Out of the shadows
An aspect that most cinematic sound design requires is the illusion of depth and space. Processing your own repository of found sounds and homemade samples with spatial plugins can very quickly elevate them into a more epic-flavoured realm. The likes of reverb plugins such as those produced by specialists Liquidsonics and Valhalla DSP, make building the impression of cityscape-level size easy to achieve. Leaving long tails and decays is a must. A common practice is the introduction of reversed sounds which make them appear to lurch forward out of the aural shadows unnaturally. Tempting though it may be, coating everything in reverb isn’t recommended – be selective!