Best online sound effect libraries

Essami

Essami

Well-known member
I've been doing research into what would be a good sound effect library to purchase SFX or subscribe to online. I've heard good things about the following but would like know if anyone has any experience with them and what is the best value.

https://www.freesound.org/ (free but quite good nonetheless)

http://www.soundsnap.com (search is great, 250 USD annually for all sounds, this might be my favourite for now so am leaning towards this one)

What have you used?
 
Soundsnap was my favorite until they went pay. Not begrudging them $ but I just don't have the budget right now.. Thanks for the link Alex, that site looks great!
 
'Freesounds' takes search/audition time, as anyone can post sounds... so there's a lot of low quality trash.. There are gems though if one has the time to sift through the garbage. I have sounds on there as well, ranging from the last commercially built mainline passenger steam locomotive/train pass-by to rural atmos..
https://www.freesound.org/people/knufds/
 
Last edited:
Rick R said:
'Freesounds' takes search/audition time, as anyone can post sounds... so there's a lot of low quality trash.. There are gems though if one has the time to sift through the garbage. I have sounds on there as well, ranging from the last commercially built mainline passenger steam locomotive/train pass-by to rural atmos..
https://www.freesound.org/people/knufds/
Click to expand...

I was just going to say that freesound.org has a lot of junk, but there is good stuff on there if you take the time to look. I've used it a bunch when I just need one thing that I don't already have.

I've also traded sounds that I've recorded with other friends that have recorded their own sounds (we aren't trading commercial libraries), and that's a good way to build your library with sounds that you haven't heard a thousand times in tv and film (I'm looking at you gate squeak).
 
davefisk said:
... and that's a good way to build your library with sounds that you haven't heard a thousand times in tv and film (I'm looking at you gate squeak).
Click to expand...

Don't forget the Killer Tacks female scream that is in every horror/suspense/thriller movie trailer ever.

I'll second Gary's suggestion to record your own. I carry a small recorder with me most everywhere I go (Tascam DR-22WL) along with wind protection and headphones. It's easy to pack, and I'm always ready to capture things when I travel. If I hear something interesting, I record it.
 
We went ahead and got the soundsnap annual subscription. So far so good! We record a lot of Foley and sfx ourselves but this day and age it's a bit silly not to use these great online services as well. We already saved a lot of time not having to drive to the ocean or out of the city to record a clean camp fire sound. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top