The Art of Whoosh: Making Motion Sounds That Feel Real

The humble whoosh. The sound designer’s best friend and at times their crutch. Ever heard a sword swing in a game that sounded flat? Or a spell cast that felt weightless? That’s where the humble “whoosh” comes in. A well-crafted motion sound can sell speed, power, and drama in ways visuals alone never can.

Why Whooshes Matter

Whooshes are more than just air sounds, they have become part of the language of sound design. They convey motion, direction, and impact. Whether it’s a flying arrow, a spinning fan, or a whip-pan scene change, the right whoosh gives your video a sense of movement and energy.

Step 1: Start with the Core Motion

Decide what you want to communicate: is it fast, slow, heavy, or light? A speeding sword needs a crisp, sharp sound; a big hammer swing might require a low, resonant swoosh. The core layer sets the tone for everything else.

Step 2: Layer for Realism

Don’t rely on a single whoosh sound, mix low-frequency and high frequency, automated against different parts of the action, as well as thuds/impacts for the climax.

Each layer should complement the motion without stealing focus.

Step 3: Add Direction and Distance

Use panning and volume automation to make your whoosh move across the listener’s ears. Quick fades and subtle Doppler effects can create a sense of speed and distance, making the motion feel alive.

Step 4: Experiment with Unconventional Sources

Many of the best whooshes come from unexpected objects: shaking a piece of metal, sweeping a heavy bedsheet, or swinging a broomstick. Don’t be afraid to get creative—sometimes the strangest sources make the most convincing sounds.

Pro Tip: Don’t Overdo it

It can be tempting to add whooshes to everything, to every transition and every action. But they can get boring, the listener can get fatigued by too much whoosh. Varying between high and low frequency whooshes can help but sometimes it’s best to hold back on one action so that the next one lands even bigger.

With a few smart layers and some creativity, your whooshes will make everything feel ten times as big without adding anything visually.