FX012 PLATE SMASH
HISSandaROAR’s Tim Prebble (Field Recordist/Plate Smasher) released a new MiniFX Library, originally started as a request: a dedicated plate smash library!
The tonality of ceramic plates and pottery is quite different from glass, so it has been fascinating to explore a range of techniques to hit, break and shatter, specifically to capture a wide range of characterful and useful sounds.
After sourcing two crates of plates that were otherwise destined for recycling, Tim destroyed them during the lockdown. Smashes on a concrete slab and a cinder block as well as metal hammer and wood mallet breaks were captured 24bit 96kHz mono via MKH8050 as well as stereo via MKH8040 pair, gain staging to conserve transients.
After the lockdown was elevated, Tim went back to the recycling plant and got another four crates of plates, first smashing one batch at an exterior location, and then experimenting with the remainder in the studio. Along with more extra smashes Tim also suspended individual plates on bungy cord and captured a series of resonant hits, slowly escalating force until each shattered.
Next Tim sourced some old pottery and strategically smashed it, and then began to explore the mountain of debris he had created. Along with drops and movement on concrete, he also used hessian sacks, filled to fluctuating degrees to capture impacts and movement. At times these created unexpected results: a bag full of plate debris sounded like strange armor, some pirates dream of gold bullion or punching a robot in the head!
Pricing and Availability
FX012 PLATE SMASH is available now.
