[Reno McCoy]

I'm putting up a small haunt in my garage this year. I only plan 4-5 props/scares, but I worry that the sounds from each area will compete with one another. Last year, I set up everything on our front porch. It was pretty obvious that the sound effects from the animatronics made it so you couldn't hear the sound of the AtmosFX holusion I had set up. If I add scary ambiance sounds or music, I worry that it'll be even worse.

Am I over thinking things here, or is this a potential problem that I need to work around? What are some tips you have to deal with competing sounds?

 

[Terrormaster]

Short of putting up sound dampeners not too sure. Trying to squeeze a lot of areas into a confined space is difficult in terms of audio design. One thought would be using software to control the sound cues so things that aren't motioned triggered but ambient play in a defined sequence to match the pace through the haunt. Another thought is to not plan thematically different rooms right on top of each other. Have a common ambient thread instead. That way one ambient track covers each of the rooms while the rest can be lower volume set dressing or motion triggered. Then pace your groups going through so that Group A is far enough away from Group B so their triggered sounds don't overlap.

 

[Reno McCoy]

I'm not adept at sound design, so using software to control things is probably out of consideration. However, I can certainly pace the groups going into the garage. And I like the idea of a set track for ambiance, and then just let each individual section's sound triggered when someone approaches. Assuming I can set the sections far enough apart, that might be all I need to do. Funny how simple that is and I hadn't even thought of it. Thanks for the suggestions, Terrormaster.

Last year, on the porch, there was no control. Kids ran up there willy nilly, so all the props were going off one on top of the other.

 

[lawrie]

Why hide a speaker at the bottom of the drive which plays the atmospheric background sounds as people arrive and leave. A little aperitif for the ears as it were.

 

[Shockwave199]

You're over thinking it. The more sound the better. My 2013 display was kicking with sound, plus a loud thunder track. It made it very scary. It's all about stimulation overload.

 

[LairMistress]

I'm not sure what type of ambient sounds or music you're looking for, but it could be that music might actually separate the sounds of the props. You hear the music throughout, but each animatronic only as you approach it. It might help drown out the ones that are down the line.

It may not work out that way at all, I haven't tried it, but it seems like it would work.

 

[Reno McCoy]

I love this place!

Thanks for the feedback everyone. All I can do is think about Halloween these days, but all of these comments have me on the right path with the sound tracks.

 

[Trex]

I agree with the above comments, our ambient audio doesn't compete too much with our prop sound-FX. We have back ground music or ambient sounds in almost every room, we try to set up our prop speakers "around" eye level so the noise is directed more towards the victims heads. Really on Halloween night our victim's screaming is the biggest audio competition!! Wow, the shrill screaming of teenage girls overpower's almost all of our props!