome video ....so lucky they got to meet the great Ben Burtt.

[@ArcadeReplay]

cameraman is in love with the blonde girl

[@samfran255]

yes you noticed that too. 16 seconds of camera time on her at 1:15. You reckon shes beautiful aswell ay

[@connergarlock771]

@@samfran255 I'm surprised there aren't more comments related to her knowing KZbin lol.

[@oncydium]

Who isn't? 😉

[@salazam]

@@oncydium anyone who isn't a pathetic simp.

[@silaswild6233]

The most iconic sound here was when the black girl ridiculously went, "aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa" for much longer than was necessary. Why are people so affected nowadays?

[@214TwoOneFo]

Had to look for this , nibbas be nibbin

[@Lesspaw41]

Lmao...I was thinking the same

[@salazam]

"people"

[@AboriginalArms]

Why are yall bothered by her existence? She was just excited that she just learned something. I don’t see why out of all of what you just saw that’s what you decided to comment on lol

[@salazam]

@@AboriginalArms I hope she reads this

[@ProfessorKahn]

Even my squeaky window in my room reminds me of R2 sometimes🤣 but this guy actually made a portion of star wars rememberable just by these noises and thats actually crazy.

[@johnfrogman3710]

a master talking about his craft. just awesome.

[@johnlang2293]

This was a great video to watch, very cool stuff, every moment of it !!

[@brookadam777]

Still the best sound effects of all time. What a legend

[@salazam]

The best sound effects are the ones you don't notice. They have to be accurate to what things really sound like (example: the gunfire in Michael Mann's Heat (1996) where you could even hear the shells hitting the ground) but also not too real it's distracting (how you can hear people talking quietly in a car with the windows down and zero road-noise or traffic sounds). Sound effects in a sci-fi movie is almost cheating because you can just make up sounds. No one is going to be like "That's not what a REAL lightsaber sounds like!" because lightsabers aren't real.

[@usctrojans001]

Genius! Ben Burt has to be one of My Favorite SW People along with Lucas (of Course) and John Williams. I could go on for Days Listening to Him Explain SW Sound FX!

[@davecresar]

Awesome video!

[@degerhandeger]

I’m not a Star Wars but, man, this guy created a culture. 🙏

[@z.hunter3825]

What a legend.

[@devastator5607]

all my notifications are star wars canons and sound effects, drives people insane wen they here my phone going off

[@salazam]

Just hearing you talk about it is annoying.

[@slycordinator]

One time, "The Graduate" happened to be on TV and one of the opening scenes has the main character in scuba gear in a pool and the sound was recorded from a first-person perspective. Immediately I was like "Holy shit. That's Darth Vader."

[@LFOVCF]

Only in the last few years since YT have i seen this genius, but 42 years ago, he was highly instrumental in my love of sound. Every sound is instantly recognisable. Sound guys are often the nerdy kids in class, and hardly ever get limelight, but without this man, Star Wars would be dead sounding. Imagine the sound of a Transformer changing. Now remember Steve Austin (Six Million Dollar Man) running. Now the Star Trek beam up sound. See how you have those incredible sounds already in your head?

[@Rhythmicons]

Everyone with analog synthesizers wants to do what he does.

[@cv_290]

The clones heavy basters with the LAAT gunships noises and the Ion engines along with the M6 walkers sounds will never fail to make me smirk on how cool they sound.

[@salazam]

I just puked in my mouth a little at how much of a fucking nerd you are.

[@MorbidManoeuvres]

he is a genius !

[@mr.mrs.fusion7940]

Ben is my Audio hero. He is a legend.

[@sheepuswoolius]

TIE fighter engine sounds like a Stuka or Katyusha Rockets.

[@callancaustic9355]

Space Nazis and space stukas

[@sheepuswoolius]

@@callancaustic9355 Not all Nazis were German and not all Germans were Nazis.

[@callancaustic9355]

@@sheepuswoolius ok... I never said they were... I was just saying the imperials are like Nazis and the ties like stukas... I never mentioned Germany...

[@darrenrock3387]

It actually came from a tire skidding on wet ground and an elephant roar

[@salazam]

@@darrenrock3387 Elephants don't roar.

[@Mxyzptlksac]

I’m guessing he’s constantly listening to things and cataloging it in his brain for future use

[@siggevibes]

This is so magical

[@memoriesmuseum2824]

This man is a genius..... protect his ears at all costs

[@phillippitts6294]

That was really cool!

[@elroya9814]

Now he can make the lightsber sound with his mouth

[@kialambright1879]

I'm geeking out so bad right now! 👏🥰

[@maskandvaccinefreeandproud2110]

I find this stuff fascinating.

[@royalcatwalk]

Compliments from the Kingdom of Netherlands!

[@DocCulprit]

1:17 - Focus now my friend... pay attention. Lust leads to the dark side.

[@leuphoniemusic]

Oh, that girl is cute! :)

[@darknightmike10yearsago]

LOL

[@gibbethoskins8621]

1:00 That blew my mind when he did R2

[@salazam]

Did it? Were you flabbergasted? Discombobulated? Kurt Kobainified?

[@mats9775]

Great interview! What was the idea behind this video? Did you just walk up to the ranch and talk to Ben? Looks like a part of a documentary or something bigger. Would love to see more.

[@roadtripnation]

Thank you! You're right--this is an excerpt from our documentary series. If you'd like to watch more, you can stream the episodes for free on our website: roadtripnation.com/watch/public-television/season-12 And, here's more of Ben Burtt's story, which you can watch right here on KZbin! kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWW9q3hubtKrjaM

[@mocheen4837]

I was lucky enough to have visited the Skywalker Ranch a few times. I remember attending a Halloween party there and the costumes were amazing. I was also there the day they closed down and announced that Disney had purchased them from Lucas. It was a sad day.

[@salazam]

no one cares

[@philb4462]

What a fantastic video. Is there any more?

[@roadtripnation]

Yes! Watch this video to hear about how Ben Burtt managed to win an Oscar by reimagining a failed sound effect: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bWW9q3hubtKrjaM

[@sr.duarte9438]

This guy is a genius. Period.

[@saberpotatoboy4151]

Can someone answer me on what that laser cannon in the beginning was? Any info is great

[@Hyperdynelabs]

Sweet. Looks like you got to play with the Eweb blaster prop I made for Ben!

[@themysteriousoa4466]

Man, I was hoping to see him do R2’s scream!

[@tolulopeajayi3615]

A genius he is!!!

[@hongoslongos5203]

Maybe one if the best sound job from history, in my opinion

[@kylemcw8301]

The humming sound from the sabres evolved rather beautifully into what we saw between Rey & Kylo! I can’t even describe what that hun turned into..... humming, Static energy!?

[@luke_ye_boyyy5318]

I rewatched all the Indiana Jones movies recently and there are sound effects used in Star Wars in them which is cool

[@salazam]

No, it's lazy.

[@DerekRaven]

Ben Burtt is just as important as Lucas and Williams to the creative success of Star Wars.

[@vendettaknight104]

I would love to just sit down and have a full conversation with this guy about sound effects.

[@lopony7944]

I WANTED TO HEAR HOW HE MADE THE ATAT AND ATST CANNONS SOUND

[@salazam]

He wrote a book, you know... it's one of those antique things made out of pages of paper with words on it.

[@lopony7944]

@@salazam learn to read, dipshit i said HEAR and nobody asked you. take your attitude out on somebody else

[@ToddLorencmusic]

Pure genius 🙏

[@robwayne8322]

There have been times where I have heard people hurl and I thought "Gee, that sounds like a tie fighter".

[@biggles258]

Interestin @1:56 that the notebook references the English English spelling 'lightsabre' rather than the more often encountered US English 'lightsaber'.

[@Edrumachine]

This so cool!

[@stevenj9970]

A true ARTIST

[@aqacefan]

6:32 I wonder if that includes the Wilhelm Scream?

[@S.C.500]

But how did he create the lightsaber ignition sound.... particularly for Luke's green saber.

[@bayuandi290]

this guy here is basically us if we pay attention to our physics' teacher.

[@S.C.500]

I still want to know what sounds he used to make the ignition sound for Luke's green saber.

[@CaptainZlex]

I am a firm believer that some of the best art is created just because the artist wanted to make something that appealed to them. Rather than setting out of try to become popular.

[@jessicacarr4933]

When I was about 12 and a huge fan, my mum pointed out to me how Vader sounded like that because of a ventilator (I mean canonically, she’s not wrong) and that she hears that sound a lot (she’s a nurse in the A and E department or E R for Americans) from people who can’t breathe on there own, especially from long term smoking although Vader’s breathing was due to fire (ep 3 was already out so I knew that, although the image of Vader trying to smoke in his suit is actually quite a funny thought!) This idea of sounding like that due to not being able to breathe not only made me see vader in a new light but bloody terrified me out of trying cigs more than school ever could. It even subconsciously keeps me cautious about things that might lead to that, I.e covid! So in a very weird way I have to thank this guy for giving mum the tools needed to scare me straight! And to think that came from a small Mic in an old regulator!

[@DVXCine]

1:05 I just saw a brain explode in slow motion LOL

[@gurudru1977]

ben burtt sheer genius

[@Rhythmicons]

He has some cool memorabilia.

[@Geerladenlad]

I love how by accident he came up with the sound for the blasters. He said he was hiking and his backpack got caught on a stranded guy wire from a tower.

[@AlyssMa7rin]

guide wire* I read that the first time and almost had a hear attack :P

[@Geerladenlad]

@@AlyssMa7rin A guy-wire, guy-line, or guy-rope, also known as simply a guy, is a tensioned cable designed to add stability to a free-standing structure. They are used commonly for ship masts, radio masts, wind turbines, utility poles, and tents. A thin vertical mast supported by guy wires is called a guyed mast.

[@AlyssMa7rin]

@@Geerladenlad Huh. I stand corrected!

[@TangoDelta70]

Awesome!

[@harrisongwin6859]

man is an absolute genius