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Quick tip: Get free sound effects for your next spooky video

The YouTube Audio Library has a nice collection of free copyright safe sound effects. You can find screams, zombie noises or other spooky sounds, for your next horror or Halloween project. 

All you need is a YouTube account with a channel to access YouTube Studio. The sound effects can be used on monetized videos and for projects you upload to other platforms.

Watch the video for a quick tutorial, or read on for instructions. 

(Yes, I'm experimenting with short vertical video)


How to download free sound effects from the YouTube Audio Library

1. Sign in to YouTube on desktop and open YouTube Studio (studio.youtube.com)

2. Click Audio Library on the left menu

3. Click the Sound Effects tab

4. Find your sound effect:

  • Search the library
  • Use the Filter > Category option to select a category like "Horror"
  • Use the Filter > Duration option to find sound effects longer than a particular length of time
  • Browse the collection
5. Click the play icon to the left of the sound effect to listen to it

6. Click the Download option on the right of the track to download the sound effect as a .mp3 file

Be sure to review the license. Some audio tracks require attribution.

You’re free to use this audio track in any of your videos, including videos that you monetize. No attribution is required.

YouTube may credit the artist and link the Audio Library from your video.

You may not make available, distribute or perform the music files from this library separately from videos and other content into which you have incorporated these music files (e.g., standalone distribution of these files is not permitted).



Sound effect in the video: "High to low sweep"

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