[Dutchbeat]

Many of us use sound effects or samples occasionally
(and i confess, i use them too much)

it is hard to find very original sounds that fit, but i hear a lot of winds howling, thunder, storm and rain sounds etc on songs of the forumites out here (and, yes i also plead guilty for using those). But i was wondering which soundeffects are clearly over-used, i would like to make a top 10 of sounds that have been used too often....or at least are used very often, so that ican try to steer away from using those in the future  . Here is what comes to my mind

Samples that have been used (too) often
1. wind howling
2. thunder
3. rain
4. telephone ringing
5. crashing waves (but is very relaxing sound)

i need some more to make a top ten... anyone?

[James Nighthawk]

No 1: The drum loop from Billie Jean

Please, DJ's, let it be!

 

[Boydie]

4. telephone ringing

I have no idea what you are talking about!    

I must question your logic though as I do not think it is the "sound" or sample that is the issue

It is how it is applied - in exactly the same way as the "cliche" that was discussed a while ago

If it is just "stuck on" at the front or end then I agree that it can sound a little "tacky"

However, if it forms an integral part of the track then I wouldn't even consider not using a sound because it has been used a lot before?

Prince's track "Thunder" uses a thunder sample that helps set the atmosphere of the track

I also recall our very own Mr Nighthawk using a wave sound to great effect in a recent track

There was also the genius use of a telephone ringing in a track recently  

As with the cliche discussion I think the same points apply - as long as you are aware you are strying in to or close to cliche territory you should be fine

Using a track with one of these samples thinking you are the first to do it could be a little tricky to pull off!

[James Nighthawk]

I also recall our very own Mr Nighthawk using a wave sound to great effect in a recent track

Yeh. Dat guy is da bomb innit bruv

 

[Dutchbeat]

drum loop from Billie Jean is noted

the rest i can not take into account

come on guys, we all use these over-used sound effects / samples

this is a chance to tell all of them
get rid of those demons 

ah, i have one, birds sound, you know, that happy morning, i am in the woods...

birds sound
OVER-used, yeah! 

[The Corsair]

Police sirens

[habiTat]

I've used 'train in station with squeeling wheels' and 'bonfire crackle' but so far thats it

[Ramshackles]

This is a little off-topic, but what I see a lot from people using VST's etc is that they just stick with the 'out-of-the-box' sound. Most VST's come with all kinds of virtual knobs for adjusting the stock sounds and they should be utilized!
Even modern keyboard/organs allow a degree of sound manipulation to create something original

Pro bands put in a large amount of time to finding unique and original sounds and arrangements to their songs. Probably as much time as they do writing it or more.

Spend time with your VST's to get something truly interesting and original...bump it down to an audio file and send it through effects like you would do with any track.

So...the top of my 'over-used samples' list is 'Stock VST sounds'..

[Dutchbeat]

Great, so now we have

Samples that have been used (too) often
1. wind howling
2. thunder
3. rain
4. telephone ringing
5. crashing waves (but is very relaxing sound)
6 sirens
7. Billie Jean drum loop
8. train in station with squeeling wheels
9. bonfire crackles
10. Stock VST sounds in general

so that is a complete top 10, so for anyone who has a new suggestion, please also specify which item in the top 10 should be erased for it

[Boydie]

I still don't agree with the "too" often bit

Any of those sounds could be great in the right context and I think it is wrong to imply people shouldn't use them because they are used "too" often

As with lyrics sometimes the obvious and predictable works - then at other times imaginative and flowery language works best

It could be as a limiting searching for a "new" sound as it is using a cliched one

[Dutchbeat]

i don't mean it that way Boydie

i will use a howling wind in the future or even sirens whenever i think they work, or whenever i just feel like it
and you are right some sounds just work when they are at the right place and give the right atmosphere

so perhaps, i should erase "too", clearly some sounds are used more often, and that might just because they work

but still i am looking for sound effects that are used a lot, for no real reason actually, i don't have any judgment about it. You know my lyrics and my use of samples are packed with clichés

but here is anotherone that is used a lot: the sound of a female moaning (like in "Je te aime"...which is a superhit btw)

[Schavuitje]

I think synths should be banned and burned. Like with Ray Bradbury's novel but with synths 

[estreet]

Most overused samples:

The 'Amen' break: "a six-second clip that spawned several entire subcultures."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amen_break


That jungle flutey thing from sledgehammer

[The Corsair]

Along the lines of police sirens, I'd also say Air Raid Sirens (or similar 'war-like' sirens)