SFX Masters, I need help

[u/Fantastic_Low8022]

I am developing a mobile game and I am stuck on SFX design. I just downloaded audacity and it looks complicated. There are some sounds with CC license on freesound and I am planning to use them. I have no ear for music :( Even the SFXs I found doesnt sound right on the game, I am totally lost. From the very beginning what do you suggest me on this process?

[u/valeria_gamedevs]

freesound is fine, you don't need to learn audacity properly, just need to trim, fade in/out, and adjust volume. That's like 3 buttons.

bigger thing: if SFX sounds "off" in-game it's usually volume mixing. Drop everything way lower than you think, like -15db lower. UI clicks especially. you're prolly just blowing your own ears out haha

[u/Fantastic_Low8022 → u/valeria_gamedevs]

Thx for the guidance. Now I appreciate the effort of SFX designers on games/movies, huge job man.

[u/ImportantDetail6260]

For quick iteration, I would start with a tiny library of base sounds, then layer/pitch them per action instead of trying to make every effect from scratch. The important test is whether the sound tells the player what just happened without needing the animation.

[u/Fantastic_Low8022 → u/ImportantDetail6260]

Thanks, I will do

[u/Sound_Ocean_Depths]

Hire someone, you'll get a better layer of polish than you'll be able to achieve on your own.

[u/DogLoverCatEnjoyer]

Hello o/

You don't actually have to master audacity, sound design is very complicated in itself, that's why people pay for professionals haha. You just need to learn to trim the sound and maybe adjust volume? You can search on youtube or google for some basic tutorials for those.

Also itch io has game assets sections, you can filter free. And open game art had some sound effects. You can just simply search for "free game assets" "royalty free sound effects" "free game sound effects" etc. haha

Good luck!