Course · Sound design
Action Sound Design
Hard-hitting, edgy sound design cues for action trailers and TV spots.
- 18 lessons
- 4 hours of video
- Intermediate
- Lifetime access
- Watch online, any time
Action sound design is one of the most fun, most freeing corners of trailer music. It’s also one of the easiest to get wrong.
The usual problems: your action drums aren’t interesting, you can’t build tension without falling back on chords, and the structure never quite feels right. In this style you mostly don’t have harmony and melody to lean on, so everything else has to work harder.
My track ‘Omega Red’ was used in two TV spots for Captain America: Civil War. What made it work was a signature braaam and a huge final build. This course shows you how to make both.
I show you every decision I make. Choosing sounds, developing ideas, shaping the structure and adding the cinematic flourishes. We cover pings, action drums, risers, basses and braaams, and the small finishing touches that get a track noticed.
Then I show you exactly what I changed to take the track from demo to release with a popular trailer music production company.
By the end, you’ll be able to
- Make edgy, characterful sounds for TV spots and action trailers
- Create a complete action sound design track from scratch
- Understand what makes a successful action sound design track
- Combine action percussion with cutting-edge sounds
- Write simple, punchy arrangements that editors can cut to
- Keep the intensity up without relying on traditional harmony or melody
At a glance
Techniques you’ll learn
- micro-builds
- step layering
- drum rolls for anticipation
- riser layering and processing
- reverse audio hits
- filter automation sweeps
- stutter effects
- rhythmic percussion layering
- bwaam and bass stacking
- three-act cue structure
- trailer hit placement
- compression and distortion for texture
Write music for
- movie trailer cues
- TV spot underscore
- action film trailer
- video game cinematic trailers
- superhero film advertising
- streaming platform promo spots
Influences we look at
Black Panther · Captain America: Civil War · Civil War (A24) · Twisters · Disney+ · Two Steps from Hell
Proof it works
What composers say
One of the most helpful aspects of your course was your videos where you compose a track from scratch. The way you articulate your thought process and the reasoning behind each note decision helps inspire and sharpen my own approach to composition.
What’s inside
- Introduction to Action Sound Design
What's expected of you in this style, and why it's one of the most fun and freeing trailer sub-genres.
- A host of great references
References are the staple of production music briefs. They tell you what's expected and, most importantly, what's succeeding.
- Creating pings
A trailer staple that still gets used all the time, and a great contrast to the massive hits.
- Writing action drums
Powerful drum patterns that drive the track and punctuate it for the editors.
- Using risers effectively
The ultimate tool for tension when you're not leaning on harmony and melody.
- Basses & braaams for more power
The power that editors and trailer houses expect from this style, done properly.
- Finishing touches
Transitions and details that make the difference between being noticed and being another "meh" sound design track.
- From demo to published track
Exactly what I did to make the track ready for release with a popular trailer music production company.
This is for you if…
- You struggle to write interesting action drums
- You can't create tension without reaching for chords
- Your sound design tracks never quite feel "right" structurally
It’s not for you if…
- You want a dedicated action drums course. Drums are covered here, but it isn't a drums course
- You want melodic, emotional cues. Try Epic Slow Burn or Uplifting Orchestral
Who’s teaching
I’ve written music for ads since 2007 and movie trailers since 2011, and went full time in 2014. My music has been used on over 100 campaigns, including Captain America: Civil War, Glass Onion, WandaVision and The Conjuring 2, and I’ve won eight awards along the way. Since 2017 I’ve taught thousands of composers how to do the same. More about me.
Questions before you buy? Email hello@richardpryn.com.
Questions
Do I need to be able to use a DAW?
Yes. You need to be able to use a DAW so you can follow along with the videos.
Do I have to use Logic?
No. Use whichever DAW you like, as long as you know how to use it.
How much music theory do I need to know?
Very little. This style barely uses traditional harmony, and I steer clear of deep theory in all my courses.
How long is the course?
Over 2.5 hours of video, including a step-by-step walkthrough from demo to published track. You also get access to our private community, #teampryn.
Can you guarantee I will get a placement?
Of course not. The composers who get work are the ones who put the hours in. They also happen to be very nice people (industry secret).
How long do I have access?
Forever. It's a one-time payment, not a membership, and you get all future updates and new lessons free.
What if it's not for me?
Within 30 days of registering you can ask for a full refund, as long as you haven't accessed more than 30% of the course (not counting anything public or in the Welcome module).
Action Sound Design
Learn to build explosive action sound design cues from scratch, with pings, risers, braaams and action drums, then see a demo become a published track.
Not ready yet? Start with the free path
The free learning paths cover the same ground in article form. Work through one first and come back when you want the full walkthrough.
Trailer music, from first cue to first placement