I’m pleased to announce the launch of my latest sound effects library, Vaults, Safes, Keys and Locks. This library contains impactful sounds of massive steel-doored vaults slamming shut, plus a wide variety of safes, keys and locks. There are plenty of tiny clicks, spinning tumblers, jingling keys and loud bangs to use in your next bank heist production, or something slightly less illegal. All recorded at 96 kHz/24 bit with both contact and ‘regular’ microphones.
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Library Specs:
- 69 Sounds (all at 96 kHz/24 bit), 7 minutes, 231 MB
- metadata via Soundy and BWF
- captured with Sound Devices 702, Sound Devices Mixpre-D/Sony PCM M10 and Sony PCM D100 recorders
- Barcus Berry contact microphones along with Line Audio CM3 in XY
Why I Recorded Vaults, Safes, Keys and Locks
I used to frequent a coffee shop in downtown Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As a photojournalist always looking for places with decent wifi to send my photographs, this one was perfect for when I was covering assignments in the area. However, to get to the restroom, you had to leave the shop through a side door and walk down a hall. Turning a corner, you ran into a massive round Mosler bank vault door perpetually propped wide open. These are the kind of awesome-looking multi-ton vault doors that you see in old gangster flicks.
I had to photograph it. No one seemed to mind. I found the inside fascinating. Full of disheveled wide open safety deposit boxes, you just have to wonder what was inside them in years past. If you’re curious, I’d wager a gold bar that the vault is still there.
In 2017, I recorded my sound effects library Abandoned Prison inside the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio. In the warden’s office, there’s a vintage recessed steel wall safe. If you’ve ever seen The Shawshank Redemption (1994), you’ll recognize this safe. Using a pair of Barcus Berry contact mics, I was able to bring out a few interesting sounds by turning its handle and rotating the combination dial. I left Andy Dufresne’s bible, with the cut out to hide his rock hammer, alone.
In the years since, I’ve recorded a few more bank vaults. I’ve jingled a large handful of mystery keys, visited a couple locks shops, turned a bunch of padlocks, large and small, and opened quite a few safes. Sadly, I didn’t crack any. It’s really hard to do, even by listening through contact mics.
Behind the Scenes
Recording the sound of a 15-ton Mosler Safe Company vault door inside the former First National Bank in Newton Falls, Ohio on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a 15-ton Mosler Safe Company vault door inside the former First National Bank in Newton Falls, Ohio on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Sound recording inside a vault in Shelby, Ohio Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The building is the former home to Citizens Bank of Shelby, opened and dedicated on October. 17, 1911. The safe was made by the Diebold Safe and Lock Company of Canton, Ohio. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the old Citizens Bank vault and safety deposit boxes with contact microphones at what is now Bankz Salon in downtown Mansfield, Ohio on January 31, 2017. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon. 
Sound recording inside a vault in Shelby, Ohio Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The building is the former home to Citizens Bank of Shelby, opened and dedicated on October. 17, 1911. The safe was made by the Diebold Safe and Lock Company of Canton, Ohio. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Using contact microphones to record the sound of a vault’s locking bolts in Shelby, Ohio Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The building is the former home to Citizens Bank of Shelby, opened and dedicated on October. 17, 1911. The safe was made by the Diebold Safe and Lock Company of Canton, Ohio. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Using contact microphones to record the sound of a large safety deposit box in Shelby, Ohio Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The building is the former home to Citizens Bank of Shelby, opened and dedicated on October. 17, 1911. The safe was made by the Diebold Safe and Lock Company of Canton, Ohio. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
A Sony PCM D100 recorder captures the sound of a small safety deposit box inside a vault at the former Citizens Bank in Shelby, Ohio Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The building was dedicated on October. 17, 1911. The safe was made by the Diebold Safe and Lock Company of Canton, Ohio. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Capturing the sound of an alarm bell inside a bank vault in Shelby, Ohio Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The building is the former home to Citizens Bank of Shelby, opened and dedicated on October. 17, 1911. The safe was made by the Diebold Safe and Lock Company of Canton, Ohio. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the old Citizens Bank vault and safety deposit boxes with contact microphones in downtown Mansfield, Ohio on January 31, 2017. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon. 
Recording the sound of the basement vault inside the former First National Bank in Newton Falls, Ohio on Wednesday, August 14, 2024. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Using contact microphones to record the sound of the After-Hour Depository in Shelby, Ohio Wednesday, January 25, 2017. The building is the former home to Citizens Bank of Shelby, opened and dedicated on October. 17, 1911. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Using two contact microphones to capture the sound of a sqeaky combination lock of a home fire safe. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Using two contact microphones to capture the sound of a sqeaky combination lock of a home fire safe. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Sound recording a Sergant and Greenleaf 6120 lock at a locksmith shop in Mansfield, Ohio on February 8, 2017. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Using Barcus Berry contact microphones to capture the sound of a vintage prison door lock at a locksmith shop in Mansfield, Ohio on February 8, 2017. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a ITL 9000 key cutting machine at a locksmith shop in Mansfield, Ohio on February 8, 2017. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a vintage suitcase lock on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a vintage suitcase lock on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a lock on an Olympia SM9 portable typewriter case. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a key lock padlock on Saturday, August 17, 2024. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a tiny keyed brass padlock with a pair of Barcus Berry contact microphones. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a small Ace brand brass keyed padlock with a pair of Barcus Berry contact microphones. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon 
Recording the sound of a large set of mystery keys, including some skeleton keys, on a ring with a Sony PCM D100 recorder. Photo by Richard Alan Hannon