Tonebenders Podcast 344 - Superman
Jan 8, 2026
Join sound experts Lee Orloff, David Acord, Chris Boyes, and Tim Blanc as they unveil the sonic secrets behind the latest Superman film. Lee shares his challenges capturing on-set dialogue amidst visual effects. David discusses crafting unique sounds for pocket dimensions, while Chris highlights the delicate balance of mixing intense action sequences. Tim emphasizes the importance of preserving dialogue amid the chaos, revealing how they created clarity in a world of superhero sound. Together, they redefine what it means to be the Man of Steel in audio!
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Designing A New Sonic Language
- David Acord and James Gunn iterated early, using abstract metaphors to shape novel sonic worlds like the pocket-dimension river.
- Design choices balanced digital "hostile math" textures with tactile glassy impacts for cube collisions.
Practical River Effect On Set
- Lee Orloff described the river as a huge tank of plastic balls that were "horrendously loud" but gave actors real ballast.
- Production even gifted crew small bags of the balls as a memento after the shoot.
Choosing A Human Baby Cry
- The team tried an "alien-sounding" baby early but abandoned it because a realistic human cry keeps audiences emotionally attached.
- They chose a real baby sound to preserve instinctual protective responses.