FX012 PLATE SMASH

This library is the result of a request for a dedicated plate smash library! The tonality of ceramic plates and pottery is quite different to glass, so it has been interesting to vary the angle and form of hits and shatter, specifically to capture a wide range of characterful and useful sounds.

After sourcing two crates of plates that were otherwise destined for recycling, I destroyed them! Smashes on a concrete slab and a cinder block as well as metal hammer and wood mallet breaks were captured 24bit 96kHz mono via MKH8050 as well as stereo via MKH8040 pair, gain staged to preserve transients.

After lockdown was lifted I went back to the recycling plant and got another four crates of plates, smashing the first batch at an exterior location, and then experimenting with the remainder in the studio. Along with smashes on a concrete slab, cinder block, hammer and mallet, I also suspended individual plates on bungy cord and captured a series of single resonant hits, slowly escalating force until each plate shattered.

Next I sourced some old pottery and strategically smashed it, and began to explore the mountain of debris I had created. Using hessian sacks filled to varying degrees I captured mass plate debris impacts and movement. Some of these sounds seem significantly different to their means of creation, sounding more like strange armor, or at other times like some pirates dream of a bag of gold coins.

Check the Making Of video to get a quick idea of the range of practical sound effects.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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