Ben Burtt, a musician’s perspective on sound effects The case of starships in Star Wars

Ben Burtt is a pioneer in the search for inventive and unheard sound effects in American blockbusters. Focusing on the sound design of Star Wars spaceships, this article aims to show how the creative process of Burtt and his team contributes to a musicalization of sound effects and invites the audience to another listening. It will also question in what ways, by his singular treatment, Burtt confers particular meanings on sound effects.