Where to Find Sound Effects

Royalty-free sound effect libraries contain thousands of sound effects that can be licensed for specific uses. A customer who uses royalty-free sound effects, as opposed to hiring a sound engineer to create them from scratch, can save considerable time, effort, and money. Typically, podcasters and other content producers can obtain non-exclusive rights to a single effect, or they can purchase a subscription of sorts. The subscriptions allow publishers to download a limited number of sound effects during a specified period of time.

Here are a few sources for Sound Effects...

Digital Sound Effects Library

The Digital Sound Effects Library contains a variety of sound effects. Each effect is available in three audio formats, .WMA, .WAV, and .MP3. Subscriptions to the sound effects library grant producers unlimited access to all the sound effects in the library.

Digital Sound Effects Library - http://www.digital-sound-effects.com

Nature Sounds

Nature Sounds includes free online samples as well as full-length (usually CD-length or longer) downloads of quality nature sound. Some sound effects are mixed and edited in the field, while others are natural. All of the sounds were recorded in the wilderness of north-eastern North America. Everything is 100% nature sounds, with no musical instruments added. Each sound effect has a preview option available, so you can listen before you buy.

Nature Sounds - http://nature-downloads.naturesounds.ca/

Partners In Rhyme

Partners In Rhyme includes thousands of resources for multimedia producers, plus a catalog of royalty-free music and sound effect collections, which are available for download or on CD.

Partners In Rhyme - http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/pir/PIRsfx.shtml

Sound Effect

Sound Effect contains royalty-free sound effects that are available for individual purchases and downloads.

Sound Effect - http://www.sound-effect.com/

Sound Effects Library

The Sound Effects Library contains more than 250,000 sound effects, music samples, and royalty-free music tracks. Listen in real-time, and instantly purchase from over 250,000 professional sound files, delivered in WAV file formats. Prices start at £1.00, and range up to £25 for the music tracks.

Sound Effects Library - http://sound-effects-library.com/

Sound Ideas

Sound Ideas is one of the world's largest publishers of professional sound effects. They offer more than 200 distinct collections to broadcast, post-production, and multimedia facilities around the globe. The Sound Ideas library contains well-known sound effects from a renowned motion picture studio, and are available for commercial use.

Sound Ideas - http://www.sound-ideas.com/sfxmenu.html

SoundFX

SoundFX distributes sound effects libraries, music libraries, and pro-audio software all over the world.

SoundFX - http://soundfx.com/

Pro Sound Effects

Pro Sound Effects is a resource for royalty-free sound effects, audio imaging elements, and sound library products. Pro Sound Effects includes professional sound libraries, available in a variety of formats. Pro Sound Effects caters to audio professionals who are serious about their sound... whether for film post, broadcast, music, television, video game, radio, web design, corporate presentation, theater, and beyond. Pro Sound Effects represents over 250,000 royalty-free sound effects and production elements. Most of their libraries are available for audition, so you can “try-before-you-buy”

Pro Sound Effects - http://www.prosoundeffects.com

SoundSnap.com

SoundSnap is a communal website that contains a collection of original sounds made or recorded by its users. SoundSnap users are a diverse mix of sound designers, sound artists, web game developers, filmmakers, and music producers. SoundSnap encourages everyone to upload high-quality sound effects and samples, helping them make every kind of sound available.

SoundSnap.com - http://www.soundsnap.com

Many sound effect libraries also offer compilations sold on CD, containing groups of sound effects. Any sound effects on the CD can be used on websites, podcasts, or in production, and usage does not incur any additional fees.

If you purchase a sound effect, be sure that you read the licensing agreement completely. Some agreements may restrict resale of the sound effects or music compilations, and you want to be aware of that.

About the Author:
Sharon Housley manages marketing for FeedForAll http://www.feedforall.com software for creating, editing, publishing RSS feeds and podcasts. In addition Sharon manages marketing for RecordForAll http://www.recordforall.com podcast software for audio recording and editing.