The Man Who Made the Galaxy Audibly Legendary July 12 marks the birthday of Ben Burtt, the mastermind behind some of the most unforgettable sounds in cinema. He didn’t just fill the silence—he created the literal voice of the galaxy far, far away. On this day, it’s only right to honor the man who gave a hum to the lightsaber, breath to Vader, and charm to droids. Iconic Sound Creations That Echo Through the Galaxy Lightsabers & Blaster Fire That iconic lightsaber hum? It wasn’t created in a lab—it was crafted from analog magic. Burtt combined the buzz of an old projector with feedback from a TV set to invent the most recognizable weapon sound in cinema. And the blaster fire? A hammer striking a guy-wire, tweaked until it became pure Star Wars. Vader’s Breathing You can’t have the Dark Side without that ominous breath. Burtt recorded himself breathing through…
Star Wars sound design
Behind the Blasters: How Star Wars Outlaws Built Its Gritty, Cinematic Soundscape
If you’ve ever played Star Wars Outlaws and thought, “Wow, that starship flyby gave me chills,” you’re not alone—and it wasn’t an accident. The crew behind the game’s immersive audio sat down with Dolby Creator Talks to pull back the curtain on how they made Outlaws sound like it was ripped straight from the Original Trilogy… but with just enough modern edge to make your subwoofer sweat. Hosted by Alistair Hirst, this episode dives deep with the Massive Entertainment audio team: Let’s break down what they revealed—and how sound helped turn Star Wars Outlaws into one of the most BAFTA-worthy games of the year. 🎧 Three Pillars of Galactic Audio Greatness According to Koudriavtsev, the team anchored their approach on three audio “pillars”: 1. Cinematic Experience They weren’t just trying to make things sound cool—they were telling a story through sound. Whether it’s the hum of a speeder bike or…