Richard King on Harnessing Vibration in Sound Design

How do you use sound to make audiences feel speed, scale, and intensity? In this video, Academy Award®-winning Sound Artist Richard King (Interstellar, Dunkirk, Inception) reveals how he harnesses mechanical vibrations to create visceral, larger-than-life sound effects. From spaceship turbulence to WWII Spitfires, earthquakes shaking entire houses, and even frogs falling from the sky, King shares how vibrating objects, subwoofers, and unconventional devices became some of his most powerful sound design tools. You’ll learn how to: Capture vibration sounds with contact mics and room mics Use haptic devices and mechanical shakers for cockpit realism Convey scale and intensity by letting sounds interact with their environments Shake entire sets and rooms with a subwoofer for authentic, visceral effects Whether you’re crafting immersive film soundscapes or designing for games, these techniques show why vibration is one of the most tangible and underused ways to make sound design unforgettable. 👉 Add some Richard King magic to your own library: prosoundeffects.com/collections/king ––– Chapters: 00:00 - Using vibration sounds in Interstellar 01:19 - Dunkirk planes 02:24 - Sound’s effect on the environment 04:34 - Subwoofer earthquakes and falling frogs 05:48 - A must-have tool in your library