Sound library
Riser and transition sound effects
Riser, downlifter and transition sound effects for build-ups, drops and cuts in short videos. Original, made in code and cleared for commercial use.
Updated
A riser is a sound that grows and ends exactly on the cut. It tells the viewer that something is about to happen. A downlifter does the opposite: it falls away after a peak, like a breath out after a drop. Between them sit reverse swells, filter sweeps, tape stops, a vinyl rewind and transition-drop-sub, the hit that lands after a build.
Noise risers such as riser-noise-2s work under almost anything. Tonal risers, the endless transition-riser-shepard and the snare-roll build have more character and want space in the mix. riser-heartbeat and riser-tick-tock loop seamlessly for longer moments of tension.
How to use them
- Place the end of the riser on the frame where the reveal starts, never after it. A 2-second riser starts 2 s before the cut.
- Follow a riser with a hit or a drop (
transition-drop-sub,impact-bass-drop) and then silence or the music. - A short gap of 0.1 to 0.3 s of silence right before the reveal makes the hit land harder.
- Starting volume: about 0.35 to 0.45 for risers and sweeps, 0.55 for the drop.
All 25 riser and transition sound effects
25 sounds in this category. 1 of them has a public preview you can play here; the rest are listed by name and length and come with the pack.
riser-noise-2s2.00 sBuild-ups before a reveal, the last 2 s before a drop or cut.
riser-heartbeat1.80 sIn the packSuspense, health or fitness topics, nervous moments, slow reveals.
riser-noise-4s4.00 sIn the packLonger build-ups, countdown tension, intros that land on a hit.
riser-reverse-swell1.50 sIn the packInto a cut, before a logo or title appears, dreamy transitions.
riser-suck-back0.80 sIn the packRight before a hard cut, rewind moments, pulling the viewer in.
riser-tension-pulse4.00 sIn the packSuspense, 'wait for it', reveals, countdown builds.
riser-tick-tock2.00 sIn the packTime pressure, deadlines, countdowns, 'meanwhile' scenes.
riser-tonal3.00 sIn the packBig build-ups into a title, hype intros, launch moments.
transition-downlifter-noise2.00 sIn the packRight after a drop or reveal, 'cool down' moments, ends of sections.
transition-downlifter-sub2.50 sIn the packAfter a drop, heavy endings, 'the floor drops out' moments.
transition-downlifter-synth2.00 sIn the packPower-downs, letdowns, 'back to reality', section endings in edits.
transition-drop-sub2.51 sIn the packThe beat drop, 'here it is' reveals, the big moment after a riser.
transition-filter-sweep2.99 sIn the packBreakdowns and build-ups in edits, 'loading' phases, tension and release.
transition-pitch-dive1.60 sIn the packCrashes, fails, 'it's all going down', dramatic drops in numbers.
transition-reverse-swell-long3.00 sIn the packSlow builds into a logo, cinematic lead-ins, calm-to-big moments.
transition-reverse-swell-short0.80 sIn the packQuick lead-ins to a title, soft transitions, dreamy cuts.
transition-riser-air-1s1.00 sIn the packShort reels: the second before a cut, quick build into a title or punchline.
transition-riser-shepard4.00 sIn the packNever-ending tension, 'it keeps going up' growth, suspense before a reveal.
transition-riser-snare-roll4.00 sIn the packClassic build-ups before a drop, hype intros, countdown finales.
transition-stutter-build2.00 sIn the packEDM-style build-ups, glitchy hype intros, 'loading...' tension.
transition-sweep-down2.00 sIn the packMuffling into a breakdown, flashbacks, 'underwater' or dreamy endings.
transition-sweep-up2.00 sIn the packOpening up into a new section, 'getting clearer', EDM-style lifts.
transition-swoosh-impact1.68 sIn the packLogo slams, title hits, scene changes that land hard on the beat.
transition-tape-stop1.50 sIn the packRecord-scratch style stops, 'wait, what?' moments, comedic halts, ends of edits.
transition-vinyl-rewind1.40 sIn the pack'Let's go back', rewinding time, DJ-style resets, replay jokes.
In the pack: WAV 48 kHz 16-bit (peak -1 dBFS) and MP3 320 kbps of every sound, with the same name. Previews on this site are lighter MP3 copies.
Questions
How long should a riser be in a short video?
As long as the build you want. In a 7 to 10 second reel, 1 to 2 seconds is usually enough; transition-riser-air-1s and riser-noise-2s are made for that. The 4-second risers suit intros and countdowns.
What is a downlifter?
A riser in reverse: a sound that falls and fades. Use it right after a drop or a big reveal to bring the energy down before the next section.
Can I loop the heartbeat and the tick-tock?
Yes. riser-heartbeat loops seamlessly at 67 bpm and riser-tick-tock loops as four ticks over 2 seconds, so you can repeat them under a longer stretch of tension.