Tools & Folder Management Methods Used by "Sound Effects Specialists", "Graphic Designers", and "Video Editors" When Organizing Sound Effect Libraries
Reason for writing this article
https://medium.com/@sukeshgtambi/effects-vfx-visual-effects-vs-sfx-special-effects-8a334b44875c
https://www.reddit.com/r/graphic_design/comments/1idw50h/how_does_your_team_save_inspiration/
https://www.asoundeffect.com/sound-effects-collection/
https://valasys.com/a-step-to-step-guide-to-improving-your-sfx-library/
https://blog.frame.io/2023/03/16/essential-editing-techniques-for-any-editor/
The number of excellent new sound effects, videos etc libraries seems to be practically growing by the minute - and, chances are, so is your sound effects, videos etc collection. To stop that collection from becoming an unmanageable monster, has written this useful guide on how to keep your your sound, videos etc collection organized, searchable and healthy
0. "Eagle" App would be the best answer
Copy and paste to collect references
Preview all files like Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma
Convenient integration with various plugins
Extract dominant colors used in images
Conversely, browse images by color
Search by image and filter out duplicate files
https://eagle.cool/blog/post/google-photo-alternative
https://eagle.cool/blog/post/how-to-manage-your-ui-design-inspirations-with-eagle
https://www.reddit.com/r/EagleCool/
Look at the “Mega Thread” section on the right side of the site.
https://medium.com/@hey.adeivan/working-with-eagle-app-designers-editors-must-have-this-app-ec059919b31b
https://medium.com/@roger_moore_2330/file-management-best-practice-for-designers-and-your-team-with-folder-and-tag-structures-2021-cf9ce32b5c08
https://webdesign.tutsplus.com/organize-design-assets-with-eagle-app--cms-36971t
https://blog.prototypr.io/10-reasons-why-i-gave-up-pinterest-built-my-design-library-on-eagle-ab1cbfb0b51b
https://note.com/bluemist/n/n774febacdb60
https://www.reddit.com/r/MotionDesign/comments/1dmr2qv/how_do_you_guys_saveorganize_your/
https://www.reddit.com/r/EagleCool/comments/1fz21wr/beginner_questions/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=coEFBOs2KGA
https://medium.com/@tugcekurucay/how-to-store-ux-ui-inspirations-easily-with-eagle-ba78ba607466
https://note.com/dean_law/n/nc508f18fe217
https://note.com/hiraski/n/nd0f83211f844
https://note.com/ai_freak/n/n5acb9567a315
1. Tools and folder management methods used by "Sound Effects"
https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/22c6e7/organizing_your_sound_library_extensive/
https://www.reddit.com/r/sounddesign/comments/1kxlw9z/how_do_you_organize_your_sound_library_when/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQatqq9Utas
https://www.reddit.com/r/sounddesign/comments/1am84hv/free_universal_cateogry_system_sound_library/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AudioPost/comments/tronrb/advice_on_sfx_browser_for_sound_design/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/1ijxb5d/would_an_aipowered_tool_that_autosorts_your_sound/
https://www.creativefieldrecording.com/2017/06/28/an-introduction-to-sound-fx-library-categorization-the-basics/
https://www.creativefieldrecording.com/2017/07/05/13-lucky-tips-and-tricks-for-sound-fx-library-categorization/
https://www.reddit.com/r/edmproduction/comments/ru4us/how_does_everybody_go_about_organizingbuilding/
2. Tools and folder management methods used by "graphic designer, video editors"
Tools
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/x80290/how_to_manage_sfx/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/1g2z1u4/what_is_your_sfx_sound_effect_workflow_like/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/1ec2a3e/how_do_you_organize_your_sfx/
https://www.reddit.com/r/premiere/comments/1r21z7o/animation_composer_new_version/
https://jry-media.store/pages/jerrysfx https://cgdownload.ru/catalog/8912-jrymedia-jerrysfx/ 🏴☠️
https://www.hyvestudio.com/freebies "02. AE Magic Cleanup" Tap
https://www.reddit.com/r/AudioPost/comments/149hurm/sound_fx_editing_workflow/
https://dezi.gallery/productivity
folder management methods
in the case of graphic design,
do not recommend deleting everything except the final file.
Instead, keep all process files and move only the final file to a separate folder.
This is the top-level folder structure.
- 2025
- 2501_ProjectName
- ContractMaterials / 1. BaseMaterials / 2. WorkFolder / 3. Delivery / 4. Portfolio
- [WorkFolder] creates folders per design iteration, [Delivery] organizes by date, and final files are named separately
ContractMaterials: Quotations, contracts, work schedules, business registration certificates, etc.
BaseMaterials: All materials provided by the client
WorkFolder: All files I use for my work
Deliverables: For client delivery (shared via Google Drive links)
Portfolio: Files created for the portfolio after project completion
This alone is insufficient. I will explain the detailed advanced process.
https://www.zekagraphic.com/file-folder-workplace-organisation-tips-for-graphic-designers/
https://www.zekagraphic.com/file-management-for-graphic-designers/
https://dirtybarn.com/digital-asset-management-methodology-for-2d-3d-artists-and-designers/
https://justinmcclure.com/gyst/
https://www.stryvemarketing.com/blog/file-management-designers/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/1754zrl/how_do_you_storeorganize_your_assetseffects/
https://www.reddit.com/r/design_critiques/comments/er6tpx/was_wondering_if_i_could_get_some_advice_on_file/
https://note.com/gera_0316/n/n42830142be22
https://note.com/taka_tachibana/n/nc41c8015f67a
https://note.com/note_razun/n/na0e7aa4a12ba
https://marugaokun.hatenablog.com/entry/2018/06/19/110431
https://www.reddit.com/r/graphic_design/comments/ymb0pm/how_do_you_organize_all_of_your_files_projects/
https://www.reddit.com/r/AfterEffects/comments/2470zs/lets_talk_about_folder_structure_organization_and/
https://www.reddit.com/r/VideoEditing/comments/1i4zboz/whats_the_best_editing_folder_structure/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/8zm4et/editing_workflow_series_ep_01_folder_structure/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/1b72e7z/how_do_you_all_keep_your_assets_organized_stock/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/2kmvc1/workflow_folder_structure/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/1ibearm/where_to_keep_project_files/
https://www.reddit.com/r/Filmmakers/comments/1hxmjk2/filmmakers_how_do_you_sort_your_footage_before/
https://www.reddit.com/r/VideoEditing/comments/ymb29s/how_do_you_organize_all_of_your_files_projects/
3. Several tools that may be useful for those who maintain their own reference library
Before performing any bulk operations on files, make a backup copy of your data
tools that are optimal, in my opinion
https://www.duplicatecleaner.com/ Duplicate Cleaner
software that allows you to identify duplicate files and delete them. Flexible settings and different degrees of image similarity identification. The software is not free, but it is very good – you can find it on to rrent trackers (it is definitely available on RuTracker).
https://saerasoft.com/caesium/ Caesium Image Compressor
this software allows you to optimize files themselves, both lossless and lossy. File size can be reduced by up to 90%. When optimizing files, the structure of the output files can be preserved – that is, if the reference library has a certain structure, it can be completely preserved, and all images will not be dumped into one output folder. Free.
tools that are less optimal, in my opinion
https://riot-optimizer.com/ Radical Image Optimization Tool
Optimizes images well, but does not allow you to preserve the folder structure, and skips some images (in a test folder with 2,000 images, about 10-12 were skipped, and the program log reported errors during optimization for only 2 files). Free.
https://nikkhokkho.sourceforge.io/?page=FileOptimizer FileOptimizer
During file optimization, it “stumbled” on one of the files and simply froze. The optimization process itself is very long; even on a test folder with ~20-30 files, it took a very long time to optimize them – and optimizing my library of ~25,000-30.000 files would probably take about two weeks… Free.
Czkawka https://github.com/qarmin/czkawka Free
4. Lensdistortions.com alternative - Where do you get your music and sound effects from?
For more resources,
please check the “AUDIO BANKS” and “SOUND DESIGN / ENGINEERING” sections in the “Spreadsheet”!
https://www.reddit.com/r/sounddesign/comments/1n2dofa/lensdistortionscom_alternative/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/sn5qec/alternatives_to_lensdistortionscom/
https://www.reddit.com/r/podcasting/comments/1lgttm2/where_do_you_get_your_music_and_sound_effects_from/
https://www.reddit.com/r/editors/comments/1l9mxc4/what_subscriptions_do_you_use/
https://www.reddit.com/r/davinciresolve/comments/1htn2hj/where_do_you_get_your_sound_effects_or_library/