How to get music and sound effects for your game
There are three ways to get music and sound effects for your game: use free (CC0) or royalty-free packs, hire a composer, sound designer or voice actor, or mix the two. Most indie games start with free packs for prototypes and hire someone for the parts players hear most.
I'm Bryan, an indie dev. I'm making my own game, and I founded ComposerScout so finding the right sound isn't guesswork. Here's how I'd think about it.
- Free packs are best for prototypes, game jams and small projects. Check the license before you ship.
- Hiring is best for your main theme, signature sounds and any character voices. You get something nobody else has.
- A mix is what most indie games end up doing: free packs for filler, hired work for what makes the game feel like yours.
Route 1: Free and royalty-free packs
Free audio is great for getting a build in front of people fast. The thing to watch is the license:
- CC0 means public domain. Use it anywhere, including commercial games, with no credit needed.
- CC-BY is free too, but you must credit the creator, usually in your game's credits.
- Royalty-free usually means you pay once (or nothing) and don't pay per sale. Read what it allows, because some packs ban use in trailers or soundtrack releases.
Good places to look: OpenGameArt.org, itch.io asset packs, Freesound.org for sound effects (check each file's license), and our own free CC0 game music library.
The catch with free audio: other games use it too. A player who hears the same boss track in three games stops feeling like your game is special.
Route 2: Hire someone
Hiring gets you audio made for your game: music that changes with the action, sounds that match your art style, and voices that fit your characters. Three crafts cover most of it:
Composer
Writes your music: themes, loops, stingers and adaptive layers. How to find a composerSound designer
Makes your sound effects: footsteps, UI clicks, combat hits, ambience and creatures. How to find a sound designerVoice actor
Brings characters to life: dialogue, narration, barks and grunts. How to find a voice actor
Not sure what it costs? Read how game music, sound and voice acting is priced. Want to compare places to hire? See where to find a composer, sound designer or voice actor.
Route 3: Mix them
This is where most indie games land. A simple way to split it:
- Hire for: the main theme, the music in the scene players spend the most time in, your hero's signature sounds, and any spoken lines.
- Use packs for: generic UI clicks, background ambience, placeholder music while you prototype.
How to pick: test it over your gameplay
Whichever route you take, listen to the audio over a clip of your actual game, not on its own. A track that sounds great in a playlist can fight your pacing or bury your sound effects. In ComposerScout's Gameplay studio you drop in a clip and switch between tracks while it plays, including our free library. The clip stays on your device.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I get music for my game?
Free: CC0 or royalty-free packs from places like OpenGameArt.org, itch.io and the ComposerScout free library. Custom: hire a composer. Most indie games use free packs while prototyping and hire for the music players hear most.
How do I get sound effects for my game?
Use free or royalty-free sound packs (check each license), or hire a sound designer for sounds made to fit your game. Many devs do both: packs for generic UI and ambience, custom work for signature sounds.
Can I use free music in a commercial game?
Yes, if the license allows it. CC0 music can be used anywhere with no credit. CC-BY needs a credit. Always read the license before you ship.
How do I get voice acting for my indie game?
Hire a voice actor. Post a casting call with your script, character notes and budget, listen to demos, and ask for a short paid or free audition with your own lines.
Is ComposerScout free?
Yes. ComposerScout is free while in beta for game devs, composers, sound designers and voice actors. Payment and rights are agreed directly between you and the person you hire.
Hear your game's sound before you hire
Drop in a gameplay clip and hear music, sound design and voice samples over it. Message the person who made them. Free while in beta.
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