Where do you get your application sounds from?

Question

Specifically for prompts, message boxes etc.

Thanks

Answer 1

i use preloaded operating system sounds

Answer 2

There are a ton of free sounds here: http://flashkit.com/soundfx/

Answer 3

%windir%\Media

Answer 4

Unless you develop an application which should have custom sounds it's a good thing to stick to default system sounds to make the live of the user easier.

If you NEED to get a custom set of sounds:

• You could record them yourself if your company has proper equipment and skills
• You could get them from free stock sites like http://www.productiontrax.com/
• You could try to get something quick and dirty from a wave editor like Adobe Audition (former Cool Edit). With some practice you could get very creative results from the mundane domestic sounds.

Answer 5

Generally, for prompts and message boxes, you should call the appropriate operating system function. This is what the user expects, and will play the sound that they configured in their control panel.

On Windows, see the MessageBeep() function.

Answer 6

If it isn't a music program, a sound editing program, an alarm clock, or a program for the sight impaired then please don't bother. The operating system sounds can be turned on for alerts and errors and you can use them if you need to or want to. Nothing makes me close a web page faster than annoying sounds for alerts and mouse-overs and I don't want my applications beeping at me either.

Answer 7

I've used GarageBand to create sounds for an application. It was a simple game, so simple sounds to signal scores were all I needed.

I agree with other answerers who say that you should not add custom sounds for typical application events (message boxes, etc.). Using the standard sounds provided by the operating system or selected by the user is preferable.

Answer 8

I never put sounds in my interface. It's an extra headache for localizers, testers, and even users, and it's one more place to make inappropriate choice. I worked on an e-commerce project once where we had an old-fashioned adding machine sound when we were calculating the user's savings over the life time of using the software. One of our biggest accounts complained that they thought it sounded like we were "gleefully totaling all the money they've spent with us over the years" and found it offensive.

Unless you're specifically writing an app that deals with sound, this may be something that's better left off because it won't mesh with the rest of the user experience. If you must include sound, use what the OS provides.

Answer 9

Applications that produce unnecessary noises are right next to the ones that steal focus in a special circle of hell. If a feature really benefits from having some kind of notification (for instance, arrival of an email or IM), then please provide options such as "visual alert", "beep", both and neither. And make sure your visual alert doesn't steal focus!

If you can figure out a way to make it smarter than that, I'm sure I'm not the only one who would be extremely appreciative. I hate IM noises when the window is on the screen, but if it's minimized, generally I leave the sound on. Many apps have this feature. I wish there was also a way to have it beep at me even if the computer is locked, except when I'm sleeping... but that is probably impossible :(

If you must use noises, follow the advice of the others here and use the OS provided events whenever practical. Strange noises coming from the computer are a lot more distracting/annoying than the usual noises, especially when multiple noises mean the same thing.

Answer 10

I have three hours of recordings of total silence, which I cut up and rearrange and sample in my sound editor to create that "just right" silence for a given app.

Answer 11

Try Soundsnap, it's all free~

Oh, and do consider what others said about default sounds.

Answer 12

Check this site out I just found, it looks great!

http://audiojungle.net/

Answer 13

There is a sound effect package widely available for this and was recommended to me by a company specialising in softare development and user interaction. It is used by the company I work for on almost all interactive project they do now and got me some 'browny points' ;) ...

Just checked the email and it is here as single downloads (although they are available elsewhere as a package - I will check and post that if I find it:

System and Navigation Sound Effects

The company I work for does major projects with huge corporations and these sounds are used in almost every interactive project we do so I would recommend them.

Answer 14

Ok, the full package of System and Navigation Sound Effects is here:

System and Navigation Sound Effects - complete package

Answer 15

I use soundscalpel.com, they've got loads.