Where To Find Free Sound Samples Online A Guide To 99Sounds And Sampleswap

Free sound samples have become essential resources for musicians, video producers, game developers, and content creators looking to enhance their projects without incurring additional costs. The digital landscape offers several platforms where individuals can access high-quality audio materials at no charge. This article explores two prominent platforms that provide free sound samples: 99Sounds and SampleSwap. These resources offer diverse collections ranging from musical loops to sound effects, catering to various creative needs while navigating the complex terrain of copyright and usage rights.

Overview of Free Sound Sample Platforms

The internet has democratized access to audio resources, with several platforms dedicated to providing free sound samples for creative use. Among these, 99Sounds and SampleSwap stand out for their extensive libraries and user-friendly approaches to sound distribution. Both platforms operate on different models—99Sounds offers curated collections from professional sound designers, while SampleSwap functions as a community-driven exchange platform where musicians share their original creations.

These platforms serve different segments of the creative community. 99Sounds appeals to producers seeking professionally designed sound packs across various genres and applications, from cinematic scoring to electronic music production. SampleSwap, with its community-based approach, offers a more extensive and diverse collection built through contributions from electronic musicians worldwide. Understanding the distinct features, limitations, and requirements of each platform helps creators make informed decisions about which resource best suits their specific needs.

99Sounds: Collections and Features

99Sounds is a comprehensive platform offering numerous free sound collections designed by professional sound designers and musicians. The site specializes in royalty-free audio materials that can be used in various creative projects without additional licensing fees. Each collection is carefully curated to provide high-quality, usable sounds for music production, video content, and other creative applications.

The platform's extensive library includes diverse sound collections such as:

• Dub Reggae Loops: Contains 90 royalty-free audio loops and 60 one-shot samples specifically designed for modern dub music production.

• Cinematic Textures: A free collection of cinematic sound effects, drones, and audio textures created by Dronny Darko, providing atmospheric elements for film scoring and sound design.

• Music Loops: Offers a variety of music loops and one-shot samples created by Monosounds, suitable for producers across multiple genres.

• Glitch Textures: Features electromagnetic field noises and glitches captured by Marcel, ideal for electronic music production requiring textural elements.

• Nature Sounds: Provides nature audio recordings captured by Free To Use Sounds, offering authentic environmental sounds for various applications.

• Sci-Fi Sound Effects: A collection of science-fiction sounds crafted by Rescopic Sound, perfect for futuristic-themed projects.

• City Sounds: Contains city sound effects recorded by Marcel of Free To Use Sounds, capturing urban environments for use in multimedia projects.

• Water Sounds: Offers ocean sounds, river sounds, and water stream sounds for creating immersive aquatic environments.

• Cinematic Electronica: A compilation of intricately designed cinematic sounds characterized by their multifaceted nature.

• Cinematic Transitions: Features free transition sound effects crafted by Gonçalo Penas, useful for video production.

• Halloween Sound Effects: A free horror SFX library by 99Sounds, providing seasonal sound design elements.

• Electromagnetic Sounds: A collection of electricity sound effects, static electricity sounds, electronic noises, and glitches.

• Underground Sounds: A sound library by Marcel Gnauk featuring field recordings captured in Iceland using a geophone.

• Cinematic Sound Effects: A free collection of 50 futuristic sound effects designed by Joshua Crispin aka Generdyn.

• The Warehouse: A free collection of horror sound effects and organic percussion samples from an old military warehouse, created by Richard Gould.

• Jumpscare Sound Effects: A collection of free jumpscare sounds and cinematic impacts crafted by Alessandro Alcinesio aka HAL9K.

• The Weird Side Samples: A free collection of glitch samples and abstract textures in 24-bit WAV format designed by Johan Ekelove aka Introspectral.

• Hands Make Sounds: A free sample collection featuring 158 high quality samples of hand claps and finger snaps in 24-bit WAV format.

• Rain And Thunder: A free collection of rain and thunder sound effects recorded during a spring storm on the streets of Belgrade.

• 99 Sound Effects: A free collection of cinematic impacts, braams, earth-shattering subs, and other modern sound effects.

• Space Divers Mini: Contains 49 original outer space and underwater sound effects crafted by Lukas Tvrdon.

• Garage Foley: A free collection of 100 foley sounds and organic percussion samples crafted by Tyler Bajsa.

• Antigen: A free collection of drones, noises, and cinematic soundscapes crafted by Dronny Darko.

• Digital Malfunctions: A collection of digitally processed audio loops crafted by Timur Arynov of MyOSS.

• Drones: A free collection of drone sound effects crafted by Red Fog and released by 99Sounds.

• Cinematic Loops: A collection of high quality scoring tools and SFX crafted by Frank "Xenox" Neumann.

• BBC Radiophonic Workshop Inspired: A free sound library inspired by the experimental spirit and techniques of the BBC Radiophonic Workshop.

• Over 100 Field Recordings: Features over 100 fantastic royalty free field recordings and processed sound effects crafted by Martin Eve.

• Electronic Kick Drums: A free collection of key-labeled electronic kick drum samples in 24-bit WAV format, crafted by 8-bit Logic.

• 99 Unique Drum Hits: A set of 99 unique one shot drum hits, foley percussion sounds and abstract sound effects created by Smhertz.

• Project Exodus: A free cinematic library for Native Instruments Kontakt created by Bryan Lake aka Sound Author.

• Martin Peploe Collection: Provides a useful collection of free glitch sound effects, one shot percussion samples and multi-sampled analog synthesizers.

• Samples of Tenalach: A toolbox of sci-fi sound effects and otherworldly sonic textures crafted by Johan Ekelove aka Introspectral.

• Simply Space: A unique free collection of atmospheric melodic hits and lush emotional synth stabs crafted by Nigel Good.

• Punching Percussion: A free collection of punches, impacts and fight sound effects crafted by Joshua Crispin aka Generdyn.

• Percussa Toolbox: A free collection of high quality percussion samples and metallic sound effects crafted by Richard Gould.

• Mangling Audio: A free sound library crafted by Poztman, the winner of the first Music Making Contest on 99Sounds.

• Project Pegasus: A free collection of rich ambient pads and soundscapes created by Bryan Lake aka Sound Author.

• Magnetic Fields: A collection of dark and dusty atmospheric soundscapes crafted by Matt Bowdler aka The Unfinished.

Each collection is available for free download and is labeled as royalty-free, though users should verify specific usage rights for each sample. The platform regularly updates its offerings with new collections from various sound designers, providing fresh resources for creative projects.

SampleSwap: Community and Library Details

SampleSwap operates as a community-driven platform dedicated to the free exchange of original sounds created by electronic musicians. Unlike 99Sounds, which features professionally curated collections, SampleSwap builds its library through contributions from its user base, creating a diverse repository of sounds ranging from music loops to sound effects.

The platform's library contains over 2,500 royalty-free songs contributed by members, with many of these tracks having been picked up for use in film, TV, video games, and applications. In February 2021, SampleSwap received a significant update, adding over 1,200 brand new samples (870 MB) collected over the past two years, expanding the available resources for users.

SampleSwap offers two access levels to its content:

1. Free Access: Individual sounds are available for free download by browsing the collection. These links preview low-quality MP3s made from the actual 16-bit 44kHz WAV stereo samples.

2. Membership Access: For $39, users can purchase a membership that allows downloading the entire 9.4 GB collection as a single file. The platform offers an "Extra Money Back Guarantee," promising to refund $44 (five dollars more than the purchase price) if the customer isn't satisfied.

The platform requires users to register with their email address to download samples, a measure implemented to help combat automated downloads by robots. This registration process is free and enables users to access the full library of sounds available on the platform.

SampleSwap distinguishes itself through its community-oriented approach, where users can upload their own original samples to share with the community. When uploading samples, contributors release them into the public domain to be used free of charge and without restriction. However, contributors must ensure they only upload samples they have the legal right to redistribute, and they should not upload samples from commercial sample libraries, even those they have personally purchased.

The platform emphasizes its commitment to being "a place for original, interesting samples — not the usual stuff you find in commercial libraries," suggesting a focus on unique and creative sound resources rather than generic or commonly available samples.

Copyright and Usage Considerations

When utilizing free sound samples from any platform, understanding copyright and usage restrictions is crucial to avoid legal complications. Both 99Sounds and SampleSwap address copyright concerns, though with different approaches and limitations.

99Sounds explicitly labels its collections as "100% royalty-free," indicating that the sounds can be used in commercial projects without additional licensing fees. However, users should verify the specific terms for each collection, as licensing terms can vary between different sound designers and collections.

SampleSwap takes a more nuanced approach to copyright. While the platform is dedicated to the "free exchange of original sounds made by electronic musicians," it explicitly states that "not all of the samples on this site are royalty free and clear of copyright restrictions." Contributors are instructed to only upload their own public domain samples, but the platform acknowledges that "sometimes copyrighted samples do get added to the collection." Users bear responsibility for ensuring they are not violating copyrights when using SampleSwap sounds in their recordings.

This distinction highlights an important consideration for users: while both platforms offer free sounds, the level of certainty regarding copyright clearance differs. 99Sounds appears to provide more consistently royalty-free materials, while SampleSwap's community-based model introduces variability in copyright status.

For both platforms, users should be aware that: - Commercial use may be permitted, but specific terms should be reviewed - Attribution requirements may apply in some cases - Modification of samples is generally allowed - Reselling samples as part of another commercial product typically requires additional permissions

Creators should also consider the ethical implications of using samples, particularly those from SampleSwap where the copyright status may be uncertain. When in doubt, consulting the specific terms of service for each platform or seeking legal advice regarding the intended use of samples is advisable.

How to Access and Download Samples

Accessing and downloading free sound samples from both 99Sounds and SampleSwap involves straightforward processes, though each platform has specific requirements and procedures.

For 99Sounds: 1. Visit the 99Sounds website (https://99sounds.org/sounds/) 2. Browse the available collections listed on the homepage 3. Click on any collection of interest to view its contents and description 4. Download individual samples or complete collections directly from the collection pages 5. No registration is required to access the free samples on 99Sounds

For SampleSwap: 1. Visit the SampleSwap website (https://sampleswap.org/) 2. Browse the available sounds through the file browser (https://sampleswap.org/filebrowser-new.php) 3. To download samples, users must register for a free account by providing an email address 4. After registration, users can log in to access the download links for full-quality WAV samples 5. Individual samples can be downloaded one at a time for free 6. To download the entire 9.4 GB collection, users must purchase a membership for $39

SampleSwap offers a preview system where users can listen to low-quality MP3 versions of samples before deciding to download the full-quality WAV files. This allows users to evaluate the sounds before committing to the download process, which is particularly useful given the platform's extensive library.

Both platforms provide their samples in standard audio formats—WAV files for high-quality samples and MP3 for previews. The samples typically range in bit depth and sample rate, with many available in 24-bit/44.1kHz format, which is suitable for professional audio production.

Conclusion

Free sound samples provide valuable resources for creators across various fields, from music production to video game development and multimedia content creation. Platforms like 99Sounds and SampleSwap offer extensive collections of these resources, though with different approaches and considerations.

99Sounds presents professionally curated collections across diverse sound categories, all labeled as royalty-free, making it a reliable source for high-quality, cleared audio materials. SampleSwap, while offering a vast library of over 2,500 songs and 1,200+ samples, operates on a community model that introduces variability in copyright status, requiring users to exercise additional caution regarding usage rights.

Both platforms require different access methods—99Sounds offers direct downloads without registration, while SampleSwap requires email registration for downloads and offers a paid membership for bulk access. Understanding these differences helps creators choose the platform that best aligns with their specific needs and usage requirements.

As with any free resource, users should carefully review the terms and conditions regarding copyright and usage rights before incorporating samples into their projects. With proper attention to these considerations, free sound samples can significantly enhance creative projects without imposing substantial financial burdens.

Sources

1. 99Sounds Free Sounds Collection
2. SampleSwap Login Page
3. SampleSwap Homepage
4. SampleSwap File Browser