If you’re making a sci-fi movie or a spy film, there’s a good chance you’re looking for some free laser sound effects. Well you’ve come to the right place!In this article you can download 11 free laser sounds, and learn how to create your own laser sound effects with Krotos Studio for free! We’ll also delve into some of our favourite laser scenes from cinema history, and explore how some of them were made.
What sound files are inside this pack?
- Alarm Riser.wav
- Alien Gunshot 1.wav
- Alien Gunshot 2.wav
- Laser Gun Reload.wav
- Laser pistol 1.wav
- Laser Pistol 2.wav
- Laser Sniper 1.wav
- Laser Sniper 2.wav
- Laser Stab.wav
- Lightning Sword.wav
- Unsheath.wav
But Wait! You can generate your own custom royalty-free SFX too…
Krotos Studio is a powerful sound design tool for filmmakers and sound designers. You can think of it as a Foley studio in your computer. It enables you to design and perform original sound effects without any need for expensive microphones, or a recording studio. What’s more, one of the presets in the free version of Krotos Studio is the Laser Gun preset – perfect for designing futuristic gun battles in audio!.
But Wait! You can generate your own custom royalty-free SFX too…
Krotos Studio is a powerful sound design tool for filmmakers and sound designers. You can think of it as a Foley studio in your computer. It enables you to design and perform original sound effects without any need for expensive microphones, or a recording studio. What’s more, one of the presets in the free version of Krotos Studio is the Laser Gun preset – perfect for designing futuristic gun battles in audio!.
The best laser scenes and sound effects from movies
Hollywood loves lasers. There’s just something about them that makes filmmakers want to include them in their films.
From space epics to spy movies, they’re tied to the action genre and we love it. Here are some of the best laser scenes from movie history.
Star Wars
https://youtu.be/cK5zMDVGF2Y?si=cehaJW4I7OhS_7eA&t=55
When you think of lasers in movies, the first thing you probably think of is Star Wars. From laser swords to blasters, there are too many laser scenes in the Star Wars movies to pick just one.
As with most sound effects in the Star Wars movies, the sound of both blasters and laser lightsabers are iconic and distinctive. For more information on how they created the laser blaster sound, check out How they made the laser blaster sound in Star Wars, below.
Goldfinger
https://youtu.be/DoQwKe0lggw?si=CUPppMpIO1RWdtjV
James Bond is another iconic movie franchise that loves lasers. Probably the most famous laser scene from the Bond franchise is the crotch laser scene from Goldfinger.
In the scene, Bond is strapped to a table with an industrial cutting laser slowly moving toward him.
The sound of a laser beam in this scene is more subtle than the ones in the world of Star Wars. Here the sound designers opted for a high-pitched hum which provides a sinister and tension-building
undertone to the scene.
Ocean’s 12
https://youtu.be/mr834Cs9ncs?si=6-rG5Yc2Wg40EM9l
Finally, let’s turn our attention to a more modern movie. Ocean’s Twelve is responsible for a rather comical laser scene. In it, a master criminal dances his way through a laser security system.
There’s no requirement for laser sound effects here as the dancer has his headphones on and is loudly listening to Thé à la Menthe’s La Caution.
Do you spell it ‘Laser’ or ‘Lazer’
Although the use of a Z to spell this word matches with the sound we hear, the correct spelling here is “Laser”, and not “Lazer”. The original word is an acronym and stands for Light Amplification by Stimulated Emission of Radiation.
Whether you’re looking to download Laser sound effects or Lazer sound effects, it doesn’t matter! You’re in luck in both cases, as you can download our free pack at the top of this article or get yourself a copy of Krotos Studio.
How they made the laser blaster sound in Star Wars
The most famous laser sound of all time is undoubtedly the sound of the blasters in Star Wars. The blaster is the favoured weapon of those not fortunate enough to be trained in the way of the force with notable users including Han Solo, Storm Troopers, and Lando Calrissian.
The sounds of the Star Wars universe can be largely attributed to legendary sound designer Ben Burtt. Burtt’s resume also includes the likes of E.T., Indiana Jones, and WALL-E, but it was his one-of-a-kind work on the original Star Wars trilogy that put him on the map.
The Star Wars blaster sound came about almost completely by accident. Burtt was on a backpacking trip in the Poconos in Pennsylvania when his backpack caught on guy wire and produced an interesting sound.
Inspired by this, when Burtt returned to Los Angeles he searched out power pylons and experimented with tapping the thick metal guy wires supporting them. Tapping these wires created a distinctive “pew” sound which Burtt recorded. This would become the base for the laser shots sound effect.
You can hear this in action in the below video.
https://youtu.be/fl0wIdGxfbQ?si=jSEPr0QknFmrHDve
Of course, the sound then received some post-production processing to achieve the final sound we know today.
Interestingly these guy wires were responsible for more than one sound in the Star Wars universe. Whilst recording foley for the blaster, Burtt also recorded the sound of the guy wires as a heavy wind blew – this would become the sound of spaceships as they flew by.
How to get unlimited royalty-free laser gun sound effects
Krotos Studio is a powerful sound effect design tool. You can download and use it for free to create your own unique laser sound effects.
To do this, download Krotos Studio. Subscribers can head to the Light Sword preset for lightsabers sound, and the Lazer Pistol preset for laser blaster sounds.
FAQs
What noise does a laser make?
The sound of a laser beam in real life is silence, but in movies, they do make a sound. Because lasers don’t make a sound, the way they sound in movies varies. The iconic laser blaster in Star Wars was made by tapping taught metal cables with a hammer.
Would a laser weapon make noise?
In real life, a laser weapon wouldn’t make that iconic “pew pew” sound we know from Star Wars.
How would you describe the sound of a laser?
A laser beam sound in movies is often characterised by buzzing or humming. Laser guns more often sound like a “pew” as made famous by Star Wars.