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doesn't need that stuff to be a great personality. She already is one! Is it her idea and if so, is it a crutch? Is it her producer's idea and if so, what does it really add?

If I were doing a nationally syndicated show, I assure you I would do everything in my power to not use the same sound effects the local DJ in Stinkfoot, Minnesota uses each morning. If you want to use effects that simulate or emulate what a studio audience sounds like, then get some real people from your station into the production studio one day and record your own studio audience sound effects! When I anchored the "Q-ZOO" at WRVQ-FM in Richmond, that's exactly what I did. At least they were original and could not be duplicated because they originated from a one-time recording session.

The kind of audio you always win with is topical, current audio. Sound bites from last night's Survivor finales or the boxing match from HBO from over the weekend; celebrities saying compelling things, politicians saying things that will affect your listeners lives dramatically, humorous or outrageous audio like real-life tech support calls. In my opinion, you can't lose with this stuff.

Free Sound Effects Links:

Free sound effects from J. Howarth, Sound Editor. These were recorded by a professional and free to use in any way. http://www.users.qwest.net/~jhorwath/sounds.html

Anders Larson Company Absolutely free sound effects you can use for any purpose

A1FreeSoundEffects.com Offers a nice quantity of free Sound effects. (Check out their "Sound of the Month") http://www.a1freesoundeffects.com/

pacdv.com Offers free sound effect with no restrictions http://www.pacdv.com/sounds/index.html

Free Production Music http://www.internetaudioguy.com/iag/freemusic/freemusic.htm

(Please report any dead links to Radio Guide)

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