It is easy to dismiss the significance of sound effects in film, but they can be just as important as the visual aspect. The purpose of a sound effect is to make a particular impact on the narrative; without the use of music or dialogue. Picking a well suited sound to go with that action is crucial;you don’t want to break the suspension of disbelief. There is a whole hierarchy of sound effects used in film production; each with a different purpose.
Foley sound is the reproduction of everyday sounds in a film. These sounds are integrated into a film and can require the knowledge of a Foley artist to record properly. These sounds can be anything from a squeaky gate to a creaky stair. At first, It can be difficult to hear a Foley sound in a movie because they blend in so well; this maintains that suspension of disbelief. Without these everyday sounds the film would seem very unnatural. Hard sounds are also very common sound effects used in production. These can be anything from a hammer hitting wall to a door slamming. But like Foley they tend to a sound created by an everyday object. If it’s a basic sound effect or mood music you’re after then may be already available in a type of sound library online.
However, when searching for an unnatural sound it can become difficult for amateur film makers. Design sound effects are usually unique sounds used commonly in horror and sci-fi, providing unworldly sounds. These sounds can also be used in a musical fashion through the warping of sounds, most notably common in the use of jazz production music in sci-fi in the 1960s. Like design, Background effects often indicate setting to the audience such as forest sounds or the bustling noise of a city.