Free Audio Files for E-Learning

Hey Tom. I use background tracks in almost all the learning I create…

– To set the tone as the user transitions a new topic when there is usually no narration.
– When narration isn’t well produced, I’ll use a background track to create some depth which in turn makes the narration sound more professional.
– And for moments when the user is left on their own to do some kind of task, just to make it feel less alone by sudden silence (no narration)….elevator music per se.

Stephanie

I have just started using audio in my e-learning courses. I use during the first couple of slides- the title slide and the learning objective slides. I like the idea of introducing the topic with some audio to get people’s attention.

I also use have started using it for sound effects on my course quizzes. People applauding and cheering when they get the answer right and a “smash/crash/ooooh” (sorry, best I can do) when they get it wrong. And when the complete the course, a loud round of cheering and clapping and general happy exultations.

I have used background theme music in introductions, applause or bell for correct answers, applause for passing a quiz, buzzer for incorrect answers, mouse click sound when making a choice. UFO noise (Jetsons sound) in a UFO animation.

We’ve used background audio in two instance.
1 – as part of the first slide of the course (or a lesson) that helps send the message that something new has started.
2 – part of the introduction to a game

In both instances, the audio played softly in the background and the narrator voice was dominant or was 5 seconds of music and as the music faded the narrator voice came in.

Hey Tom. I did a virtual workshop last year on how to use music as a training tool.You can see a recording of it here: https://www.dropbox.com/s/6mrq2h2chippx6z/Music_VIM.mp4?dl=0

I’m particularly sensitive to music and how it’s used, given that, in addition to my background in learning, I have also taught fitness (to music) for decades and have been involved with several sports (e.g., gymnastics, figure skating) that are performed to music. If it’s done well, it facilitates learning. If not, it’s both distracting and attenuating to the learning process.

Thanks for the response, Tom. This is helpful. We like to use the audio in intro slides, and sometimes we develop short videos without narration for which the background music can add a lot.

Thanks for the most recent post. Maybe i missed it but I did not see http://www.digitaljuice.com/ as one of the sources. Their materials are usually excellent.

I heard some fantastic use of audio as a background to narration in eLearning at the Learning Solutions Conference last week. I started thinking that I should incorporate it into my modules as well. Currently I use audio in our learning videos when there is a message to be read by the learner in between shots of the SME speaking/instructing.

While free can sometimes make the difference between having it or not, I would like to encourage everyone to purchase background music from small businesses whenever possible. There are many professional musicians that are passionate about the trade and enormously talented but haven’t been lucky enough to hit the big time. They are able to eek out a living when companies like yours and mine invest a little money into purchasing one of their tunes for background music.

Great article and thanks for the information.

I’m personally very auditory so I do use music and sound effects, however very sparsely. I use a very short piece of intro music and fade when the narration starts, and then reprise it and fade as the program ends. I also use a very airy transition sound to support a transition slide.

I am a big fan of http://freesound.org personally.

I don’t use audio files in my training development but I do use sound effects. Here is a site that I have used many times that I didn’t see on your list so thought I would share.

http://soundbible.com/

Thanks for all your hard work and information you provide.

When I worked at an organization that sold interior landscaping (green walls, scenting, corporate art, etc.) every course and video we created had background music.

As my former boss said, “Sometimes audio helps bring you into the moment when you’re trying to evoke an emotion or thought. It has to match the mood.”

So when creating a course about the scenting products, the music was softer than lets say talking about an urban garden.

La traduzione autorizzata di questo articolo è disponibile qui: http://www.mosaicoelearning.it/blog/effetti-sonori-gratuiti-tuoi-corsi-learning/

It works great for anything without narration like my “top five” lists.

Presentation 1

With that said, employees liked it so much that I’ve been using it as background music as well.

Presentation 2

Thank for sharing this information. I usually use audio during intro slides, but I am now willing to go beyond doing so. Thanks for the valuable information.

I do use a running, soft background music (upbeat) as a bed for my recorded dialogue mainly because it does mask some mild background noise (I wish I had a proper studio). It’s way quiet though, relative to the actual narration. I also occasionally use a bike bell effect to cue the viewer’s attention to the screen for specific notifications because I know how easy it is to drift & miss something without a sound effect.

I am a big fan of http://shrecords.wordpress.com personally.