Hi everyone. Help me please. I have a sound in my head I have to get out. I don't know where I've heard it, but it was probably used for scene transitions in old 80s tokusatsu, super sentai or cartoons (I'm thinking Super Friends scene transitions or maybe a spell cast in Dungeons & Dragons, but I bet that wasn't it). What I can objectively say is that it is non-musical (kind of an sfx type of sound), is of medium length (about one or two seconds, as opposed to a blip, for instance), kind of evolves (it has a beginning and an end) and is a complex sound (a single VCO would never be able to spark that). Abstract descriptors I'd use are: metallic, glassy, spacey. Technical descriptors (mostly guesses) would be: tape delay, zinc plate, synthy.

 

Futuristic HUD Sound Design | Blake Sanchez

Retro Digital Binoculars 80's 90's Sci Fi Effect Futuristic Overlay

 

Last edited: Mar 21, 2025

I know you said 80's not 90's, but I would start with the Korg Wavestation. Released in 1990. Wave sequencing in the patch, "morphing" via joystick, and then add some additional effects if you have to.

 

If it's 80s tv sound design then I suspect Suzy Ciani did it, probably on a Buchla.

 

Do you reckon the Arturia emulation would be a good place to start? I kinda feel like this in this thread:

 

Man, it's hard to say, it's just so open ended without anything concrete to go on!

 

I made a free sound bank, it's very good for sci-fi movie effects, a lot of old sci-fi movies were made with Buchla!

The Sonic Sirius Soud Design Soundbank for the Arturia - Buchla Easel V VST
www.kvraudio.com/product/the-sonic-sirius-sound-design-soundbank-by-sonic-sirius
http://ohlenbostelhelge.magix.net/public/misc.htm

 

I know, I know. I'm digging down the rabbit hole. The second sound effect in this video is on the right track. Maybe an RMI closed chromatic chord with tape delay, longer feedback and fluctuating time...

 

Xubor's Atari 2600 Game FX Sounds

Atari FX 04 SOUND Effect

 

To me, the metallic bit in "Charge up #2" sounds like a very fast mallet run on a xylophone, glockenspiel, mark tree or similar metallophone. The other component sounds like what kids do when they're bored in school. Move your ruler halfway over the edge of your table, then slap it and pull it back to get it to speed up. Maybe pitched down & tape for post processing.

 

So far this is what I've got: https://voca.ro/1hPuVpNd2tQr

 

Sounds like something from the He-Man and the Masters of the Universe cartoon in the '80s when Orko would do magic, or something like that.

 

Please listen:

FREE DX7 Retro Sci-Fi Sounds Vol.1 (Dexed, Volca FM, etc.) #synthpatches #dx7 #dexed #scifi

DOWNLOAD Free --> https://darksideofsynth.gumroad.com/l/free-dx7-sci-fi
dexed - FM Plugin Synth ---> https://asb2m10.github.io/dexed/

 

I think what I'm looking for is more 'lo-fi' than that... I think it's probably a non-electronic sound signal fed through some processor, probably a tape delay

Yeah, something from that universe (pun)... Perhaps Presto, from D&D. I (probably mis-) remember a sound like that in some Mario game, a ghost or shadowy figure appearing out of nowhere. Also, for whatever reason, when I think of this sound, I picture those three Superman gothic villains trapped in that mirror, eternally spinning through space.

 

I would try playing with plugins that are able to do spectral synthesis or spectral mangling, they always give that glassy etherial effect you described than low pass filter for lofi feel

look here https://heltonyan.itch.io/retroanimesfx maybe thats what you need

 

Hey, thanks a bunch! I actually got one of those from the sister site and it did have many cool sounds, just not the one in my head. If I can at least replicate the one from Kamen Rider I'll be happy, even if it's only an approximation. About spectral synthesis, you may have a point there. I listened to a Zebralette demo and, while most of the metalic patches sound a bit plasticky, kind of like Aphex Twin's early stuff, there may be a path to follow. Damn, sound design is HARD.

 

Did you try the Zebralette3 public beta? for Windows: https://dl.u-he.com/betas/public/zebralette3/Zebralette3_001_public_beta_15573_Win.zip

or here for directory above with the manuals and other versions: https://uhe-dl.b-cdn.net/betas/public/zebralette3/