Sound effects give identity to the shows and also engage your audience. Thus, it improves the production value of your show and activates the emotional response of your audience. These sound effects also illustrate the mood and also deliver information to the listeners. And all these factors combine to make radio imaging i.e. you give an image to your radio show through sounds.
Even when you are creating a video message, silence, sound, language, and music play an important part. Similarly, in radio, they are even more important because the audience is only listening to them. They do not have anything to look at. Therefore, the importance of sound effects increases many times in radio imaging.
This is why you have to pay special attention to developing these sounds. Or you might get professional help from Monster Prod. Be sure to visit monster-prod.com and it will open the gateway to the world of music production.
Although they have an especial orientation to radio imaging, you will get various sound effects and productions. So whether you want DJ Drops or you are looking for Beatmix, they got all the Monstrously sounds. They fit in audiovisual productions, video games, and also music production. And according to their motto “Use them as you want, where you want”.
Importance of radio imaging
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A great and unique sounding of your show will stick in the minds of your listeners. So whenever they hear that particular sound, they know what it is. That is why radio shows create unique sounds that they play during the gaps.
In addition to giving an identity, these sounds also make the transition seamless. Whenever there is a gap between shows or during the show, the RJ can play the sound. Thus, the audience will always have something to listen to.
Choosing the right sound
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There are various factors that affect the selection of a soundtrack for a particular show. Even the smallest shows have the radio imaging that separates them from the others.
1. Your target audience
The first and most important aspect is the target audience. Every station aims at a specific age group, which is their target audience. So to target your group of people, you need careful branding. So how will you do this? Of course, through sound effects. The station and the show play a specific sound repeatedly that sits in the minds of their target group.
For example, if the target audience of the show is small children, they will use that sound during the show. Thus, the kids who listen to the station will get familiar with that sound. So even if they do not remember the station, they will instantly recognize it through the sound they hear. Because kids will associate themselves with that particular music.
That is why it is called radio imaging, as it creates an audio image in the minds of listeners. Furthermore, this sounding creates the feel of your station and sets the mood and tone too. If the listener is changing stations, he won’t have to stop at every single one and listen to some part of it to recognize whether it is the one or not. The stations that target teens and music lovers are usually playing trendy songs.
2. The type of show
The genre and category of the show also determine the sound type and music of the station. For example, if the focus of your station is cooking, you will have to make a special sound for it. Cooking shows often go well with light music and pleasant sounds. You can never use rock or hip hop music for them.
Likewise, if you have to play bedtime children’s stories, you cannot go for fast music. And similarly, the other categories go as well. So while creating the sound, pay attention to the genre.
These were some things related to the station type and category. But apart from these, you should also pay attention to the other sounds too.
Different sound effects
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Apart from music, there are other sounds that will determine the popularity of your station. These include;
1. Intros and Outros
These sounds play at the start and end of any show. Intro and outro sounds are specific for every show and not for a station. So if the station aims at families, they will have a variety of shows. So you will get music hours, cooking time, sports hours, and storytime.
Therefore, they will now need specific intro and outro sounds for every showtime. Music will play when that particular show is going to start and ends. Even during the show, they play it as a background sound.
2. Music Beds
Music beds are soundings that are created through drums, bass and guitars, and keyboards. To say it simply, you have to create a production through musical instruments. These music tracks are then completed with some lyrics. Lyrics are the message that you want to deliver.
This is one of the best ways to make people attentive towards something. Thus, radio channels grab the attention of listeners through music beds.
3. Drops
Drops are basically music tracks that the show presenter plays after regular intervals. Furthermore, drops are not special sounds, they can be a trendy song or some sound from a movie. Your RJ will drop the beat while talking to the audience. This improves the mood and tone of the talk.
4. Radio liners
Along with the various music tracks, there are radio liners, which are specific sayings. For example, “you are listening to …” These voices are a crucial part of the identity of radio stations.
5. Sweepers
Sweepers are important information that the radios plan to tell their listeners. They are usually promos or special messages of some seconds. However, it is likely that they will not pay attention to it. Therefore, the RJ or show host plays them in-between shows and songs.
