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Download Free Sound Effects for YouTubers

Richard Bennett

Oct 26, 2023• Proven solutions

Whether you’re making a short film and need sounds to go with your action sequences, or just want some fun noises for your vlog or challenge video, it’s easy to find great sound effects you can use for free online.

Here are 7 places to download free sound effects! Or, if you’re interested in making your own, click here to jump to ‘Make Your Own Sound Effects’.

Part 1: YouTube Free Sound Effects Download

1. Filmora Sound Effects

Filmora Video Editor provides you with a huge library of free sound effects without download from anywhere else. There are 25 pieces of sound effect available in Filmora, such as transition swoosh, cinematic horn, beep sound and phone ring.

If you do not see the sound effect you want in Filmora, you can also go to the online effect store to find out more sound effects. The sounds are in.wav or mp3 files, so you do not have to use them inside Filmora only. They’re free to use for everyone after downloading, no matter what video editor you use.

The Filmstock audio effect library covers sound effects in different categories: nature sounds, animal sounds, movie sounds, gun sounds, fireworks, bird sounds, cricket sounds, wet sounds, dog barking, water sounds, guitar sounds, city sounds, monster sounds, laughing sounds, dinosaur sounds, fart sounds, pet sounds, dog sounds, car sounds, video game, and thunderstorm.

2. Freesound

Sounds on Freesound are uploaded by users under various Creative Commons licenses (some may require attribution, some may not allow commercial use).

The easiest way to browse the sounds on Freesound is probably to click into Sounds in the top menu, and then ‘Browse tags’ in the menu on the right of your screen. All of the tags on the site will be displayed, and the most commonly used ones will be biggest. The tags include what the sounds are meant to be (i.e. percussion or thunder) and what type of sounds they are (i.e. field-recording or synth).

3. PacDV

PacDV has been producing sound effects since 2001. You can browse and download sounds individually from their site, or download all at once in a huge bundle. You can use all the sounds for free (you just can’t sell them or provide direct download links to other people).

On the left of the website there’s a menu where you can choose what kinds of sound effects you’re interested in. The categories are:

Ambience: this is where you’ll find general background sounds, like ‘car interior’ or ‘grocery store’. Even when nothing in particular is happening, locations have sounds. This is also where you’ll find things like crowd noises.

Domestic: these are sounds you hear around the home, like sounds related to doors and appliances.

Interfaces: a lot of tech sounds live here, like beeps and clicks. Beeps are all titled ‘Beep’, but nothing else is really labeled beyond being called ‘Interface Sound’. You just have to listen and find out.

Machines: a variety of different machine sounds can be found here, from power tools like chainsaws and drills to things like typewriters or paper shredders.

Mechanical: this is where you’ll find sounds associated with cameras, coin slots, zippers, and more.

People: laughing, clapping, footsteps and even farts – this is where you’ll find human sounds.

Transportation: these sounds are all related to vehicles, be they cars or airplanes.

Voices: here you’ll find voices saying common things like ‘hi’, ‘aaah’, or ‘come on’.

Music: PacDV also has a selection of royalty free music. If you use it in your video, you need to give them credit by including Music by <www.pacdv.com/sounds/> in your video description.

Miscellaneous: sounds that don’t quite fit into other categories.

4. Sound Bible

The sounds on Sound Bible are either in the public domain, which means anyone can use them for anything without restriction, or licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License, which means you just need to provide a credit for the person who created the effect you use. When you click on sound effects on Sound Bible you’ll be able to see whether the effect is Public Domain or Attribution 3.0, and it will tell you who the sound was recorded by. Both public domain and Attribution 3.0 sounds are available for commercial use.

This site has a search function, so if you want dog sounds you can search for ‘dog’. This might be easier than trying to pick the category closest to what you’re looking for and just scrolling through, like you do on some sites.

Sound Bible is updated about 3 times a week, so you can always check back for fresh sounds.

5. Sound Gator

Sound Gator has a huge number of sound effects divided into too many categories to list (24). The categories tend to be very specific, like ‘drink sound effects’ or ‘phone sound effects. If you don’t see a category that sounds like what you’re looking for, make sure to check under Misc Sound Effects because there are 68 Mp3#s in there for everything from tools to static.

You can sort the sound effects on Sound Gator by date added, popularity, top rated, runtime, top favorites, or most discussed.

6. Sounds Crate

Sounds Crate is part of the larger Production Crate which provides all kinds of resources to creators for free (you can upgrade to a paid account to access exclusive content, but there’s a lot of great content available for free). The categories available on Sounds Crate are:

Ambient: room tones and general background noises from nature or cities.

Animal: includes things like puppy barks and angry cats.

Blades and Metal: you’ll find sounds from swords, chains, and other metal implements here.

Crashes and Debris: perfect for action, this is where you’ll find sounds associated with destruction.

Electricity: things like electrical blasts and charges can be found here.

Electronics: any sound made by anything electrical, like beeps and appliance sounds.

Explosions and Bangs: if you have a visual explosion effect, you’ll probably need to combine it with something from here.

Fight: find sounds associated with action sequences, like whooshes and punches.

Gun Related: everything from reloads to gunshots.

Impact: any kind of thud or shattering sound.

Lock n’ Load: although there are some ‘gun checking’ sounds in here, it’s mostly clothing related sounds like zippers and Velcro.

Movement: wind sounds and whooshes.

People: sounds humans make, from voices to footsteps.

Sci-Fi SFX: zaps, beeps, and sci-fi ambience.

Vehicle: includes both common vehicles like cars and less-common vehicles like tanks.

Weapons: both modern weapons like missiles and old-timey things like arrows.

7. Zapsplat

Zapsplat claims to be the fastest growing free sound effects library on the internet. With more than 23,999 professional sounds, and more being added every week, they might just be right. The owner of the site, Alan McKinney, adds 500 sound effects every week by himself and the site also accepts sounds from contributors. All of their sounds were recorded using professional equipment and then edited to make them perfect.

You can even send Alan a message and request specific sound effects if you can’t already find what you want on the site.

On Zapsplat you can browse 26 categories including fantasy, warfare, and animals for individual sounds. Or, you can visit the Free SFX Packs section and download a set of related sounds together. Packs include ‘Magic Wand’, ‘Science Fiction Alarms’, and ‘Cartoon Boings’.

Part 2: Make Your Own Sound Effects for YouTube Videos

Here are some easy ways you can make your own sound effects at home.

1. Making Natural Sounds

Fire using cellophane. Just crinkle the cellophane wrap to create a sound like a crackling fire. Chip bags work too.

Rain using rice. Sprinkle rice (or birdseed) onto a thin metal sheet.

Alternatively for rain, you could record the sound of bacon frying.

Wind using a Ziploc. Fill a large ziplock with air and then open the bag a bit and force the air out.

Thunder with aluminum. Just shake a sheet of aluminum to make a thunder sound.

2. Making Action or Sci-Fi Sounds

Ticking Bomb with a clock. Any clock that ticks will do.

Hits/Blows with a pillow. Hit a pillow to make a sound like a body blow. For really hard hits, you might want to whack a sofa cushion with a broomstick.

Bones breaking with celery. Just snap the celery stalks in half.

Richard Bennett

Richard Bennett is a writer and a lover of all things video.

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Brief but Impactful: Music Shorts on YouTube Unveiled

Create High Quality YouTube Video - Wondershare Filmora

An easy and powerful YouTube video editor

Numerous video and audio effects to choose from

Detailed tutorials provided by the official channel

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The entertainment industry is continually taking the world by storm. Lots of improvements are on the rise, especially online. Several apps are now at your fingertip, and you can access lots of videos and music right from your mobile phone. The social media platform has made it easy for millions of users to access information from other creators and editors. From Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and the new kid in the block YouTube Shorts. And being that YouTube streaming service already harbors many users, Shorts has just come at the right time, with ready users at hand. Additionally, YouTube shorts music will spice up your listening experience like never before.

What are YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is an app feature in YouTube that was introduced in 2020. It has so far rolled out in more than 100 countries. It enables both artists and creators to compose short videos to express any feeling. It could be for entertainment or educational purposes. However, the videos are short, not exceeding 60 seconds, with a default length of 15 seconds. You also have the option to record your videos with music to add value to your video.

YouTube Shorts has two main features; a platform to watch short videos and a tool you can use to compose your own short-form videos. To watch the clip, just go to the “Homepage” and find several thumbnails for popular Shorts. Then click on a video and land on the vertical video player to watch the video. Likewise, you can use the thumbs up or down to like or dislike the video. Additionally, you can pause the video and post a comment or share the Shorts with other fans.

Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

Music is always soothing to the soul. And using YouTube shorts music is a quick way to boost your video performance. Check below the importance of using music in your Shorts.

- Generates important emotions

Music creates a good mood, giving your audience a positive feeling towards your YouTube Shorts. Any sound will touch the listener, making the videos more interesting and beautiful.

- Music is memorable

If you use a particular tune, then there is a way your listeners will think directly of you when they hear the tune. It gives more value to the Shorts. Choosing the right music for your Shorts video is also important .

- Music represents who you are

You may put across your message via Shorts but adding some music will help the viewer directly imagine your identity.

- For effective message

Music can stimulate actions, causing immediate attraction to the listener. Use YouTube Shorts music to emphasize the overall story.

YouTube Shorts Music - Things You Need to Know

1. How to add music to your YouTube Shorts video?

As a creator, it is ideal to know how to add music to your YouTube Shorts video. Follow these steps to add music using the YouTube Shorts creator tool camera.

Step 1. First, select the Shorts video that you want to add music to.

Step 2. Then click on the “YouTube Shorts creator camera” tool.

Step 3. You’ll then be directed to your camera where you’ll find the “Add Music” option.

Step 4. Then find a “Library of songs” from popular artists that you can use. Select the song you wish to use.

Step 5. Finally, tap the “Use This Sound” option found at the bottom of the screen. Then just cue up what part of the song to use on your Shorts and go-ahead to record and upload the video.

2. The sources of music for YouTube Shorts?

You can use any music clip as long as it is not a copyrighted piece of music. Bellow are common sources where to find background music for YouTube Shorts video.

YouTube Audio Library: This is the first place to source YouTube Shorts music. YouTube is free and contains tons of free songs. You can sort your selection by duration, genre, instrument, mood, etc. To access music, go to the “Creator Studio” > “Create” > “Audio Library” and select which music to use.

Free Music Archive: This is another free site where you can discover an array of curated background music for any type of content. You’ll get more than 1,500 tracks at the tap of a button.

SoundCloud: SoundCloud streaming music service lets you use its “Creative Commons” music as long as you follow the guidelines that are laid down by the artist.

Converted music from your computer: You can also download and convert available songs from Spotify, Amazon Music, Tidal, among other streaming services. Just get a music converter tool that will remove encryption from the tracks to make it free for use forever.

3. How to extend music on YouTube Shorts?

Even though the typical duration for YouTube Shorts music is 15 seconds, you can make them longer up to 60 seconds. Just record multiple clips at 15 seconds intervals that add up to 60 seconds.

4. Can I use my own audio in YouTube Shorts?

Yes, you can use your audio in YouTube Shorts. Several converter apps are available for downloading and converting music to playable formats. Filmora is one available tool that will provide free music and let you edit your videos with minimal effort. More so, you can import and export your music in any format to make stunning YouTube Shorts videos.

Key Features of Filmora

Edit and export your videos at a high resolution of up to 4K
Use it to add animated messages from the titles and text library
Easily adjust the audio of each music track on your timeline
Add any mood with its royalty-free songs and sound effects to YouTube Shorts videos

How to add a music track to your video with Filmora

1. First, open up Filmora and go to “Project Settings” and select the “Change project aspect ratio” option.

2. From the aspect ratio, select “9:16” portrait.

3. Then set the resolution according to your preference.

4. Next, select the “Frame rate” according to your existing video that you wish to convert into Shorts. Hit the “OK” button to save the settings.

5. Drag and drop your footage onto the timeline. Ensure you keep the project settings.

6. You can add text or music to your footage. To add music, first, download music from YouTube or other sources into your computer.

7. Then click on the “Audio” option from the “Menu” bar and choose music that’s already available on your PC.

8. Next, import the music to the video. Just click on the “File” > “Import File” > “Import Video Files” option.

9. Click on the “+” icon to add the music to your video.

10. You’ll then have the song onto your project.

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For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

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5. Do artists earn royalties from Shorts?

Yes. Artists do receive some revenue from their music if creators use their songs in YouTube Short videos. Royalties come from ad revenue but it will depend on the type of ad on the video. So, more popular videos get higher rates than non-popular ones.

6. What to post on YouTube Shorts?

You can post several videos to YouTube Shorts which include:

Tutorials: teach your viewers via YouTube Shorts.
Confessional videos: This is when you speak to your viewers about what you are passionate about.
Entertainment videos: You can also entertain your viewers with funny videos.

7. Can I promote my music on YouTube Shorts?

YouTube Shorts is a perfect platform to promote your music if you are an artist. You can either hire an influencer or do it yourself as an artist. These tips will help you to successfully promote your brand.

Be precise: Condense all the important details in your video and ensure the background music aligns with the theme.

Think widely: Check at what others are adding to their Shorts. You can include memes and other entertaining clips.

Post videos more often: Since YouTube Shorts are short videos that can’t accommodate so much information, try to post your videos more often so that your viewers follow up closely on what you are putting across.

Use catchy music: It doesn’t mean that the latest singles are more catchy or viral. Songs from a few years ago can also be equally catchy.

8. How are YouTube Shorts different from other short-form videos?

YouTube streaming service is already a popular platform that provides tones of music and video clips. Encompassing Shorts just pushed it at the forefront. The userbase is readily available and any Shorts you post will be widely viewed in over 100 countries. More so, you can extract music from the platform for use on your Shorts videos.

Conclusion

You can make a great milestone with YouTube Shorts music than if you didn’t use any. Music makes your videos catchy and interesting to viewers. Several platforms are available for sourcing music to use on your Shorts. More so, you can use the recommended app, Filmora, to add free music to your videos.

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What are YouTube Shorts?

Which role does music play in YouTube Shorts?

Music is always soothing to the soul. And using YouTube shorts music is a quick way to boost your video performance. Check below the importance of using music in your Shorts.