We found some Sound Effects albums the other day and were exploring the sounds that they collected.

Under Bells, we found bells from all continents and bells of all sizes, from small meditation bowls to bike bells to doorbells to large church bells.

Meditation Bowl: Sharp Strike With Long Ring Decay
Bike Bell: Multiple Rings
Door Bell: Long Hold, Ding Dong Ring

Church Bell: Multiple Restless Vibrating Hit Rings (version 1)

Camel Sound Effects

Camel Sound Effects: Group of Camels Make Many, Deep, Guttural Groans with Hoof Shuffles

Bat sounds could be part of your nightmares!

Bat Movement Sounds with Dry Feet Slaps and Wing Flaps
Reverberant Squeaks from Vampire Bat

Bird songs from around the world. I often hear the Scops Owl at night, and it sounds like a rusty gate swinging. It took me a long time to realize that it was a bird.

Scops Owl
Blackbird

Frogs recorded in Hungary.

European Tree Frogs with choir of Fire-bellied Toads

Sounds made on Glass instruments.

Dramatic Violin Bowed Glass Music Theme
Active Glass Wind Chimes
Wine Glass Hit Once with Soft Mallet

And even a bit of weather to give you the shivers.

Howling and Whistling Wind Gusting Through Window
Four Rolling Thunder Claps in Succession

And then there are Cartoon sound effects.

Cartoon FX Sound Effects: Flanged Cartoon Explosion
Cartoon FX Sound Effects: Slide-Whistle Does Pert Rise

And then there’s Godzilla! According to the history of sound, composer Akira Ifukube and his sound engineer first tried sampling animal sounds at the Ueno Zoo, but then ‘came up with the idea of using a musical instrument: the contrabass. He unwound the E string and recorded his assistant, Sei Ikeno, drawing his hands across it with gloves covered in pine tar. Sound technician Ichiro Minawathen manipulated the speed of the recordings, added echoes, and overlaid some of the animal sounds he had previously gathered.’ The roar was changed over time, speeding up, slowing down and then having other sounds added in, but it remains distinctive!

Sound Effects – Godzilla

Or perhaps, just a random dinosaur?

Giant Dinosaurs Single Footstep Crunch: Version 1

There are even modern sound effects, like the sound of a Tesla passing you!

Tesla Model S Electric Car External Perspective: Passes by Left to Right at Medium Speed (version 1)

Sounds evoke atmosphere (especially the weather ones) and give us an idea of the world around us. Waking up in the morning to the thrum of rain is a perfect invitation to snuggle back under the covers. Waking up to birdsong can energize your whole day!

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