Sound design
Also known as: SFX design, sound effects, audio design
Shaping the full soundscape of a video, from effects and ambience to transitions and silence, so the audio makes the picture feel bigger.
Updated
What it means
Sound design is everything in a soundtrack besides the music and the dialogue, and how all of it fits together. It includes effects such as whooshes on transitions, impacts on landings and engine roars, layers of ambient sound, and deliberate silences that make the next hit land harder.
Good sound design is mostly invisible. Viewers rarely notice it, but footage without it feels flat. A jump with the right wind rush and a solid landing thud feels faster and heavier than the same jump with music only, and a well-placed whip pan whoosh makes the cut feel intentional.
How it works in practice
Start with real sound from the camera when it is usable: board noise, spray, tires on gravel. Then add effects from libraries to emphasize key moments, such as an impact when a rider lands or a whoosh on a fast transition.
Use silence on purpose. Dropping the music for a beat before a big moment, letting only the natural sound play, creates tension that the return of the music then releases. It pairs naturally with speed ramps.
Mix at sensible levels. Effects should support the music, not fight it, and should sit a little below the main beat in volume.
What to watch out for
Overuse kills it. A whoosh on every cut becomes noise; save effects for moments that need emphasis, such as the opening, the biggest jump and the final shot.
Library effects can sound fake against real footage. Match the character of the effect to the scene, and layer it with original sound where possible.
Licensing still applies. Use effects from libraries that allow commercial or online use, or record your own with a phone and a quiet room. Watch the overall loudness too: stacked effects add up, and peaks can cause clipping on export.
How RawClip handles it
RawClip focuses on the picture and the music: the AI picks the best moments and cuts them to the beat of an included track, with transitions. Detailed sound effects and layered ambience are a step for a separate editor if you want them.