The Secret of the Goldeneye Sound

The sample is beautiful, and its mystery interested me. I wanted to learn its secrets, and now I want to share my findings with you.
the audio gets a little loud whenever I play something in Ableton! sorry about that & my plosives :)
N64 soundbank tool: www.goldeneyevault.com/viewfil...
sforzando: www.plogue.com/products/sforz...
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[@KingdomEnfilade]

I thought I was the only person in the world who appreciated this sound!

[@jonkoxl2069]

^

[@ramruntblunt5929]

KingdomEnfilade same, I think that echo sound has something to do with the Cold War

[@ludaheracles7201]

I've been searching for this sound for years

[@aidanhall7233]

Me too!!

[@NaldinhoGX]

Nah, you are not the only person in the world who likes that sound! :D

[@PoloABD]

To me the sound represented the soviet 'hammer and sickle'. It sounds like a hammer striking an anvil.

[@lynnjameslange6098]

Peter Swindley perfect summary! it always reminded me of gold being smelted on an anvil. As I got older I thought it was an allegory for the hammer hitting the sickle the remnants of the Soviet Union transitioning into a modern day Russia.

[@PoloABD]

@@lynnjameslange6098 Cheers :)

[@ramruntblunt5929]

I think it represents the Cold War, it sounds like a echo in a nuclear middle silo

[@Sheerspeechcraft]

@@lynnjameslange6098 poverty, homelessness, crime and corruption skyrocketed, and life expectancy plummeted when the USSR fell

[@BeanieDraws]

Exactly, great summery!

[@turbostatic1]

That sound is unique because it's literally locked into the years 1994-1997

[@judu2b]

Glad I'm not the only one to love Eric Serra's glacial and industrial percussion. Thanks for sharing.

[@Schreibtisch1]

I also heard the infamous industrial percussion on the X-Files from 1993 (Season 3 Episode 5). Soundtrack is by Mark Snow and this sound can be heard around 29:00, it's the scene were they find the body in the attic.

[@thegoodgeneral]

@@Schreibtisch1also 1992-1993 Patlabor 2 by Kenji Kawai.

[@joshuatunis6732]

The sound is in Perfect Dark as well for the N64. The Goldeneye 64 team designed that game too.

[@bradleysmith5781]

You mean Rare?

[@electrikoptik]

@@bradleysmith5781 He means Rare.

[@JD-od6tw]

2 best games of all time. Still.

[@hosni4064]

@@JD-od6tw Love how it is included in the G5 Building level

[@Bankable2790]

Not just Rare - that exact team

[@desktorp]

lots of respect for Mr. Kirkhope for not being an occultist or gatekeeper when asked for the secret to such a high value sound

[@narmale]

he stole it from Myst btw... the epic game

[@Colsey85]

Just watching the 5th Element and it popped up in that during the scene where Bruce Willis is fighting the aliens after the opera. Looked it up and sure enough Éric Serra did the music, he really likes that effect.

[@Bankable2790]

Lol nice!!

[@seronymus]

Based

[@tawogtrailers]

This was THE sound that made the goldeneye score so iconic. I always wondered what it was, and now I know

[@TheRenegadist]

I always associated this sound as "The Russian Sound".

[@revival444]

Same

[@gerwaeld]

I like how this epic, universally shared, musical quest kinda resumes itself by simply "a tiny tambourin pitched down very low". Simplicity for beauty.

[@kriegrrr]

YES, someone else was obsessed with finding out what the sound was lmao

[@FamilyJules7X]

This was a treat to watch Jackson. I went on a similar journey looking for the sound for my Goldeneye Caverns cover. Grant gave me the same explanation and I immediately went after it the way of the pitched down tambourine and it was super fun! I feel I got it very very close for that cover! I absolutely love stuff like this so I'd love to see more like this.

[@pauldenney6968]

Holy shit whats up FamilyJules? I love your channel and this video happened to come up in my recommended haha.

[@willbloodworth5248]

Grant is cool as hell. I’m so glad he’s as accessible and down-to-earth (and goofy AF!) as he is.

[@Sacrengard]

I was trying to find the mystery of this sound and found this video (so helpful) after so many months of wondering and how to look for it. And here you are, what a nice surprise to find you here!

[@jakeslaughter7201]

That sound is in a few X-Files episodes too. I love it. It’s weirdly captivating.

[@krackheadkola]

yess i just commented this and was scrolling to find someone who could corraborate and tadah !

[@_witsd]

I just came looking for a video like this one, having watched Dod Kalm and hearing 'the Goldeneye sound'!

[@jakeslaughter7201]

@@_witsd Dod Kalm is such a good episode. Having recently rewatched it I picked the sound up too. It’s like an intimidating, haunting sound.

[@_witsd]

And again, in Terma (S4E9)

[@treegrims5829]

@@_witsd same!!!

[@kissphantom05]

I was at work and we had a metal rolling ladder with hollow framing. One day i tapped it with something and it made the exact sound. I was happy.

[@Owlbot]

Thanks for this. I've wondered what that sound was since 1995!

[@oliverb.8995]

1997* thats when the game got released, unless youre talking about the effect in the movie

[@sonjaadamson1714]

David Wise also used that sample on his Donkey Kong Country soundtracks.

[@beej_tunes]

as soon as I heard that sound I started screaming at my phone “ITS A PITCHED DOWN TAMBOURINE” Only because I used to make tracker music in the late 90s and saw that technique commonly used. for instance, the FF6 song Devil’s Lab has the same sound and when I downloaded the tracker recreation of it (again the late 90s was a weird time), it was a pitched down tambourine. And saw it from time to time in other random places

[@IRNatman]

Really good watch! With the realization that the sample is a pitched down tambourine sound, I played around with a couple of different royalty free tambourine sounds, and eventually I came up with something that sounds pretty much exactly like the original sample!

[@seronymus]

Based

[@WPTUNED]

Holy shit this just made my day! This sound has haunted me for soo long! From the game, from the film and even the fifth element! In fact I hear Goldeneye sounds, sound effects in movies all the time and it takes me straight back ha! Thanks buddy!

[@declancampbell4226]

Came here to say that I just heard it in Fifth Element as well!

[@noldorwarrior7791]

17:39 Hostage executed

[@KingdomHeartsBrawler]

Ah, yes, the famous metallic "bong" sound. I believe David Wise used it in Donkey Kong Country, too (specifically for "Aquatic Ambiance" and "Misty Menace"). It was also used in the Winters Cave theme from EarthBound.

[@seronymus]

Exactly this!

[@monkeycheesenow]

I'm perhaps a bit late to give an answer on your question, but I would like to point out that Aquatic Ambience is not based on this particular 'bong' sample. That entire track (and many other tunes) is built around presets on the Korg Wavestation. Take a listen to Ski Jam or Wave Song - just search for these names + Wavestation here on KZbin. One modern song built on these presets is Nathan East his version of Serpentine Fire. The samples/presets DO however sound the same, they all have these clean and minimalist 90's quality to them. I bet you'll love them!

[@beej_tunes]

@@monkeycheesenow Aquatic Ambiance is only merely inspired by those Korg Wavestation patches. If you look at the waveforms, they are all simple chip waveforms, except two DKC samples like the harp and the flute-mallet-thing. The rhythmic sounds used in ski jam and wave song are just different. He simply used the same idea of triggering a 16th note sequence of different patches at different octaves to provide a driving rhythm. The actual samples and sounds are all different. If you check my channel I made a short going thru all the samples he used in aquatic ambiance

[@beej_tunes]

I would say the Korg Waveststion also used the pitched tambourine to great effect as well, so just another example. I have an original song on my channel using Korg Wavestation Ski Jam

[@PlasticCogLiquid]

They used a cash register sound for drums in Paula's Theme in Earthbound too

[@psibrunojusto]

To me, the sound represented a design in the movie Goldeneye. They start the film with those sounds too, in an Classic Bond Gunbarrel intro scene.

[@rahulranjan9013]

What did you meant by design ? Atmosphere/ archetype/theme ?

[@CDRaff]

My dad was really into synths in the late 80s early 90s(Think Oakfield, Tangerine Dream, stuff like that) . He had a couple E-MU rack mounted synths including the Proteus FX(as well as the Orchestral version). I can remember sitting for hours goofing off with those very sounds. My favorites were the Chior(called Vox IIRC) and another called Flashback.

[@seronymus]

That's awesome, I wish I knew how to get into synths

[@ncapone87]

@@seronymus if you haven't gotten into it, you can! Feel free to ask me any questions, I like to help

[@spraynerdkruger5737]

Mate, I’ve spent my entire life looking after that effect and you’ve nailed it. Bossman big up. You nailed it

[@the_musiccellar]

I am so grateful that searching “goldeneye sound” on KZbin brought me to a place where I am not alone.

[@thebreakfastmenu]

Grant Kirkhope also used a Roland JV1080 all over Goldeneye. You can take the tambourine sound and pitch it down on the synth and get the same sound. It has a ton of instantly recognizable sounds from the game so it's worth the purchase.

[@NLind]

The Breakfast Menu yep, the orchestra hits band the music box sound heard in the Caverns stage are a few examples. They also had a Yamaha SY-99 since the sound the Keycard Analyzer makes when you use it is the SY-99 trying to read a bad disc. Read that somewhere, possibly in an NP issue. Also they had the Proteus/1 since it’s Dune patch was used in Perfect Dark, especially in the beginning of the Pelagic II stage.

[@seronymus]

Do I need that precise model

[@thebreakfastmenu]

@@seronymus It'd definitely a good place to start. It's a pretty accessible module. Grant or Graeme?? said, I think it was on Twitter, that he also had a E-mu Proteus II. And the above comment about the Yamaha is also true. It really depends what sound in particular you want. I certainly love my Roland and have found a lot of use for it beyond getting N64 soundtrack sounds, so I automatically recommend them regardless.

[@seronymus]

@@thebreakfastmenu Oh my I didn't even expect a response, especially so soon haha. Have your tastes changed in 2 years? Thank you Wess.uh,dumb question but what are the best resources for noobs like me who are lost where to even start on all this? :( Anything, guides, sites, channels, beginner stuff whatever. I just really love ambient synth, like the Fallout 1 and 2 OSTs and "dungeoncore".

[@thebreakfastmenu]

Probably Reddit, these days. I'm far from an expert on synths. I'm more a guitar nerd. I still use my Roland JV1080 almost every time I play guitar though, because I make loops to play over with it. It's got over 600 presets and if you're patient enough, you can learn how to program some patches yourself. It's got good piano and orchestral presets as well as more ambient and synthwave-y kinda stuff too. Super versatile. But maybe I'm biased haha I think I saw somewhere that Roland has a software synth of the JV1080 now? I don't know much about software but it might be worthwhile investigating if finding modules isn't an option.

[@GrantHammerhoof]

YES, I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO WONDERED. Anyway, the original sample was also included as a sample in a program called "E-JAY" Electronic DJ, which is part of a line of programs offering an easy way of putting together your own Techno/Electronica music. The sample sound in that program was called "Woodcrash" if I remember right.

[@DjClayface]

4:37 - Even Mick Gordon wanted to know

[@KogeyFox]

This sample perplexed me as well. I myself went through the files from a rom of the game using an application and I found the regular high pitched tambourine sound. Pitched it down in FL and sure enough that was it. I made a GoldenEye 64 watch theme remake using it. You can find it on my channel somewhere interested.

[@ZacStaylon]

As a kid I always thought of this sound as "The Sonar" and I asked everybody about it... you are my Spirit animal man... I am the same exact way when it comes to sound design. Especially recreating sounds and tones using original equipment that the source of where you heard it from first, has also used. If only you were obsessed with Derek Sherinian / Jordan Rudess sounds haha! Here's a challenge if you're up for it... : There is an Alice Cooper song titled "poison" At the very very beginning of the track, there is a Synthesizer effect that "opens" the song. it sounds like someone just "threw the third switch". Now, Layered on top of that is what sounds like feedback coming from the guitarist - so that's not a worry... Just that Synth attack is what I'm after. Here are some notes - In Omnisphere, I've discovered a patch of what sounds almost exactly like it. . . but, it's layered with something else AND its just one Sample with no detail of origin. The patch in Omnisphere is titled "Beam and Bulb" Cheers!

[@stereorealist9531]

The highest quality version (to my knowledge at least) of this sound that's been officially released can be found on a sample CD that E-mu published in the 90s called 'Formula 4000: Protozoa,' alongside many other sounds taken from the various Proteus sound modules they made. The raw sample is called "Brass Tambourine" and has a sample rate of 25khz.

[@kite172000]

I really thought the sounds was just a sample of a Sonar bloop that they gave a reverb and pitch change to. This is interesting.

[@Friboux]

This is really not something that I would usually listen to at all, not in my field of interest, but I watched the whole thing and it was surprisingly really neat. I like your dedication and geekyness with this stuff.

[@seronymus]

What's your field of interest?

[@steaustin8789]

Just bizarre I spent years trying to find out what that sound was because I wanted to use it in my music and it turns out everyone was looking for the same sound. Crazy.

[@ZachyStugotz]

Thank you so much for doing this. This has answered decades long questions for me about the creation of these sounds and where I can get them to explore with on my own. Cheers!

[@jimst3r1]

It's in a lot of movies from the 1990's actually... i think I've heard it in Die hard also...

[@alejandrocastillo1325]

I was looking for this so many years! thank you!

[@AngelMTZ8A]

There is a Emu - Proteus VST with the original sounds and some expansion packs, the sounds that you rip directly from the N64 are very compressed, the VST ones sound so goood! great video btw

[@CJDvorak1]

I don't think ive ever left a KZbin comment before but I feel compelled to leave one here. You have resolved in full a curiosity I've had since I was a little kid and watched the Goldeneye movie and played the games. I also heard it in Leon and it is used extensively in the X-Files original scores for many episodes as well as The 5th Element movie. Something about this sound has always stuck with me and it brings on extreme nostalgia related to the 90s. I never would have guessed it was a tambourine. It's funny because as happy as I am I'm almost upset I know what it is now lol. Thank you.

[@Jorge01234]

You nailed it. A video explaining the exact sound I was trying to figure out how to identify. I remember it very well from Goldeneye (movie and N64 game) and have also heard it elsewhere here in there. It's a sound that seems to add suspense or mystery to whatever it is applied to. Thank you for the video.

[@RoPanuganti]

This was a great adventure into a sample I've always wondered about, thank you for this

[@danielsouthern2113]

I’ve always wanted to know this! There’s a song called Russia On Ice by Porcupine Tree and towards the end this sound is used, so combine that title with Goldeneye, I always thought it was an obscure Russian percussion thing. Now I know!

[@willbloodworth5248]

Porcupine Tree is the best.

[@hobbaswaggle]

that sound always made me think of MYST

[@SeanGatchell]

Same. Very similiar to many tracks and even effects in it.

[@TheBeatfox]

The Myst soundtrack was made on a Proteus MPS Plus Orchestral, which had many of the same sounds as the Proteus FX.

[@ChrisHollandGuitar]

Always loved this sound, really glad I came across your video! I've been playing with the N64 Soundfonts via the sforzando plugin in Reaper. I was able to get the Infinite One sound to decay by inserting a volume envelope on the MIDI track, and rolling the notes off manually.

[@HOVA09]

This might be the most specific sound video I've ever watched, your dedication is appreciated sir.

[@Vodkat]

Before I owned a gaming console, the first videogame I ever played was Myst (1993) on the PC. The score on that game is incredibly eerie and enigmatic. Additionally, I was only a young kid, probably 7 of age, so I found the whole thing to be most unsettling. And I can understand why now, it was this bloody sound effect playing tricks on me mind the whole time. The soundtrack is full of sequences that utilise it in a way that settled the mood for the entire game. As a personal suggestion, you should listen to it if you happen to have the time.

[@narmale]

ive been saying this for years... both are neigh direct copy of myst OST

[@foosbabaganoosh1]

Whaaaat the hell I've always singled out that one "metal pipe hit down a long tunnel" sound, and lo and behold "goldeneye sound effect" brought me to a freaking video essay specifically breaking it down. This is blowing my mind.

[@sonnymastrangioli]

This is amazing! You could practically do your own re-recording of the entire video game OST without having to worry about an N64 compressing everything for each of the single/multi player levels and the menus, opening and ending movies too if anyone put their mind to it.

[@harysuper]

I’ve always wondered where those sounds had come from! Thank you for making this helpful video!

[@Shamnolya]

For years i had no idea what this song was but i love it. I found out a few days ago and someone recommend me your video. It's interesting to see your dedication in order to get the original sound, nice video =)

[@valor992]

Cant beleive what Im hearing. Leon being my all time favorite movie and playing a ton of GoldenEye growing up I notoced the same sound being present in both as well. Always thought it was just a coincidence. Great niche video.

[@victortheguitarnerd]

Very interesting and informative video. Now I finally know how to be able to play around with the sounds I've loved since I was a child.

[@chipdouglas9278]

This makes me wanna play Golden eye again. Such an iconic sound. Thanks man!

[@devnull6076]

i have the original e-mu protheus2 soundfont. i cant remember where i have it from, but its like the original. there are many sounds from the soundtrack of the movie and also from the game. a real bond-soundfont. its easy to use in fl studio.

[@mann-nova9392]

dev null Would you be willing to release it?

[@skinnybuggo]

Asking the same as the person above me

[@scotznotslopped-empir-1555]

Wow so all it is in the end is a pitched down tambourine, wow that totally demystifies one of the coolest sounds in the universe

[@MarkHaldaneArt]

Thank you for making this video! The sound is also used in at in The X-Files score. I'm not sure how many episodes it was in, but definitely enough that the MP3 demo online just sounds like that show to me.

[@SpencerLemay]

I heard some goldeneye music just now, wanted to find that sound, and googled goldeneye sample and this was the first thing that came up.

[@mwilkins1644]

This is my all time favourite sound! It's a huge part of my childhood, and I have never been able to know what it is. Always thought it was a downtuned bell. Thank you very much! Eric Serra is underrated

[@ToxicxEternity]

Thanks for doing this dude! I've had similar situations with other soundtracks, Star Fox 64 comes to mind with certain crazy brass instruments they use. I'll have to use this as a resource next time I run into the dilemma. Luv ya

[@SalehGfx]

So this particular sound was removed from the initial version of Goldeneye for switch and xbox series x that was released a couple of days ago, and everyone went nuts over it!

[@Kaleopan]

I sometimes run into situations myself where i recognize a sound or music sample of the past and wonder where it came from. Also, you were right with the N64 soundchip interpreting sound samples slightly different. Thats why way back in 2012, the OCRemix developed chipamp, a winamp plugin (if anybody remembers that) that could directly play the ripped music tracks / chiptunes libraries from a game on winamp without any differences. Not sure if any similar projects exist right now.

[@rnhtube]

Thanks for this deep dive. I love that this was always a tambourine. I wonder who at E-MU developed the "infinite" patch.

[@lpsp442]

You know, I always wondered what that sound was as well. I reckoned it was some kind of hollow drum struck with a hammer, plus a lot of echo. Cool to see it get explored like this!

[@symphomaniac]

This was helpful to me. I've BEEN wanting to use this sound

[@harvester0181]

I have looked for this answer forever. Thank you beyond measure!

[@krackheadkola]

I spoke about this very specific sound today , mentionning leon while listening to uncompressed goldeneye . and now this pops up . my whole life i liked this sound i'm pretty sure it's in resident evil 4 and perhaps xfiles ...

[@krackheadkola]

Your comment sums up all the references I have for this sound. It’s definitely in all those you mentioned. Plus I’m certain it’s in many other tv shows of films that are lesser known. A truly influential sound for the genre.

[@KairuHakubi]

stuff like this fascinates me too. the fact that you can actually look up and listen to the tracks used for n64 game sounds.. the one used extensively in ocarina of time is a real headtrip to listen to

[@mann-nova9392]

Fun journey. Though I'd say you're in the EXACT generation for MIDIs and synthesizers if you played GE as a kid.

[@garretts408]

I could have sworn this sample is used in X-Files seasons 2 and 3

[@conker206]

One of my favorites representing this sound is in Goldeneye - Facility. You hear the “gong” within 2 seconds after that first electronic measure. Dun dun (gong), dun dun dun

[@TehRealCanadarocker]

Its really cool to see what this sample really was after hearing it in both Goldeneyes and Leon, that drove me nuts when I was younger.

[@OFFICIALUND]

I'm vicariously relieved, too. Well done.

[@revival444]

Dude no way man ... Im so damn jealous, I'm so glad to see so many people into the nostalgia of GoldenEye and many other old games

[@oliverb.8995]

ok

[@BloodSeeker117]

Yes dude yes!! You arent the only one that loves this sound. Its also in perfect dark, which was composed by Grant as well. Some of my favorite game tracks. Very unique. I've searched high/low too and found bits and pieces of the answer. Awesome video and detailed explanation. Thank you!!!!

[@LightGamer6]

Thank you! I've been looking for that sound since I'm a teenager!

[@kevinchang5865]

Nothing beats the industrial pipe bang noise! Love it!

[@bobbyforce1957]

I was making that sound with my mouth just before I pressed play. So cool 👍

[@NYRavage]

I had no idea I needed this video, but I'm glad I somehow came across it. I absolutely love Eric Serra's GoldenEye soundtrack, and I absolutely love how Grant Kirkhope captured that flavor for the video game.

[@petescalzitti]

Oh my god, THANK YOU for going on this journey. I can not wait to play the Goldeneye sounds myself!

[@arnoldnym2466]

I just listened to the Soundtrack last night because I remembered how awesome it was. Thanks for this video, the sound has always puzzled me, too.

[@SeanKula]

It's Goldeneye's 25 anniversary soon.

[@kuhataparunks]

This was really cool thanks for making it

[@MofoMan2000]

Grant Kirkhope is such an awesome guy. He's super nice and ridiculously smart. I'm glad he's so willing to talk to fans and answer questions.

[@BryceAWD]

So happy to find out I wasn't the only one perplexed by this amazing sound. Super cool video.

[@gamma724]

Thanks for making this video!

[@xk2102]

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing this!

[@Pehmu]

I used to call this "The Serra sound". I thought I was the only one had picked up this cool little effect. I used to play with MTV Music Generator on my PS2 and one day just accidentally figured out how to re-create the Serra Effect with the tambourine sample.

[@Sparkyh]

This was a gem of a find thank you.

[@randompolak123]

Bro how is this the first time Ive seen this video? This sound is legendary to me.

[@kallemikaelgustafnyman3695]

This is a life changing video

[@TyDie85]

Percussion is simply the best.

[@eaglechildkeys]

Thank you Jackson for this video and valuable information;-) I always wondered what kind of sounds they used in this game and I thought they were extracted from Roland sound canvas (which I never owned before). Next step will be get the Proteus FX someday too. Subscribed ;)

[@GnCFilms]

According to my own conversations with Graeme Norgate, it's from the Roland 760 Drums and Cymbals CD-ROM from the early 1990s. Its sample name, as far as I know, is PRC Spark 1 R8 (pitched down something like 22 semitones).

[@maximumkorb]

Holy Cow! I have been wondering what this sound was for years. I always thought it was a pipe being hit in an an echoey cave. Thanks for this video, mate.

[@adamwright1989]

This is really interesting. I also used to think about this sound. Whenever I hear anything like it, I immediately think of GoldenEye. Thanks for the video.

[@Gylphie]

Really interesting to watch! Any more of these kind of things to come?

[@Replicant_]

This is probably the most recognizable sound from GoldenEye. I'm aware that could sound a little bit different from the original sample, due to the audio compression of the N64 cartridge. I always had this "musical puzzling" with this sound and with the main piano from Jolly Roger Bay (Super Mario 64).

[@DerisJacobs]

This sample is also a preset of the Roland R-8 drumcomputer, called “Thriller”

[@MilkJugA_]

Reminds me of when I wanted to use a camera as an adapter for an sd card, but I had to use a battery from another camera, which could charge from the camera and at the same time fit inside the other camera. Bunch of components not directly connected to oneanother, but still works. You haven't uploaded any digital music related videos, so I do wonder why you were so dedicated to finding this one sound

[@tylermills3566]

IM NOT ALONE! Okay next question... how to make the sound in the GoldenEye Overture by Eric Serra at 1:33 - 1:34.... I'm obsessed with this particular sound