The Best Sound Creatives in Post-Production
by nyangorilla70258 | created - 13 Mar 2017 | updated - 30 Mar 2019 | PublicThese talented people help make something in a movie sound believable, in POV or in conveying action, and some tend to work in pre-production to help with sound design. These creatives include the likes of Skywalker Sound, Hacienda Post, Joel Valentine, DigiPost.TV, Atlas Oceanic, Advantage Audio and Warner Bros. Sound. It also lists the original sound creatives of MGM, Warner Bros., Walt Disney and other big studios. #soundmatters #skywalkersound #AdvantageAudio #HaciendaPost
1. Randy Thom
Sound_department | The Revenant
Randy Thom started his career in radio and music recording before making the transition to film in 1978, when he was hired on Apocalypse Now (1979) as a sound effects recordist. Since then, Thom has worked in a wide variety of creative capacities within the sound department in over 175 films. For ...
The most important of sound designers among us today. Not only creative, but in-depth. Emphasizes Walter Murch's POV approach and records the most amazing of sounds. Major influence in the sound effects library of Skywalker Sound.
2. Ben Burtt
Sound_department | WALL·E
Ben Burtt was born in New York, USA. Though he is a writer, an editor and a director, he is best known for his work as a sound designer. Ben has worked on many Pixar and Star Trek movies and all of the Star Wars movies. He is credited for creating Chewbacca's voice and sounds as well as the voice ...
One of the most attentive to authentic sound design, particularly with war movies, and founder of #skywalkersound. From the watch of Lincoln to the classic sounds of a Warner Bros. picture, he designs iconic, amazing, awesome sounds, including #StarWars of course.
3. Jeff Hutchins
Sound_department | SpongeBob SquarePants
Jeff Hutchins is a multi-award-winning Sound Designer, Sound Supervisor and Field Recordist. Jeff is a hands on Sound Supervisor with twenty nine years of experience creating soundscapes for video games, motion pictures and television. Field recording and sound design are passions of Jeffs. He has ...
One of the finest of modern cartoon sound designers (namely on Spongebob). He emphasizes the smaller "takes" of characters in a simple change of expression. Mentored by Joel Valentine, this freelance artist is full of talent and even developed his own sound studio in Oxford, California.
4. Gary Rydstrom
Sound_department | Jurassic Park
Gary Rydstrom, Director of Creative Operations/Sound Designer and Mixer, joined Skywalker Sound in 1983 as an operator in the machine room. Since then, he has contributed his talents to many projects as a sound designer, re-recording mixer, effects mixer and foley mixer. In 1998, Rydstrom was ...
He creates awesome action, war and sci-fi sounds, plus designed funny sounds for "Toy Story", the first movie to which, I believe, I was exposed. One of Skywalker Sound's most unique, with a very acquired taste/style.
5. Michael Geisler
Sound_department | Demolition Man
Michael Geisler is known for Demolition Man (1993), Dante's Peak (1997) and Small Soldiers (1998).
As in-depth as Randy Thom in the world of modern cartoon sound design, particularly for animated movies. Started Pomann Sound and Hacienda Post/Relative Horta Editorial team, along with Technicolor/Weddington and Glenwood Editorial. This inspirational artist formed his own studio, Badabing Badaboom Productions, where most of the sound in "Courage the Cowardly Dog" was later done.
6. Robert Hargreaves
Sound_department | X-Men: Evolution
Robert Hargreaves is known for X-Men: Evolution (2000), Superman: The Animated Series (1996) and Batman: The Animated Series (1992).
A personal favorite cartoon sound designer, often true to the sounds of a Warner Bros., MGM, or Hanna-Barbera cartoon. A creative of DigiPost.TV, formerly known as Monterey Post Production.
7. Joel Valentine
Soundtrack | Blood Diamond
Joel Valentine is known for Blood Diamond (2006), Point Break (1991) and RoboCop 2 (1990).
The most unsung and uncredited of sound creatives. The signature sounds of "The Powerpuff Girls" and "Samurai Jack" were designed by this great artist, who was mentor to Jeff Hutchins. He founded Twenty-First Century Entertainment AKA 21st Century Sound Design Corp. He also edited sound on Bakersfield P.D., Born Yesterday and Northen Exposure (for which he won an Emmy), which were all involved with Skywalker Sound.
8. Roy Braverman
Sound_department | Phineas and Ferb
Roy Braverman is a multi-award-winning Sound Supervisor, Sound Editor and Composer. Roy Braverman's life revolves around the world of music and sound. He has attained creative and technical excellence in a number of diverse disciplines. Besides having expertise in the latest sound technologies, Roy...
Another important, multi-tasked sound creative who often worked with Jeff and Joel. He's been in TV Animation since the early 80s. Freelance but often with Hacienda Post, currently mixing foley at Advantage Audio; he also formed his own studio, Bravermania!
9. Glenn Oyabe
Sound_department | Static Shock
Glenn Oyabe is known for Static Shock (2000), The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2010) and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy (2001).
A sound designer as detailed as (and similar in some styles to) Jeff Hutchins, making Grim cartoons sound absolutely hilarious. He founded Glenwood Editorial.
10. Tom Myers
Sound_department | WALL·E
Tom Myers received a degree in film from Northwestern University and went on to do graduate film studies at San Francisco State. From there he worked in a variety of capacities in the San Francisco film industry including a long stint working with picture at Monaco Film Labs. In 1987 he took a job ...
Another great (and Skywalker Sound-based) sound designer who learns (and emulates the sound design of) Ben Burtt and Gary Rydstrom. He also does very well with cartoon sound, like on "Quest for Camelot", "Hoodwinked!", and "The Angry Birds Movie".
11. Eric Freeman
Sound_department | The Batman
Eric Freeman is an multi-award-winning Sound Editor, Sound Designer and Mixer. With over eighteen years of professional experience Eric knows the problems, pitfalls and pressure that it comes with getting today's productions done right. Having worked with studios such as Cartoon Network, Fox, Starz...
Another great multi-tasked cartoon sound artist. A former creative of Hacienda Post, currently editing & mixing sound at Disney Television Animation and editing dialogue for Cartoon Network Studios.
12. David Acord
Sound_department | Licorice Pizza
David Acord is known for Licorice Pizza (2021), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (2023) and Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019).
The sound designer for the future of Star Wars. Obviously based with Skywalker Sound.
13. Otis Van Osten
Sound_department | 3Below: Tales of Arcadia
Otis Van Osten started at Sony Pictures Sound teaching the "new" Waveframe digital workstation to the editorial staff and shortly there after became an editor on "Reasonable Doubts." He then moved to Warner Bros. Studios and join the newly formed digital sound department where he spent the next ten...
Another great sound creative from Warner Bros. for television animation.
14. Michael Gollom
Sound_department | Jak II
Michael Gollom is known for Jak II (2003), Demolition Man (1993) and Aladdin (1994).
Also a Warner Bros. creative who also worked with Team Hacienda Post at Horta Editorial & Sound.
15. Treg Brown
Sound_department | Mr. Washington Goes to Town
Legendary editor whose wizardry in creating innumerable sound effects from everyday objects helped elevate Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies to rank among the most popular cartoons ever made. Tregoweth Edmond Brown was born in Gilbert, Minnesota, in November 1899. Pursuing a musical career early on,...
The ORIGINAL sound creative of Warner Bros.
16. James MacDonald
Actor | Cinderella
James MacDonald was born on May 19, 1906 in Crewe, Cheshire, England, UK. He was an actor, known for Cinderella (1950), Alice in Wonderland (1951) and The Black Hole (1979). He was married to Sarah Roberta Cullen. He died on February 1, 1991 in Glendale, California, USA.
The original Disney sound creative.
17. Jim Faris
Editor | Family
Jim Faris was born on January 8, 1919 in Kansas City, Missouri, USA. He was an editor and production manager, known for Family (1976), Lawman (1958) and Charlie's Angels (1976). He was married to Paula Forbes. He died on October 14, 2016 in Santa Cruz, California, USA.
One of the original MGM sound creatives.
18. Steve Boeddeker
Sound_department | Black Panther
Steve Boeddeker is a 3 time Oscar Nominee and Emmy Award winning Sound Designer and Re-recording Mixer based in San Francisco. He has worked all over the world including London, NYC, Vancouver, LA and the Bay Area.
Boeddeker started in movie sound design and music with his first feature film project...
Another Skywalker creative with very interesting styles of sound design. Usually involved with crazy movies and variable style.
19. Tim Nielsen
Sound_department | Avatar
Tim Nielsen was born on March 18, 1971. He is an actor, known for Avatar (2009), War Horse (2011) and The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).
A Skywalker Sound creative who formed his own unique sound library of nature sounds.
20. Christopher Boyes
Sound_department | Avatar
Christopher Boyes is known for Avatar (2009), King Kong (2005) and Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl (2003).
Some of the most stylistic bullets, electrical and explosive sounds ever designed were done by this Skywalker Sound artist and his common assistant, Matthew Wood.
21. Rob McIntyre
Sound_department | Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness
With a formal education in music from Fredonia College, Rob brings a unique organicness and musicality to his sound design. Combined with his experience in every facet on audio post - feature, animation, reality, video games and commercial/promo, our [Atlas Oceanic] clients have come to rely on his...
An Oracle Post/Atlas Oceanic creative who assisted on Spongebob SSN 5 to edit foley. Obviously, his crazy work on Teen Titans Go! is worthy of noting, though uncredited.
22. Christopher Scarabosio
Sound_department | Star Wars: Episode IX - The Rise of Skywalker
Christopher Scarabosio is known for Star Wars: The Rise Of Skywalker (2019), Phantom Thread (2017) and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story (2016).
One of the greatest sound editors, and with Skywalker Sound. Whenever he's merely credited as a sound effects editor, usually there're awesome sound effects. Star Wars, Young Indiana Jones, Hellboy, Pearl Harbor, Titan A.E. and the Despicable Me franchise are among his finest.
23. Thomas Chan
Sound_department | Larry Boy: The Cartoon Adventures
Thomas Chan was born on June 9, 1958 in Whittier, California, USA. He is an editor, known for Larry Boy: The Cartoon Adventures (2002), Prayer of the Rollerboys (1990) and Roujin Z (1991).
Amalgamated Sound and Picture creative: Also a good sound editor to look for modern cartoon sound design.
24. Al Nelson
Sound_department | Top Gun: Maverick
Al Nelson is known for Top Gun: Maverick (2022), Jurassic World (2015) and Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013).
If you want great sound that depends on a small budget or crew, Al here is the one to look to. His work on Book of Dragons and Life, Animated are great highlights. A Skywalker Sound creative.
25. Matthew Wood
Sound_department | Star Wars: Episode III - Revenge of the Sith
Matthew Wood is an American sound editor and voice actor who works at Lucasfilm. He did sound editing for the 2011 re-releases of the original Star Wars trilogy, the prequel trilogy, the sequel trilogy and many more Lucasfilm projects. He voiced General Grievous in Revenge of the Sith after ...
Obviously one of the most important editors at Skywalker, and a great sound designer on the few projects on which he designed sound.
26. Teresa Eckton
Sound_department | War Horse
Teresa Eckton was born on March 6, 1950 in Los Angeles, California, USA. She is known for War Horse (2011), Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol (2011) and Star Wars: Episode I - The Phantom Menace (1999).
One of the greatest, most important, longest-running sound editor, with Skywalker and Weddington/Technicolor.
27. Walter Murch
Sound_department | The English Patient
Walter Murch has been editing sound in Hollywood since starting on Francis Ford Coppola's film The Rain People (1969). He edited sound on American Graffiti (1973) and The Godfather Part II (1974), won his first Academy Award nomination for The Conversation (1974), won his first Oscar for Apocalypse...
The legendary man of post-production sound who inspired famous creatives Ben Burtt and Randy Thom, with his distinctive use of POV. Very stylized but in-depth in sound design approach.
28. David Parker
Sound_department | The Bourne Ultimatum
David Parker was born in 1951. He is known for The Bourne Ultimatum (2007), Star Wars: Episode VIII - The Last Jedi (2017) and The English Patient (1996).
A big-shot mixer, from Saul Zaentz to Skywalker Sound.
29. Gary Summers
Sound_department | Jurassic Park
Gary Summers has worked as a Motion Picture Re-recording Mixer for the past forty years. His career in sound began in 1979 when he was employed by Lucas Film Ltd. as a sound recordist to work on "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back". His abilities as a Re-recording Mixer were first used in 1983 on "...
Also a big-shot Skywalker Sound mixer.
30. Frank E. Eulner
Sound_department | Iron Man
Frank E. Eulner was born in 1963. He is known for Iron Man (2008), The Jungle Book (2016) and Jurassic Park III (2001).
Like many Skywalker creatives, they started at Saul Zaentz. This great editor tends to occasionally do sound design and/or supervision.
31. Gwendolyn Yates Whittle
Sound_department | Avatar: The Way of Water
Gwendolyn Yates Whittle is a producer, known for Avatar: The Way of Water (2022), Fight Club (1999) and Tron: Legacy (2010).
Female sound creative at Skywalker who usually edits the "queen" element of sound: dialogue/ADR.
32. Lora Hirschberg
Sound_department | Inception
Lora Hirschberg is known for Inception (2010), The Dark Knight (2008) and Iron Man (2008).
One of the most well-known female mixers, namely from Skywalker Sound and Bison, Bison Studios.
33. Steve Slanec
Sound_department | Minions: The Rise of Gru
Steve Slanec is known for Minions: The Rise of Gru (2022), Kong: Skull Island (2017) and Finding Dory (2016).
Another great editing/mixing creative at Skywalker Sound who also overseas dialogue/ADR. Also once a "trumpet boy" there.
34. Erik Foreman
Sound_department | The Batman
Erik Foreman is known for The Batman (2004), Despicable Me 2 (2013) and Midnight Special (2016).
When it comes to small projects, Skywalker Sound creative Erik can do the majority of it himself, like on Star Wars: Clone Wars. Co-founder with Christopher Barnett for Earstorm Corp.
35. Will Files
Sound_department | The Batman
Will Files was born on March 11, 1980 in Charleston, South Carolina, USA. He is known for The Batman (2022), War for the Planet of the Apes (2017) and The Invisible Man (2020).
Another (Skywalker) sound designer correct to nostalgia (like using a particular shriek-like whistle of air that you'd hear in Popeye shorts), and a designer of exotic metallic sounds like you never heard. Common creative with Robert Stambler at Kelvin Optical and founder of Pacific Standard Sound with Craig Henighan.
36. Timothy J. Borquez
Sound_department | SpongeBob SquarePants
Timothy J. Borquez was born on December 17, 1959 in Los Angeles, California, USA. He is known for SpongeBob SquarePants (1999), The Batman (2004) and Xiaolin Showdown (2003).
Founder of the 2nd greatest sound service and/or team of creatives in post-production sound, Hacienda Post, Cartoon Network's preferred post-production sound/re-recording studio.
37. Thomas Syslo
Sound_department | Xiaolin Showdown
Thomas Syslo was born on September 21, 1954 in the USA. He is an editor, known for Xiaolin Showdown (2003), The Batman (2004) and Adventure Time (2010).
Like Ben Burtt, he's been doing post-production sound since the 70s, namely for television--from analog mono to 7.1-- with team Hacienda Post.
38. Lawrence Reyes
Sound_department | The Penguins of Madagascar
Lawrence Reyes was born on October 19, 1979 in Manila, Philippines. He is an actor, known for The Penguins of Madagascar (2008), Lego DC Super Hero Girls: Brain Drain (2017) and Fanboy & Chum Chum (2009).
Like Jeff Hutchins & Rob McIntyre, one of Atlas Oceanic/Oracle Post's most talented cartoon sound designers, like on Fanboy and Chum Chum, with styles that somewhat resemble Joel Valentine's in the many uses of Hanna-Barbera sfx.
39. Jeff Shiffman
Sound_department | Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
Jeff Shiffman began began his professional career focusing on creative sound design at a boutique sound studio, eventually garnering a coveted position as supervising sound editor at Warner Bros. Studios. There, he oversaw the post-production sound for numerous animated television series.
With the ...
Warner Bros/Audio Circus sound creative, founder with Kate Finan of Boom Box Post.
40. Robert Serda
Sound_department | The Virgin Suicides
Robert Serda was born on July 3, 1971 in Winter Park, Florida, USA. He is known for The Virgin Suicides (1999), Ben 10: Alien Force (2008) and Adventure Time (2010).
Dialogue Recording Engineer--and even sound designer/editor/mixer--at Cartoon Network Studios.
41. Peter Albrechtsen
Sound_department | Evil Dead Rise
Peter Albrechtsen is an award winning Danish sound designer and re-recording mixer working on both Scandinavian and international movies. Recent credits include Evil Dead Rise, The Cave and The Killing of Two Lovers. Was invited to become a member of AMPAS in 2017 and is also a member of MPSE, CAS ...
Fine sound creative, namely for documentaries and foreign projects, somewhat involved with Skywalker's creatives who worked on some of his projects, like Dunkirk, Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, etc.
42. Robert Poole II
Sound_department | Elena of Avalor
A graduate of the University of Colorado with a BS in Music, Bob's focus, accuracy and execution has been triggering positive results since '96. Initially starting out as a dialog editor, and quickly transitioning into sound design, Bob has the ability to give clients exactly what they want. Having...
Although, as with most Advantage Audio sound designers, the sound design can be very limiting in style (particularly with vocal sounds like crowds and animals), he and the respective creatives do some extreme tweaks to classic cartoon sounds. His sound design for Paul Rudish's "Mickey Mouse" is more expanded and somewhat different in style compared to most Advantage projects as well.
43. Jesse Arruda
Sound_department | The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes
Jesse Arruda is known for The Avengers: Earth's Mightiest Heroes (2010), Avengers Assemble (2012) and Ultimate Spider-Man (2012).
Learning from the works of Glenn Oyabe, Jesse Aruda makes a very interesting, heavy use of cartoon SFX in his current Advantage Audio project, "Harvey Street Kids".
44. Mike Nawrocki
Actor | Jonah: A VeggieTales Movie
Michael Nawrocki is an American animator, director, writer and voice actor. He co-created VeggieTales alongside Phil Vischer and voiced dozens of characters including Larry the Cucumber, Jerry Gourd, Scallion #2 and Jean-Claude Pea. Nawrocki also voiced Larry in video games, commercials and ...
Not really a sound guy, but he counts as a creative whose work of which I was concious as I grew up with VeggieTales, on which Mike did "Video & Audio Editing" and "Dialog Breakdown". Many of Hollywoodedge's Cartoon Trax Volume 1/Disney SFX I recognize in his approach to sound design.
45. Fred MacAlpin
Sound_department | The Devil's Sleep
Fred MacAlpin is known for The Devil's Sleep (1949), Half-Pint Pygmy (1948) and Henpecked Hoboes (1946).
One of the original MGM sound creatives.
46. Greg Watson
Editor | Jetsons: The Movie
Greg Watson is known for Jetsons: The Movie (1990), Top Cat (1961) and Scooby Doo, Where Are You! (1969).
One of the original MGM/Hanna-Barbera sound creatives.
47. Lovell Norman
Sound_department | The Fiercest Heart
Lovell Norman was born on November 12, 1912 in Hollister, Oklahoma, USA. He was an editor, known for The Fiercest Heart (1961), Rugged Rangers (1942) and Shutter Bugged Cat (1967). He died on August 5, 2000 in Maine, USA.
One of the original MGM sound creatives.
48. Rich Danhakl
Sound_department | Luck
Rich Danhakl is known for Luck (2022), Elena of Avalor (2016) and Big Hero 6: The Series (2017).
Another Advantage Audio sound designer with a less "limiting" style of cartoon sound design, like Jesse Aruda.
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