Case Studies
Issue No. 9 - February/March 2003
Sound FX - Bestfx
How fun and 'pushing the boundaries' makes a small business tick
Pete Best of BestFX is an unassuming technical ‘can do’ artist of the type that has difficulty promoting himself—it’s a good thing his work literally can speak for him.
BestFX is a sophisticated sound laboratory that has been serving the radio and TV sectors for a little more than a decade, but is only now getting around to serious expansion—to feature filmwork and sound engineering. It will be interesting to see what happens now that Pete has made up his mind.
Pete broke into the sound business at Street Remley’s – one of the country’s most prominent radio production houses – where he worked for 10 years before coming home to Adelaide in 1992 with ambitions of opening this town’s first digital sound studio.
It wasn’t expected to be big business—a one-man firm, actually –and initially, 80% of business came from local clients. As time went on, however, more ‘export’ business came in and Pete found himself diversifying from radio work into TV as that medium became more conscious of high-quality sound work.
BestFX products include campaign work for Manos Chicken, Home Hardware (claymation dogs), Reach power toothbrush and Coca Cola, for a campaign in southeast Asia.
Pete believes there are several keys to his firm’s success, all set against a background of relaxed and confident working environment.
The first is first-class casting, imaginative use of talent and clever sound direction. This incorporates a bit of technical artistry that he calls ‘high-end’ sound, adding effects and depth to the raw material of sounds and human voices.
“I like to be fresh and push the boundaries,” Pete says. “I try harder to create something that is unique.
“Sound design is the manipulation of sound effects, music, equalisation and working digitally you can do more.”
“Fun is a big ingred...
