Recently I shared a list of sites where students and teachers can find free images for using in presentations. A related question that came up for me personally was where to find free audio for presentations and video.There are some fantastic resources in my two favorite video editing tools (iMovie & WeVideo) however there are times when something beyond that is needed.
There are some fantastic resources in my two favorite video editing tools (iMovie & WeVideo) however there are times when something beyond that is needed.
Just like with the images the use of audio in presentations offers an opportunity to review copyright.
The key copyright lesson I still try and ensure students understand is that the human being who wrote or played that music holds the right to determine who can use it and how.
The item to watch for is “Creative Commons” and the subtle differences in the creative commons licensing. Not all audio is released with all uses pre-authorised. This is particularly true for audio being used commercially. While students may not need to worry about permission for commercial use for their presentations I encourage teachers to focus on Public Domain or Creative Commons with commercial permissions. Think positive, you never know when your collection of lesson plans and presentations will grow into a book or could be packaged for sale to help other teachers.
And just like with all media the easiest way to handle copyright issues is to create the media yourself and then you hold the copyright.
Below is my list of audio sources. Enjoy.
1 – https://www.freesound.org/
Freesound has an excellent collection of audio artifacts. Easy to search with many recorded by volunteers who contribute to the site.
Sound Bible is another excellent source of free audio effects with a quality search function.
3 – http://www.audiomicro.com/free-sound-effects
Audio Micro has a free sound effects section. However, make sure they don’t wander into the paid section and find the perfect sound that may come with an invoice.
4 – http://www.freesoundeffects.com/
Free Sound Effects is one of my favorite sound effects sites. Easy to navigate with a large collection of sound effects.
5 – https://www.partnersinrhyme.com/
Partners in Rhyme has an excellent free audio section including background music. It also offers an opportunities to discuss with students the differences between Royalty Free and Free Royalty Free. Since royalty free music means you pay once and don’t have to pay royalties for continued use whereas “Free Royalty Free” takes it to the next level and is free to use.
6 – http://freemusicarchive.org/
The Free Music Archive is less for sound effects and more for actual music. This is a useful resource when you need background music.
7 – https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Main_Page
Again WikiMedia is one of my favorite sources for media in general. The site offers a large collection and is useful to find free to use copies of older pieces.
The Internet Archive has a massive collection of audio artifacts and is well organized. When I know what I am looking for I will check WikiMedia and the Archive first.
9 – http://www.freeplaymusic.com/index.aspx
Free Play Music is a massive collection of music that can be used in a variety of ways. They offer some paid services but allow for all of their music free of charge for classroom use.
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