John Leonard is a theatre and exhibition sound designer and effects recordist from London. With a history of 30 years in the sound business, John brings us some dynamic and rare sound effects. His Hong Kong Terminal Ferry chimes the full Westminster clock then strikes 12, plus a Spitfire Mk IX takes a pass so fast and low you'll duck for cover! He now records in B-Format Surround at high sample rates and bit-depth, so his SFX are of the highest quality. John's theatre work has been heard all over the world and his effects are used in many other theatre, film and TV productions.
John Leonard is an icon in sound design and a pioneer in so many technical innovations, including surround sound and much more! Some highlights of his career in theatre sound include Piaf, Nicholas Nickleby, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Much Ado About Nothing and Cyrano de Bergerac, all for the Royal Shakespeare Company and all later seen in New York on Broadway: Medea, Hamlet, Plenty, Coriolanus, Richard III, Phedre and Brittanicus, all for The Almeida Theatre Company and also seen in New York; all but two plays in the Shakespearean canon for assorted theatre companies.
John also worked for The Norwegian National Theatre, The Deutsches Shauspeilhaus in Hamburg, and in many productions with directors Howard Davies, John Caird, Michael Bogdanov, Trevor Nunn, Terry Hands, Kathy Burke, Michael Blakemore, Michael Attenborough and Mike Leigh, amongst others, and a continuing involvement with new productions in many of the UK’s leading theatres.
Amusement park ride - Swinger or Magic Carpet or Pirate Ship ride. Distant crowd sounds and female screams as ride progresses. Amusement Sound Effects, Rollercoasters
Clock at the Hong Kong Island terminal of The Star Ferry. The clock chimes the full Westminster Chimes hour and then strikes twelve. Background sounds of distant traffic and voices. Foley Sound Effects, Bells / tower clock bells
Huge Firework Display recorded on the East River in New York on July 4th. More distant than the other display in my list, but still with plenty of low frequency energy and detail. Some crowd noise. Weapon Sound Effects, Fireworks
Massive firework display, with good echoes from surrounding buildings. Some crowd noise, whistles, cheers, etc. WARNING: this recording contains high-level low-frequency material that has the potential to damage inadequate loudspeakers! Weapon Sound Effects, Fireworks
