Film Sound FX | Ferrari 488 Pista Promo

There are Ferrari supercars...

And then there are Ferrari 488 Pista supercars.

Setting out to find sound FX for this video from the library or downloading from internet can be time-consuming, so I opted for seeing actual YouTube videos of Ferrari cars and downloaded the ones I think I can use.

After browsing through 10+ clips, I downloaded 8 using this site and selected to download as .wav format, so I can easily import into Pro Tools.

What kind of sounds to look for?

A good starting point for race cars video sound FX would be

1. A convincing engine ignition start sound.

2. Launch control (slamming the brake AND the gas pedal at the same time, then lift off the brake, like this).

3. Low RPM rev: This is the sound of the car when going from idle to up to 4,000 RPM. Get about 5-7 different sounds. Better to get a few different models, e.g. get a few Ferraris, some Porsche 911 Turbo models, etc. But make sure the cars are in the same league to be convincing, e.g. if you are working on a Ferrari super car clip, do not use engine sounds from a Mazda 3 or a Ferrari FXX hypercar. Or worse, an electric car.

4. High RPM rev: The main difference between a low rev and high rev is obviously the high rev tends to be of a higher pitch. Again, get a few different variations from comparable cars.

5. Tire squealing: Both short and long. Racing almost always involve a bit of drifting in fast cornering, thus some tire squealing at the right moment will make things more realistic.

6. Cabin sound: The engine sound from inside the cabin will be more muffled compared to listening from outside. These will be needed for shots when the camera view is inside the car.

7. Other effects: Door handle closing/opening, seat belt buckle, etc.

8. Music - Main track: Preferably a fast-paced instrumental track with very strong hook.

9. Music - Ambient: This is for the intro or "slow motion" parts in the video.

Mixing and Editing

Some pointers:

1. Play a new sound on almost every camera angle change.

2. Use appropriate sounds when the camera is switching between cabin and outside views. The cabin sound will be deeper, like having a LPF applied.

3. Leave some "silent" gaps [Example: 1:04-1:06, 1:12-1:22]. I think having a short break from the revving and engine roar can help the audience re-focus back to the video, especially if the camera view is showcasing the beauty of the car.

4. Pay attention to the timing of certain FX to the video. At 0:58 I placed the revving exactly at the same time as the light glowing pulse.

Enjoy!