Sound f/x - heart beat

[lilflip]

Does anybody know how to make a fake heartbeat sound that an audience member can make during a mellow drama?

[gafftaper]

Try taking a mic and wrapping it in a blanket or something to remove all the ambient sound and deaden the high end. Then tap a heart rhythm on it... gently. Different sorts of fabric materials will sound different. You could also just try it with a windscreen.

[DavidDaMonkey]

What do you mean when you say that an audience member will be making the sound? Will they be performing the sound live? Will they be triggering a sound cue? Why does it have to happen from the audience?

I hope your drama isn't too mellow, people might fall asleep

[lilflip]

It's a one act play that the audience sits on risers on stage.

[photoatdv]

If they are just playing it back you could probably record a real heartbeat. Put a capsule mic at the end of a stethescope maybe....

[tdk999]

I had to make a sound effect like this for a show I did last minute. Press (not tap, press gently to close out any air) your thumb across the top of a lavalier mic capsule, then release. The press should make the first sound, the release the second. You can easily control the rhythm or aggressiveness in this way. Just make sure it is someone familiar with sound equipment.

[lieperjp]

If it just has to appear to come from an audience member (?) you could just record it and pretend that the noise is coming from an audience member.

Also... did you mean melodrama?

[lilflip]

my director wants an audience member to make the sound live

[cdub260]

Originally Posted by lilflip

my director wants an audience member to make the sound live

Will this be a shill or an actual paying patron?

You have a few more options if it's a shill.

[lieperjp]

Originally Posted by cdub260

Will this be a shill?

What? Explain. I think I know what it means.