Marcel Gnauk is the audio recording mastermind behind Free To Use Sounds, a place where you can download some fantastic (and also quite affordable) field recordings from around the globe.
He is also the author of World Sounds and Underground Sounds, two audio libraries that you can download completely free of charge here at 99Sounds.
Hi Marcel, thank you so much for releasing World Sounds and Underground Sounds for free on 99Sounds. Can you tell our readers a little bit about the Free To Use Sounds project?
Free to Use Sounds is a website where creators can access high-quality, affordable (or free) sounds that we record around the world.
We are a two-person team comprised of my girlfriend Libby and myself. Wherever we go to record sounds, we also run all aspects of Free To Use Sounds from our computers.
Where does your passion for recording sound come from, and when did you start the Free To Use Sounds project?
It all began back in 2017 when we were working on a project for an NGO in Cambodia. We needed the sounds of birds flapping to enhance the visuals of the video we were creating. That’s when we looked on various websites for sound effects and were overwhelmed and thought, “Why don’t we just record our own sounds?”
The first time I recorded sounds and put my earbuds on, and listened to construction sounds, I was hooked. That’s when Free to Use Sounds was born!
Are there any places you haven’t visited yet and would like to feature in a future Free To Use Sounds library?
Yes, of course! Because of the current situation (this interview took place in 2020 during the early days of the pandemic), traveling has become very difficult and restrictive. Our dream is to go to South America, India, New Zealand, and Australia!
That’s just the shortlist… we have many more locations in mind!
Did you find yourself in any dangerous situations while you were out recordings in the wilderness or urban areas? Also, can you pick one recording or one library that is your favorite, and for what reason?
Back in 2019, I went on a solo motorbike trip across Vietnam for about two months. I never felt physically unsafe, but the traffic can be quite dangerous outside the cities. To be honest, I’ve always made my safety a priority and never go to uncharted places without a guide.
My favorite place to record has been in Hong Kong (side note: I attended a protest to record sounds and was nearly teargassed! So I would consider this a dangerous situation).
I felt incredibly connected to the city and the people of Hong Kong. It’s very difficult for the life of many residents and how the city is changing. I’m grateful that we could record sounds and make videos there.
Who knows what it will be like the next time we go back?
How do you organize your equipment for field recording trips? Do you travel light, or do you carry a lot of gear with you?
I carry all my sound gear in one backpack. I use a Lowepro Protactic 450aw and can fit my recorders and all microphones with easy access. It’s quite a compact setup, but I wouldn’t call it light!
What is the single most favorite piece of your recording equipment?
My holy grail recording equipment is the Zoom F6 field recorder. It’s small, but it is a powerhouse!
How do you edit your recordings, and what is your favorite software?
I do my best to record as cleanly and naturally as possible without heavy processing. I aim to provide the sounds as is so others have more information and the ability to recreate the files to their needs.
I’ve been using Adobe Audition from the beginning, and by knowing all the shortcodes. It is very fast to edit for me. For writing metadata, I use Soundly.
Do you also do creative sound design? If so, what are your favorite sound design tools?
I just started learning more about sound design! Amazingly, I can use my own recording to create drones, whooshes, synths, and pads. I use Abelton for sound design and the Novation Midi keyboard.
After years of recording sounds outside of the studio, what would be the number one tip you would give to someone interested in starting a similar adventure?
First thing, don’t do anything for the “money.” Do it because you love it and you want to provide something to others. That’s what has driven me to where we are today.
Do you have any other creative passions in addition to recording sound?
I hope this doesn’t sound vain, but I love being in front of the camera. Libby is a videographer and photographer, and we work so well together! We enjoy creating videos and content for our Facebook page, Instagram account, and Youtube Channel.
Do you have any future projects we can look forward to?
Well, that depends on when your readers are reading this! We hope traveling is possible again, so check us on @freetousesounds on Instagram!
Where can our visitors find your recordings?
You can find our sounds in three places, which are listed below:
- Our website: freetousesounds.com
- Bandcamp: freetousesounds.bandcamp.com
- Soundly Platform: getsoundly.com (use code free2usesounds to get one month free!)