I am looking for a provider of royalty-free audio CDs offering nature
sounds (rain, thunderstorms, wind, dolphins, oceans, jungles, etc.) I
am not looking for downloadable "cheapo" sound effects, but rather
highly-professionl sound libraries that are offered in either audio or
WAV formats. As an example of what I'm looking for, the
NaturesMusic.com website has exactly what I need, but they sell it to
end users, not as royalty-free sounds to be used in music productions.

My question is: where can I find professional, high-end nature sound
effects libraries to purchase online? Hint: these libraries would most
likely run in the several-hundred-dollars range. Anything under $100
isn't on target. The kind of quality I'm looking for is demonstrated
by the Spectrasonics "Symphony of Voices" CD collection you can find
at: http://www.ilio.com/spectrasonics/sov/

Hello MIke,

Have a look at:

http://www.sounddogs.com

I think they might be just what you're looking for -- a wide variety
of sound effects CDs and files in a seemingly endless number of
categories, including:
 
Thunder
Just Birds & Animals
AMBIENCE -- includes Jungles, Swamps, Mountains, Deserts, Forests,
Ocean,
Storm, Wind, etc.

These are professional quality sounds at a commensurately professional
price.

Soundog's policy on copyrights/royalties is fully explained on their
site -- here's a piece of it:

"COPYRIGHT AND LICENSING
Q. Please explain the license.
A. You can use the sounds within any multimedia production for the
purposes of synchronization. Examples of usage: Computer games,
television shows, films, music, e-cards, flash animations, theater,
etc.

Q. What can I not do with the sounds?
A. You can not redistribute the sounds as sounds by themselves, in
whole or in part (as is or slightly modified) for a fee or for free."

*******************
Also have a look at a very new player in the field, Point One Sound,
with a web site that just came on line last month:

http://www.petri-dish.com/pointone/index.html

"Point One Sound offers a sound library like no other. Using a unique
recording apparatus, we are able to capture full 360 degree surround
sound, creating sounds so realistic, you won't believe your ears."

They sell sounds by the file, including at least 51 Animal & Nature
sound files -- about $20 per file, though prices vary.

They don't discuss their royalty policy, but since they are
distributed through sounddogs, I imagine their policies are the same.

************
One more site to check out is a portal for the professional sound
business:

http://www.soundfx.com/

especially the list of companies in this field at:

http://www.soundfx.com/companiessfx.htm

If the first two links I provided don't do the trick, then someone on
the soundfx site is bound to fit the bill.

Enjoy!

Dave

search strategy ["sound library" "royalty free"]

Sound ideas has a large collection of sounds, effects, and music.
http://www.sound-ideas.com/sfxmenu.html

This one might interest you [2 CD's for $250]:

"the Just Birds & Animals Series. Two fully digital CDs - an
outstanding mini collection of isolated individual bird and animal
species, plus a variety of key ambiences and backgrounds. And these
CDs are just the beginning - look for future releases to expand the
range and depth of this true-to-life series of wild and domestic
species from all over the world."

http://www.sound-ideas.com/jba.html

Or this one which has 10 CD's for $495:

"Wild World of Animals features rare, hard-to-capture sounds on 10 CDs
with over 850 effects. Everything from aquatic animals (sharks,
Whales, dolphins, walruses), wild animals (buffalo, alligators,
elephants, snakes, tigers, pandas), and birds & insects to domestic
animals (cattle, goats, dogs, cats) plus an entire CD of horses!"

http://www.sound-ideas.com/wwa.html

As to their licensing, they state that the music or sound is "sold on
a royalty-free buyout basis, and a lifetime synchronization license
(as described in the Sound Ideas End User Agreement) is included with
your purchase" and also that "Sound Ideas' products are sold with the
understanding that you will synchronize selected sounds directly into
your productions."
They have a slew of demos at http://www.sound-ideas.com/audiodemo.html
.

You can find their CD's offered on various Internet sites, too.

=====

SoundDogs offers the sets mentioned above, as well as a 2-CD set of
thunder and rain for $250.

http://www.sounddogs.com/cdlib.asp?Type=2


And other listings here:
http://www.sounddogs.com/subcategories.asp?Type=1&CategoryID=1042

=====

Good luck!

TexasT