Clockwork

There are few, if any, other mechanical devices that have existed more ubiquitously alongside modern humans than time pieces.

They are intricate, precise, and complex, made in as many styles and designs as the mind can imagine, all of which sound incredible, making them a sound designer’s dream.

We profiled 12 clocks using a superposition technique, identifying and pinpointing specific parts and perspectives of each piece. Additionally, we’ve added an extra bonus clock that was not fully profiled, but just sounded too good to leave out. Each clock has a stereo (MidSide) capture and a series of mono channel spot recordings. Layer ’em, mix ’em, and match ’em up in whichever way you see fit.

Clocks include:

• Slava 5498 split stopwatch (1960s)
• Elgin 540 pocket watch (1939)
• Custom Wooden Gear wall clock (New)
• Forestville alarm clock (1960s)
• Herschede mantle clock (1940s)
• National CCC mantle clock (1890s)
• Seth Thomas mantle clock (1920s)
• Schwarzwalder Uhren AS cuckoo clock (1970s)
• Howard Miller grandfather clock (1990s)
• Ridgeway grandfather clock (1980s)
• Unknown (Waterbury?) wall clock (Late 1800s)
• Custom-built clocktower (1920s)

Focused mechanics and components include:

Ticking at the escapement, winding of various arbors, balance wheels and hairsprings, chimes, bells, gong wires, and hammers, fan flies, weights, action keys, locks, doors, and bellows

The detail, precision, and tactility of these assets are like sonic chamomile for the mind. Alongside the power and resonance of the gongs, chimes, and bells, the juxtaposition of these different tonal textures make for a wonderfully dynamic collection.

Sounds that activate some of the deepest parts of our brain’s functioning, the content of Clockwork is simultaneously widely utilitarian and deeply innate. No matter your project, it’s time to dive in.

Utterly rich cyclical mechanized sonic splendor. From gears to wheels, chimes to dials, hammers and springs and barrels. An SFX showcase of 13 fantastic timepieces.