Sorting through sound effects online can be difficult. Figuring out license agreements for those sound effects is even worse. Make your life easier by using the sites listed here. All sites feature royalty-free sound clips that can be used in a variety of applications. Get the details.
A1 Free Sound Effects
Although some of the effects are lower quality, this site offers such a wide range of effects that it is worth a look. Sounds are free for non-commercial use only.
Find Sounds
Having trouble finding the sounds you need? This search engine will scour the web to find it. Compare results to find the perfect match! Please note: since Find Sounds searches the entire web, many of these sounds may not be royalty-free. Be sure to check the License agreement of the individual sounds you choose.
Flashkit Sound FX
This Flash developers resource site offers a great selection of sound effects. It has some of the best "Ambience" effects available. Be sure to note whether effects are freeware (totally free!), linkware (you must link to the creator), or shareware (you must abide by the creators terms).
The Freesound Project
Freesound wants you! Freesound's goal is to create a large collaborative database of sound effects. Each sounds carries slightly different restrictions so be sure to double check the license agreement listed with each effect.
Media College
A simple sound effects site.
PacDV Sound Effects
This site offers over 700 free sound effects in a wide array of areas like animal, household, and people sounds. Most effects are .wav files although some are .mpg's.
Partners in Rhyme
Despite its cumbersome design Partners in Rhyme provides access to a wide variety of sound effects. Partners in Rhyme also groups sounds according to their license agreement so it is easy to make sure your work is legal!
SoundSnap
SoundSnap is an online community whose users share sound effects. All are royalty-free, cost nothing, and come in a variety of formats. And did we mention that it is incredibly well organized and searchable. One of the best.
Soungle
Easy to use, easy to search sound effect library. There is no directory, so its good to know what you are looking for.
Unless otherwise noted, the sound effects listed on these sites are available for usage in any media, commercial or not. They are royalty-free, which means that no licensing fees are paid to their creators. It is advisable (and may be necessary), to credit the creators work. All sites prohibit the direct reproduction of the sounds for resale. Meaning, you can use the sounds in a project but you cannot sell the sounds themselves.
