ROPE CREAK FX DEVICE — DIY BUILD PLANS

CREAKING TIMBERS, ROPE / VINE TENSION, AND MORE

Ben Herrington

We've made a few Rope Creak sound effect devices over the years, using them on a variety of projects: The Indiana Jones ride (Anaheim and Tokyo), Adventure Isle (Shanghai), Runaway Railway (Anaheim and Orlando), and others. The device pictured above is one we made in 2016 for a friend. The associated build document was done in the hope that others might find it helpful and be encouraged to make one of their own (we're glad to say that some have). 

For decades, sound effect artists have used variations of the Rope Creak Device to produce sounds related to rope and wood tension (creaking timbers, schooners, rope bridges, catapults, etc.). The device is versatile, flexible, strait-forward to build, and fun to perform. It produces clear, distinctive sounds that are easy to articulate. It responds well to processing and works well in composites. It's a great example of why mechanical sound contraptions remain a valuable tool in the modern sound artist's kit. 

Want to build one? Here’s the recipe: