Freesound API
Overview
Freesound is a collaborative database of Creative Commons licensed audio samples and field recordings. You can search for sounds by text, tag, or acoustic properties and download them for use in your projects. It is a great starting point for developers building apps that need ambient sounds, music loops, or sound effects.
Beginner Tip
Start with the /search/text/ endpoint to find sounds by keyword—no OAuth needed for basic search with an API key. Always check the license field in the response before using a sound in your project.
Available Data
Example Response
{
"name": "Bohemian Rhapsody",
"artist": "Queen",
"album": "A Night at the Opera",
"duration_ms": 354000,
"popularity": 92,
"preview_url": "https://p.scdn.co/mp3-preview/..."
} Field Reference
count Total number of sounds matching the search query. results Array of sound objects matching the query. results[].id Unique identifier for the sound, used to fetch details or download. results[].name Human-readable name of the sound file. results[].license Creative Commons license URL that governs how the sound can be used. results[].previews URLs for low-quality (mp3) and high-quality (ogg) preview audio streams. Implementation Example
// ⚠️ Note: This URL may be a documentation page. Check official docs for actual API endpoint.
const url = "https://freesound.org/docs/api/";
// Replace headers or query params with the values required by this API.
const response = await fetch(url, {
headers: {
"X-API-Key": "YOUR_API_KEY"
}
});
if (!response.ok) throw new Error(`Request failed: ${response.status}`);
const data = await response.json();
console.log(data); What Can You Build?
Note: These code examples are AI-generated and unverified. Always refer to the official API documentation for accurate usage.
Common Errors & Troubleshooting
Matrix Score Breakdown
Partially tested on Apr 5, 2026
Technical Specifications
Alternatives to Freesound
Technical alternatives for different use cases.
Free music streaming and discovery platform API
Discovering independent music and artists
Sound effects and audio samples for production
Independent music platform with direct artist support
Supporting independent artists directly
CC-licensed samples and sound effects
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