33,000 free samples from the BBC Archive
Image credit: K. Mitch Hodge
From nature sounds to sound effects like cheering crowds and ringing bells, this library offers a wealth of potential – but there’s a catch.
The BBC are one of the world’s most significant institutions in broadcasting. You can imagine that their sound effects library for soundtracking shows and films is pretty comprehensive. The generous people over at the BBC are sharing their wealth.
The BBC Sound Effects Archive is a huge catalogue of sound effects that you can explore and download for free. The website features a range of sounds from a massive library of nature sounds including birdsong, frog calls, and streams, to industrial sounds like the hustle-bustle of a market, the clanking of bottles, and the revving of cars.
The BBC are regularly adding to their Sound Effects Archive. It’s a fantastic place to find some unique samples to easily download and experiment with. As they aren’t organically musical, they have the potential to inspire a brand new sound in your mix by working them into a track.
However, there is unfortunately a catch. You cannot use the samples available on the website for commercial use. That includes releasing any music that you have used the samples in. So, these samples offer a fun playground for experimentation but if you stumble on something that sounds great, it’s worth trying to recreate the sample or finding a copyright-free alternative.
The sound effects come under a RemArc (Reminiscence Archive) License. The aim of the license is to make content available that aids in research and education, whilst also empowering personal projects. Radio 4’s Andrew Partington speaks on the importance of sound design, saying: “It is very easy to underestimate the importance of the sound effects because very often they’re going on at an almost subconscious level behind a scene where someone’s making a cup of tea. But take them away and you realise how important they were.”
Explore and access the BBC Sound Effects Archive here.