Need Free Sound Effects (and Inspiration) For Your Global Game Jam Projects? Here You Go:

Posted January 31, 2020 by Asbjoern Andersen in Sound community highlights

With Global Game Jam kicking off today, you might be looking for some sound effects for your game development adventures.

And to help you get started, we've found a number of sources of free sounds for you to build from + as a bonus, any order on A Sound Effect right now gets you 6.5+ GB worth of free SFX included. Oh, and we've added lots of guides, tips and ideas to get your creative sound design and recording juices flowing too.

Good luck with the games!

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Want to participate in Global Game Jam, find out more here

34 free sound effects from Spectravelers:
Get 34 free sound effects, courtesy of Spectravelers, here

Dozens of free spectral Buchla effects, from Nathan Moody:
Get many dozen free short spectral Buchla effects, courtesy of Nathan Moody, here (click ‘more’ / ‘download file’ in the Soundcloud menu)

Get a full sound effects library from MatiasMacSD:
Independent SFX creator MatiasMacSD is offering Give – a new sound effects library – for free, featuring 76 sounds here

Get free surround jungle ambiences from Mindful Audio:
Get free surround jungle ambiences from Mindful Audio‘s new Amazon Jungle SFX library, here

[tweet_box]Need free sound effects (and sonic inspiration) for your Global Game Jam projects? Here you go: #GGJ2020[/tweet_box]

Guides and inspiration:
Looking for inspiration and ideas for your own sound design and recording sessions?
Check out these guides:

• How To Design Stellar Spaceship Sound Effects – an Essential Sci-Fi Sound Design Guide
• David Filskov’s Guide To Sound Effects – A guide on how to create your own sound effects from scratch
• Sound effects creation on a shoestring – a Q&A with Stuart Keenan
• The Essential Guide To Recording Weapon Sound Effects – With Watson Wu
• Heikki Kossi on the art and craft of Foley sound
• How to maintain immersion (+ reduce repetition & listening fatigue) in game audio
• 10 Second Technique: Tips to Improve Your Sound Design by Barney Oram
• Recording Adventures: Preparing for a successful field recording trip
• 5 Useful Tips for Creative Urban Field Recording
• How To Design Superb Sci-Fi UI Sound Effects
• How To Design Supreme Sci-Fi Weapon Sound Effects
• Sound Advice: The Key to Outstanding Animation Sound Design

Get free Sci-Fi sound effects from Chase Steele:
Download a selection of sounds from Sound Spark’s sci-fi project video project here – and be sure to check out the full catalog here.

Bonus: You get free sound effects with ANY order on A Sound Effect right now:

• Right now, any order comes with 6.5+ GB worth of premium sound effects included free (180+ mins, 292 files), from Skyes Audio, West Wolf, Mattia Cellotto, MatiasMacSD, & Mindful Audio
• It also includes the free 60+ page Sound Success Guide & the 1-Page Guide to Easy Multi-User Licensing e-books.

3 ways to get even more sounds with your order:
Order for $50 or more to get these extras:
30 premium sound effects from Articulated Sounds • The 6.5+ GB freebie pack that comes with any order

Order for $100 or more to get these extras:
379 premium sound effects from PM:SFX • 30 premium sound effects from Articulated Sounds • The 6.5+ GB freebie pack that comes with any order

Order for $250 or more to get these extras:
45 days of Soundly PRO access • 379 premium sound effects from PM:SFX • 30 premium sound effects from Articulated Sounds • The 6.5+ GB freebie pack that comes with any order

Explore the sound effects catalog here

Need specific sound effects? Search for sounds here:

The much-loved A Sound Effect newsletter gives you free sounds & much more:

The A Sound Effect newsletter features exclusive sound stories and interviews, tips, guides and ideas,
highlights of the best sound effects, new audio job opportunities & audio events – and free sounds with every issue.

Subscribe here for free SFX with every issue

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THE WORLD’S EASIEST WAY TO GET INDEPENDENT SOUND EFFECTS:

A Sound Effect gives you easy access to an absolutely huge sound effects catalog from a myriad of independent sound creators, all covered by one license agreement - a few highlights:

Door Sound Effects Gateway – Part 1, 2 & 3 Play Track 600-3200 sounds included From: $30

Tired of those same old door knobs and hinge squeaks that you hear in every single game, film and TV show? Well, Gateway aims to remedy that issue while providing you with a brand new palette of sounds.

Gateway comes packed with doors, doors and more doors! Low end, high end, slow horror creaks and squeaks, huge slams and impacts, tiny compartment doors.

The Gateway family now includes the just-released Gateway Part 3, with more than 1400 new sounds.

Doors, gates, overhead rollups, cabinets, closets, drawers, garage doors, fireplaces, sheds, you name it!

Latches and knobs, wrought iron and chain link! Metal, wood, glass and MORE! All of these doors were acoustically captured in the real world. You won’t find anything synthesized here!

Did we mention doors? Yeah, Gateway has those too.

Gateway Part 1 features 675 files, 1200+ sounds

Gateway Part 2 features 365 files, 600+ sounds

Gateway Part 3 features 772 files, 1400+ sounds

The Gateway 1-3 Bundle features 1812 files, 3200+ sounds

Special offer:Do you already have Gateway Part 1 or 2? Send a message here for a special upgrade offer for part 3.

Choose your preferred version below – or land some great savings by getting all three in one handy package!

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Foley Sound Effects World of Secrets Play Track 149-1718+ sounds included
Rated 5.00 out of 5
From: $50

World Of Secrets is a collection inspired by those mysterious and beautiful objects and furniture, meticulously designed by 15th to 19th century’s craftsmen. Those geniuses used their art to protect what had to remain confidential or secret.

One of the mentors of that art was Leonardo Da Vinci, master of inventions, designing incredible mechanisms for his machines. After much research, and a large photo review session, Red Libraries has designed this collection of modules to assemble as you wish.
A bookcase, a desk, a sarcophagus, a hidden door, a statuette, a cane with a retractable blade, a poison ring, an old grimoire.. each of them will reveal its secret mechanism, from the delicate parts assembled by the jeweler, to the smooth slides of hinges designed by the cabinetmaker.

Three versions are available
+ a complete bundle:
Objects and furnitures designed: Features the designed sounds of furniture and objects – many hiding secret features and functions – such as:
A Bookcase, Cabinet, Case, Chair, Chest, Coffer, Cupboard, Desk, Enigma Decoding Machine, Safe, Secret keys and locks, Statue, Sarcophagus, Telescopic Cane, Water Lock – and a number of wooden and metallic mechanisms

Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 149 .WAV, stereo and mono files (243 MB)

Objects toolbox: A wide range of elements to create your own objects, mechanisms, or secret furniture ; we’re offering toolboxes which leave you infinite possibilities of combinations, from the more simple towards the more complex, wherever your imagination leads you.

Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 488 .WAV, stereo and mono files (494 MB)

Furniture Toolbox: Sound design elements for you to design your own intricate furniture – features mechanical, wooden and delicate sounds for you to unleash your creativity on.

Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 1081 .WAV, stereo and mono files (2.4 GB)

Complete bundle: Features everything above, for a fantastic selection of interesting sounds, at a great price.

Gear & specs: 744T + EAA Micromix • Schoeps MS Couple • KM 82i Neuman • 2 KM 184 Neuman • DPA 4060 • Barcus berry contact mic • 96 kHz/24bits, 1718 .WAV, stereo and mono files (3.47 GB)

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Materials & Texture Sound Effects Lockdown Play Track 1700+ sounds included $46

Get a huge variety of simple or complex lockdown mechanism sounds with a wide array of different latches and impacts with Lockdown, a performable Kontakt instrument and sound effects library.

We brought in dozens of props big and small to generate a massive array of source material recorded at 24 bit 192kHz. These included cameras, carabiners, wrenches, rack cases, knives, can openers, tongs, crimpers, solder suckers, file cabinet doors, vehicle doors and servos and much more – all with multiple unique performances per set.

Great care was taken to record each performance with the highest sonic quality and detail. We chose a pair of MKH50s in XY as our primary setup, creating a big, clean stereo image on every sound.

Lockdown is divided into two parts –
elements and designed:
The elements collection has all of the source recordings in their unaltered states. Each sound is edited, cleaned, volume matched and carefully metadata tagged.

The designed collection uses samples based on the elements recordings that have been transformed into entirely new and different sounds using heavy processing and layering. It was created to produce interesting design and transition sounds quickly and easily. Lockdown includes over 500 fully lockdowns of all sizes and scales.

Lockdown highlights
• more than 1700 elements files
• 192 kHz source recordings
• 500 heavily designed sounds
• 96kHz designed collection
• 2 full kontakt instruments (full version of Kontakt 5.5 required)
• soundminer and bwav metadata

Note: Can be used without Kontakt too! All Kontakt instrument libraries include fully unlocked and accessible metadata tagged .wav files. You don't need any version of Kontakt to use these files as a standalone sample library.

Add to cart

Explore the full, unique collection here

Latest sound effects libraries:

Cloth and Fabric Sound Effects Character Fabrics Sound Effects Play Track 196 sounds included, 4 mins total $14.99
Enhance your projects with our 196 Carefully Recorded and Designed Fabric Sound Effects. This diverse collection of high-quality fabric sounds is perfect for adding realism and dynamic movement to your characters and environments. From the rustling of clothing to the swishing of fabrics in motion, each sound has been meticulously recorded and designed to bring your scenes to life. Ideal for game developers, filmmakers, and sound designers, these fabric sound effects will add depth and authenticity to every wardrobe, interaction, and environmental detail. Whether you’re working on character animations, environmental design, or immersive storytelling, these sounds provide the perfect touch to elevate your work.

Features:
- Body Armor Mesh – 70 SFX
- Clothing / Textile Drops – 61 SFX
- Fabrics – 57 SFX
- Zips – 8 SFX
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City Life Sound Effects City & Suburbs Ambiences Play Track 135+ sounds included, 340 mins total $22

City ambiences, downtown ambiences, suburbs, residential area, harbor, industrial area.. traffic, people in background, urban birds, nocturnal-quiet ambiences etc.

Check the sound list for additional info.

High quality recordings recorded in MS, XY, AB; NOS, etc., mostly with Sennheiser MKH microphones and Sound Devices recorder/mixer. Files are without any dynamic manipulation (compression) with max. peak around -5dBFS.

19 %

OFF

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Bird Sound Effects Birds Ambiences Play Track 7 sounds included, 22 mins total $8

Immerse yourself in the serene and captivating sounds of nature with Birds in Various Ambiences – Field Recordings Collection. This compilation features a rich assortment of bird sounds captured in diverse environments.

Each recording transports you to a different setting, featuring a wide array of bird species communicating in their natural habitats.

Perfect for sound designers, filmmakers, meditation enthusiasts, or anyone seeking to enhance their space with natural ambiance, this collection offers a diverse range of audio clips for relaxation, creativity, and inspiration.

Whether you’re creating a calming atmosphere, enriching your audio projects, or simply appreciating the beauty of birdsong, this collection brings the natural world to your ears with unmatched authenticity.

Add to cart
Cinematic & Trailer Sound Effects BIAS Play Track 70 sounds included, 11 mins total $15

Unleash sonic chaos and chilling unease with BIAS, a collection of 70 sound effects of pure cacophony and dissonance (24 Bit / 48 kHz, wav, UCS).

Dive into a world of cacophony: hear the anguish of tortured laments and the bewildering clash of instruments colliding in discordant harmony.

Venture into the realm of dissonance: encounter the haunting movements of rare, detuned pianos, the nerve-jangling friction of intense violin interactions, and unsettling textures that weave a palpable sense of dread.

Although it is a simple and small library, BIAS is not for the faint of heart. Is aimed to the sound designer, trailer composer, and artist seeking to evoke unease, tension, and the beautifully broken.

40 %

OFF

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City Life Sound Effects Suburbs Of Denver: Balcony Evening Play Track 500+ sounds included, 154 mins total $10

Suburbs Of Denver: Evening is the second in the Suburbs of Denver Series. Recorded on the same balcony as the first pack, but this time, between the Evening hours of 7:15pm to 9:53pm. Around 2 and half hours packed into 14 audios files. Similar to the first pack, you’ll hear loud cars, motorcycles, airplanes, sporadic bird chirps, and more! All metadata is tagged using the Universal Category System in Soundminer, and also searchable in Basehead, and Soundly. Recorded at 32 bit, 192 using the LOM MikroUsi Pro into a Zoom F3 Recorder.

Add to cart