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How to Use | Finding, Downloading and Using Our Sounds

TOMU’S SOUND LIBRARY is a free sound library of original sounds recorded and created in Japan by its owner, TOMU. This page walks you through the whole process: finding a sound, listening to it, downloading it and using it in your own work.

1. Find a sound

  • Search: type the sound you want (for example rain, door or footsteps) into the search box in the header or on the top page.
  • Browse by category: from the categories on the top page, choose Nature Sounds, Everyday Sounds, Transportation, Musical Instruments or Voice. Each one has subcategories such as insect sounds, water, footsteps and guitar.
  • Sort and filter: in the list you can sort by newest, most popular or name. Choose “With video” to show only sounds that come with an MP4 video. The tags on each sound’s page also lead to similar sounds.
  • Favorites: save a sound you like with the ♡ button. Favorites stay in your browser, and you can review them all on the Favorites page.
  • Can’t find it? Tell us what you need through “Request a Sound” on the top page. It helps guide future recordings.

2. Listen first

Use the play button in the list or on a sound’s page to preview a sound before you download it. When you start another sound, the one that was playing stops, so you can compare sounds one after another.

A sound’s page shows the recording date, the recording place, the length and the available formats. Some sounds, such as Summer Insect Sounds Heard in a Park 01, show where they were recorded. These three are a good way to try the whole flow from listening to downloading.

3. Download

Use the download button on a sound’s page, or the MP3 and WAV buttons in the list, to save the file. The available formats differ by sound: both MP3 and WAV, or one of the two. Some sounds also come with an MP4 video.

  • MP3: a small file that is easy to handle. It is also what the site uses for previews.
  • WAV: an uncompressed format suited to editing and processing. All 1,510 WAV files we were able to check are 44.1 kHz, 16-bit, stereo (measured on October 3, 2026).
  • MP4: attached to sounds that come with video. Whether it is vertical or horizontal is noted on the sound’s page.

4. Use it in your work

Downloaded sounds can be used in videos, YouTube, games, animation and music production (DTM). A sound placed as it is may be too quiet or too loud, or may have unneeded parts at the start or end, so we have collected ways to make sounds easier to use in Using Sound Effects.

5. Check the License before you use a sound

The sounds are free for commercial and non-commercial use. No credit or usage report is required, and you can edit and process them. However, redistributing the sound files themselves and selling them as a sound pack are prohibited. The terms may change, so please check the latest License before use.

Sounds recorded in towns, parks and stations may include voices, announcements or other sounds from third parties. Please also read the notes on third-party rights in the License. Common questions are answered in the FAQ.

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