Audio Collections: Spoken Arts: Sounds and Sound Effects

The world around us has all kinds of interesting sounds. Let's explore some of the options available.

Visit and explore the Freesound Project, a collaborative database of audio snippets, samples, recordings, bleeps that are released under the Creative Commons Sampling Plus license. PacDV also allows use of sound effects from their web site free of charge in video, film, audio and multimedia productions (but NOT for re-sell or posting on a web site for download).

Sound Effects. Whether it’s spooky sounds for a Halloween party, silly answering machine messages, or general sound effects, there are a wide range of audio materials available. Sound effects CDs may have hundreds of sounds to explore: 300 Spectacular Sound Effects. Some CDs specialize in particular sounds such as cartoons.

Nature Sounds. From songbirds and moose calls to babbling brooks and ocean waves, nature sound audio materials have gained in popularity. Some people like to listen to the sounds of nature while they read, relax, or sleep. The Thunderstorms recording is part of the Echoes of Nature series that also includes similar titles such as Bayous, Frog Chorus, Ocean Waves, and Rainforest. There are many possibilities.

Songbirds: Field and Meadow and USA and Canada: A Selection of Common Birds Songs contain great bird calls.

Environmental and nature sound recordings are often found in the New Age section. Listen to sample sounds from Song of the Humpback Whale and Echoes of Nature: Thunderstorm.