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Finding Sounds on the Internet

Sometimes we need reference effects and music to serve as placeholders in the design of a soundtrack for a web page or multimedia product. Unless one has immediate access to a licensed audio library the testing of aural ideas is difficult.

What do you do if you need the sound of car brakes? Or, a few seconds of a growling angry dog?

Downloading sounds from the Internet is one option to consider. But before proceeding, please note that there are very few "free" sounds on the web and the use is restricted by copyrighted. You must read and follow the rules for each site you visit.

If you are designing a prototype by which to test out an idea, you may be able to use a sound found on the web as a "placeholder". This means that you will replace that piece of music or sound effect with material for which you have obtained permission to use or paid a licensing fee.

The University of Washington has prepared Guidelines for Sound File Use.It is a very informative document which outlines legal issues surrounding the use of copyrighted audio material - specifically for web page use.

The University offers two other online documents of value. Finding Sounds for Use on the Web discusses approaches to searching for sound files. Audio Links provides links to online audio selections, links to pages that show you how to add sound to your Web page or project, and resources for finding online audio material.

FindSounds is a searchable online index that lets you explore the entire Web for hundreds of sounds you define by category such as nature, people, animals, etc.Some of the visited sites provide copyright fee sound files while many are to be downloaded with permission or payment depending how the material will be used.

Proscenia has found that purchasing a sound for a project can be facilitated using the Internet. We've used Sound Dogs, which is an online library offering over 142,000 files for immediate download and purchase. Sound files are available in six different file formats. Every sound can be previewed and when ready you add it to your "cart" for check out. Sounds are priced individually. The cost determined by length and sound quality.

Some sites indicate they have "Royalty Free" sounds.An example is the Music Bakery that provides buy out rights to the music with no further payment. In some instances Royalty Free means that you can use the music or sounds without payment.

Some sounds are in the "Public Domain". These have either lost their copyright protection by age or that they have been made public by the author and are available on the web free of charge. Other sites have collected public domain sounds and built for fee databases.This is possible under the current copyright laws. Again, read the fine print at each site visited.

Resources:

Flash Kit Sound Effects. A huge archive of royalty free effects for download and use in your multimedia projects.

Partners in Rhyme is a source of royalty free music loops and sound effects available for use in your multimedia project.The site provides information on how you can use the sound files they provide.

Videomaker: Free Sound Effects provides a list of free sound effects for use in your productions.