Alexis Kestler
Let‘s talk about one of the most iconic sound effects in internet history – the Vine boom. If you‘ve spent any time on YouTube, TikTok, Twitch or other platforms over the past decade, chances are you‘ve heard that booming thud punctuate a perfectly-timed meme or viral moment.
But where exactly did this quintessential sound effect come from, and why does it remain so popular years after Vine‘s shutdown?
In this comprehensive guide from your resident meme expert, we‘ll dive deep on everything you need to know about the Vine boom – from its fascinating origins to expert tips for adding it to your own videos. Strap in for a journey through internet sound effect history!
An Instant Classic – The Origins of the Vine Boom
To understand why the Vine boom sound took the internet by storm, we first need to go back to the halcyon days of Vine.
Remember Vine? The app launched in 2013 and quickly became the premier destination for short, 6-second video clips. This constraint bred creativity, with Vine comedians and artists getting hugely inventive to pack jokes, songs, illusions and more into bite-sized videos.
Of course, audio played a huge role in Vine‘s unique style. Signature sounds helped punctuate moments and heighten the humor. The Vine boom was one of the most ubiquitous. But where did it actually originate?
As far as we can trace it, the first upload of that distinctive thudding sound effect dates back to a 2012 compilation video from YouTube user ChuckySplash [1]. However, it was Vine superstar King Bach who really helped this sound explode in popularity online.
Bach discovered the ChuckySplash sound and started incorporating it into his own comedy vines in 2013 [2]. The timing of the emphatic boom at pivotal punchline moments helped accentuate the humor perfectly. Bach‘s vines amassed millions of likes, and soon the Vine boom sound was being adopted by viners everywhere.
But Bach and ChuckySplash weren‘t the only pioneers of the Vine boom. As fate would have it, an identical version of the sound was actually uploaded even earlier in 2009 by YouTuber Superbassman87 [3]. He likely sampled it from real-world audio of something heavy falling or hitting a surface.
So in a way, the Vine boom sound was rediscovered and popularized long after its initial creation. Still, Bach is widely credited with cementing it as a comedic staple. And the rest is meme history!
Just How Popular is the Vine Boom Sound Effect?
To quantify the Vine boom sound‘s impact, we can look to view counts on YouTube compilations and its recurring presence across platforms like TikTok.
For starters, the original King Bach vine compilation featuring the Vine boom sounds has over 7.3 million views on YouTube to date [4]. Pretty impressive for a video from 2013!
Search YouTube for "Vine thud" or "Vine boom" and you‘ll find countless compilations with view counts in the hundreds of thousands or millions. Clearly people can‘t get enough of these Vines, even years later.
On TikTok, the hashtag #vineboom has over 95 million views [5]. Creators continue to use the sound in all manner of comedic and ironic TikToks.
The Vine boom also frequently appears in YouTube gaming edits, Twitch clip compilations, and other corners of internet culture. All this adds up to definite meme icon status!
More Signature Vine Sounds: The Ricardo Flick and Beyond
The Vine boom was far from the only iconic sound that originated on Vine. Part of what gave Vine videos their distinct flair was audio – through music, effects, and other sounds.
Take the famous "Ricardo flick." This was a unique zipper-pull sound pioneered by popular viners like Ricardo and Yebo to transition between clips [6].
There was also the weird viral "donk" sound used to accentuate something extreme or crazy. And of course audio from pop songs and other media found new life through Vines.
So Vine audio was about remixing existing sounds, and also about creating brand new effects. The Vine boom‘s enduring popularity is a testament to just how effective simple sounds can be in enhancing humor and virality.
Modern Meme Masterpieces Starring the Vine Boom
The Vine boom is a regular fixture in meme culture even today, long after Vine‘s shutdown. Let‘s look at some of its most prominent recent appearances.
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The Rock‘s Infamous Eyebrow Raise – In 2021, a hilarious clip [7] of The Rock subtly raising his eyebrow to John Cena‘s bizarre trash talk went hugely viral. Editors added the Vine boom to punctuate the comedic timing, racking up over 3.5 million views.
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Among Us Betrayals – Gaming memes also love the emphatic thud. Among Us animations and edits frequently feature the Vine boom to emphasize betrayal moments [8].
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Twitch Clips – Twitch emotes like PogChamp are visual memes, but streamers pair them with the Vine boom for added impact when reacting to insane plays [9].
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Sports Highlights – From football fails to figure skating falls, sports video creators lean on the Vine boom to make amusing bloopers even funnier.
Clearly the iconic thud remains an essential part of any meme creator‘s toolbox. Let‘s get tactical now on how to use it for maximum comedic effect.
A Step-by-Step Guide to Editing with the Vine Boom Sound
Want to harness the power of the Vine boom for your own viral video masterpiece? Here‘s a quick step-by-step editing guide.
Step 1: Download the Authentic Vine Boom MP3
You‘ll want the original sound for full impact. Here‘s a link to download the MP3:
Step 2: Import the Sound into Your Video Editor
Drag the MP3 file onto your timeline in apps like Premiere, iMovie, CapCut or your editor of choice.
Step 3: Sync It to the Pivotal Moment
Place the boom audio precisely when your funny fail, punchline or ironic moment occurs to punctuate it.
Step 4: Adjust Volume Levels
You may need to amplify the boom so it really punches through. But don‘t peak the audio!
Step 5: Add Extra Effects (Optional)
Pair it with zooms, shakes, etc. to really accentuate the moment.
And that‘s it! With the right timing and editing, your Vine boom will make any meme funnier.
Next let‘s get into some pro techniques.
Advanced Vine Boom Usage Tips from the Meme Masters
You‘ve got the basics down. Now let‘s level up with some pro Vine boom strategies:
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Use sparingly – Place 1-2 booms per meme for optimal timing. Too many diminishes the effect.
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Go for contrast – Having a silent buildup before the sudden loud boom can heighten the humor.
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Remix creatively – Pitch down the Vine boom for a deeper "dropping the bass" effect. Or layer it with other sounds like a cartoon "wa wa waa" trombone.
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Make it visual – Add a zoom or shake effect on the video when the boom hits to enhance the moment.
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Apply memetically – The boom‘s irony and nostalgia makes it perfect for meme references. Try adding it when your friend makes a corny joke!
Take these tips to heart on your journey to Vine boom meme mastery. Now let‘s break down why these viral sounds are so impactful.
Why Meme Sounds Like the Vine Boom Have Such Staying Power
As a wise meme scholar once said:
Internet culture has a never-ending appetite for running jokes and references into the ground.
Meme formats often have a quick natural lifespan – a few months at most in the spotlight before they‘re retired. But some memes demonstrate incredible staying power years after they emerge. Look at how long Rickrolling has remained funny.
The same goes for iconic meme sounds like the Vine boom. Why do they persist as such viral staples?
For starters, audio is highly sharable. A sound effect dissociated from its original context can evolve into the perfect punctuation for any moment.
These sounds also tend to be distinctive yet flexible. The Vine boom‘s emphatic thud can match everything from skateboard fails to anime betrayals seamlessly.
And sounds that become meme standards take on new ironic and nostalgic appeal even as the original meme fades. Millennials can share the Vine boom to remind each other of Vine‘s glory days.
But there‘s also just an undefinable viral "quality" to sounds that get big. While similarities exist, it‘s hard to predict what will pop off next or why. All we can do is appreciate the gems – like the Vine boom – when they come along!
Alright, enough meme theory. Let‘s see this iconic sound in action.
Interact with the Vine Boom and Other Meme Sounds
Want to get hands-on with the Vine boom and other viral sounds? Check out this interactive audio board I made on Fluids.fm!
Just click on a meme sound icon to play it on loop. You can even remix and record the sounds together for your own meme masterpiece. Crank those speakers and get to booming!
From the Vine boom to Shooting Stars to the Anime Wow, this board is bursting with meme audio inspiration. Take your sound effect game to new heights!
The Takeaway: Boom Your Way to Meme Glory
And that‘s all, folks – everything you could possibly need to know about the Vine boom sound effect and how to utilize it for maximum comedic impact.
This thundering thud has certainly earned its status as a meme icon thanks to those early, influential vines. It lives on as a way to inject humor and nostalgia into the internet‘s funniest moments.
So consider the boom your secret weapon whenever you need the perfect audio punctuation. With the mp3 download and pro editing tips above, you‘re fully equipped to make your friends, fans or followers laugh.
Now get out there, be funny, get viewing, and boom your way to meme superstardom. The halls of internet fame are calling!
