Custom Search

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

Sonic Branding: Sonic Logos

By SFXsource

Sonic logos are between 3 and 7 seconds long and are basically short jingles used for brand development. Basically these logos use sound to convey the values and personality of a particular brand. Corporations and businesses pay to create sonic logos in order to make the public aware of their brand and they apply these sound identities across many different touchpoints including television, mobile technology, radio, and the internet.

While the creation of the sonic logo itself is a matter of musicians and sound designers working in the studio, there are actually other steps to consider before a single note or sound is recorded. Research into the character and history of the brand is very necessary and precludes any studio work. The creators must determine who the brand is exactly so that the final sonic logo will accurately depict the brand's identity. There are several basic steps in the process of creating a sonic logo that follow.

1. The first step in the creation of a sonic logo is to determine the core values of the brand that needs the logo. Is the brand conservative, environmentally concerned, or representative of a particular heritage or culture for example.

2. Next, figure out the history of sound use by the company which may afford some sense of the brand's identity. Use of audio in the past could be useful knowledge in what direction to now take.

3. Third, determine what audio ambience or sound effects might work to convey the values of the brand. An technology company, for example, may have computer or data sounds incorporated into some sort of futuristic melody.

4. Fourth, decide if voice is going to play a part in the sonic logo. Will there be a phrase such as "What's in your wallet?" or will the logo simply contain a melody amidst sonic texture?

5. Lastly, be sure that all of the sonic logos you create are memorable and original since its main function is to identify one specific brand.

The tips above give media professionals a basic description of the necessary element in creating a sonic logo. Regardless of how you create your sonic logos, be absolutely sure that they are unique from anything done before and that the brand you are working for are happy with their new audio identity. By achieving these two things you've reached sonic logo success!

About the Author: