Free Environmental and Ethnic Sounds Files

This is the page where you can find and download free ethnic and environmental sounds files. They are in hi-fidelity WAV or MP3 format (stereo 320kbps constant bit rate).
I decided to have a dedicated page to this kind of sounds when some weeks ago I was searching internet looking for some tibetan cymbals and water sounds and, surprise, I can't find any good sounds for free or without some restriction (e.g. you can use them but not distribute them, you can use them but you are obliged to give some credit, you can use them but you cannot modify them, etc. etc.).
I was really frustrated in realising that in this world you have always to pay or credit somebody even for the very smallest thing... So I take an action: provide those sounds for free, without any restriction. I have personally recorded all the files that you will find here and you can
  • download, duplicate, modify, redistribute and use them as you wish
  • include them in any your product (whether commercial or not)
  • you are not required to give any credit (although that will be greatly appreciated) In case of doubt... use them!
    The only thing you cannot do is to prevent other people to do the above things.
    New files are added from time to time as soon as I have some spare time to perform new recordings.

    Enjoy!


    IMPORTANT NOTICE: do not use VLC to reproduce these files as some mp3's will not render faithfully (e.g. scraped cymbals will almost totally miss the initial scrape)
    Use instead other players/programs such as Windows Media Player, Irfanview, Audacity, Music App, etc.

    Tibetan Cymbals (Tingsha), each file approximately lasts 10 seconds
    (note that some sounds were recorded to highlight interference created by the two cymbals when they vibrate very close each other)

    Cymbals starting apart, strong impact Sound 1
    Cymbals starting apart, strong impact Sound 2
    Cymbals starting apart, weak impact Sound 1
    Cymbals starting apart, weak impact Sound 2
    Cymbals starting apart, weak impact Sound 3
    Cymbals starting apart, weak impact Sound 4
    Cymbals starting apart, weak impact Sound 5
    Cymbals starting close Sound 1
    Cymbals starting close Sound 2
    Cymbals starting close Sound 3
    One cymbal falling on the other one Sound 1
    One cymbal falling on the other one Sound 2
    One cymbal falling on the other one Sound 3
    One cymbal falling on the other one Sound 4
    Scraping the cymbals together Sound 1
    Scraping the cymbals together Sound 2
    Scraping the cymbals together Sound 3
    Scraping the cymbals together Sound 4
    Scraping the cymbals together Sound 5
    Scraping the cymbals together Sound 6



    Small singing bowl
    External strike Sound 1
    External strike Sound 2
    External strike Sound 3
    External weak strike Sound 1
    Internal strike Sound 1
    Internal weak strike Sound 1
    Top strike Sound 1
    Top strike Sound 2
    Repeated internal weak strikes (20 seconds) Sound 1
    Repeated internal weak strikes (20 seconds) Sound 1



    Very small waterfalls in a creek with audible main flow, each file lasts 1 minute
    (note that some other environmental sounds (e.g. birds) can be present very weak (almost inaudible) in background from time to time)

    Tiny creek waterfall Sound 1
    Tiny creek waterfall, main flow very loud Sound 2
    Tiny creek waterfall Sound 3
    Tiny creek waterfall Sound 4
    Tiny creek waterfall Sound 5
    Tiny creek waterfall, main flow very loud Sound 6
    Tiny creek waterfall into small cave Sound 1



    Thunders with rain, the file lasts 2 minutes
    (note that some other sounds, notably rain drops hitting a railing, are present from time to time)

    Thunders and stormy weather Sound 1



    Wet snow falling on a glass sheet
    (note that some other background sounds are present (very weak) from time to time)

    Wet snow on a glass sheet Sound 1



    Sea waves between rocks and pebbles, the file lasts 1 minute
    Sea waves Sound 1



    Birds
    (note that some other background sounds are present (very weak) from time to time)

    Sparrows (12 secs) Sound 1
    Unknown bird (22 secs) Sound 1
    Unknown bird (14 secs) Sound 2
    Unknown bird (40 secs) Sound 3


    Last updated on 27 February 2017