Sometimes called a "sound bank," a "sound library" is a repository containing all your audio files: field recordings, sound effects, sound design…
Whether professional or personal, your sound library will quickly grow with new sound files. Some may be recorded by yourself, while others might come from commercial sound libraries or be shared by friends. Without a proper organization method, you will quickly become overwhelmed by an unmanageable quantity of files.
That’s when I’d like to introduce you to the UCS, an indispensable tool to effectively structure your sound library!
Universal Category System (UCS)
The UCS, or Universal Category System, is a public domain initiative launched by Tim Nielsen, Justin Drury, and Kai Paquin, in collaboration with professionals from the audio industry. It provides a list of fixed and consistent categories for classifying sound effects. Its main goal is to standardize file naming structures to facilitate organization and searching.
Widely adopted by professionals, the UCS has become a standard in the audio industry. For example, platforms like LaSonotheque.fr and BigSoundBank.com follow UCS 8.2 categorization.
For more details, visit the official UCS website.
Getting Started with UCS
To start using UCS, visit the official Dropbox, where you’ll find key resources:
- UCS v8.2 Top Level Categories.xlsx: A list of main categories.
- UCS v8.2 Full Category List.xlsx: A complete list of subcategories.
- UCS v8.2 Full Translations List.xlsx: Translations of the categories for non-English speakers.
These files will help you structure your library in a coherent and efficient way. You’ll also find documents to deepen your understanding of UCS naming conventions.
Using UCS
The primary goal of UCS is to standardize the organization and naming of audio files. Here’s how to use it:
1. Assign a category and a subcategory: If your file is "horse footsteps.wav", choose the category "FOOTSTEPS" (translated as "Pas" in French) and the subcategory "HORSE" ("Cheval" in French). Then rename your file with a UCS prefix, called a "CatID": "FEETHors", followed by an underscore. Your file will now be named "FEETHors_horse footsteps.wav".
2. Create organized folders: On your computer, create a main folder named "FOOTSTEPS." Inside, add a subfolder "HORSE" and place your file there. To save time, you can download a pre-configured folder structure from the UCS Dropbox under "Folder Structure."
3. Special cases: If you’re unsure which category to assign a file to, place it in the "MISC" subcategory (short for "miscellaneous") and use the prefix "FEETMisc."
4. Customization: For specific projects, create your own sub-subcategories such as "GALLOP," "LIMPING," etc. UCS is flexible enough to adapt to your needs.
Advantages of UCS
Adopting UCS offers numerous benefits:
- Time-saving: A well-organized library makes searching easier and reduces time wasted digging through files.
- Seamless sharing: Standardized UCS files can be integrated directly into other compatible sound libraries.
- Interoperability: Using a universal format simplifies collaboration with other audio professionals.
- Customization: You can expand categories or create new ones to suit specific needs.
Combining Other Sound Libraries
When you download sounds from UCS-compatible libraries, sorting them becomes effortless. For instance, all files starting with "FEETHors_" can be moved into the "HORSE" subfolder within the "FOOTSTEPS" category. This method ensures consistent organization, even for files from external sources.
UCS-Compatible Software for Metadata Management
Many professional software tools now integrate the Universal Category System (UCS) to streamline metadata management in sound libraries. Here are some examples:
Soundminer, a leading software for sound management, offers full UCS integration. It enables advanced organization and optimized sound effect searches using UCS standards.
BaseHead, another popular sound manager, also supports UCS. It helps users tag, search, and organize their audio files using the system’s standardized categories.
Soundly is a cloud-based platform that incorporates UCS, providing a flexible and accessible solution for organizing and searching sound effects.
Steinberg Media Bay, included in Cubase and Nuendo, is compatible with UCS, making it easier to manage audio files while adhering to industry standards.
Finally, while Reaper does not natively support UCS, the community has developed scripts and extensions to manage metadata according to UCS standards.
The adoption of UCS by these tools highlights its growing importance in the audio industry, providing valuable standardization for sound professionals.
In Summary
Organizing your sound library from the start with UCS is essential to avoid chaos. This system is designed to save you time and maintain a clear and professional structure. So why not start using it today?
