CC0 catalog API for developers

A sound effects API built for apps and AI agents

Search, inspect, and download royalty-free sound effects through predictable REST endpoints. Use natural-language queries, filter by tags and duration, or give your agent the hosted MCP server.

Get an API key Read the API reference Connect with MCP

Clear licensing

A CC0-focused catalog reduces per-asset license handling in automated workflows.

Search for intent

Combine plain-English queries with tags, category, and duration filters.

Agent ready

Use REST tool calls, OpenAPI, llms.txt resources, or the hosted MCP server.

Quick start

Search the catalog from your backend

Keep the key in a server-side environment variable. The response includes sound metadata and pagination; request a signed URL only after selecting a result.

cURL

curl -G https://api.lotsofsounds.com/api/v1/sounds \
  -H "x-api-key: los_your_api_key_here" \
  --data-urlencode "q=gentle notification chime" \
  --data-urlencode "max_duration=3"

JavaScript

const params = new URLSearchParams({
  q: "gentle notification chime",
  max_duration: "3",
});

const response = await fetch(
  `https://api.lotsofsounds.com/api/v1/sounds?${params}`,
  { headers: { "x-api-key": process.env.LOTS_OF_SOUNDS_API_KEY } }
);

const { data, pagination } = await response.json();

No key yet? Call the public sample endpoint to inspect the response shape.

Small, predictable API

One search endpoint covers the catalog workflow. Detail and download endpoints keep selection separate from asset delivery.

Method	Endpoint	Auth	Purpose
GET	/api/v1/sounds/sample	Public	Try curated sample sounds without an API key
GET	/api/v1/sounds	API key	Search by text, tags, category, and duration
GET	/api/v1/sounds/{id}	API key	Retrieve metadata for a selected sound
GET	/api/v1/sounds/{id}/download	API key	Create a signed download URL

Freesound API alternative

Choose a product API when licensing consistency matters

Freesound is a broad community archive with multiple Creative Commons licenses. Lots of Sounds focuses on a CC0 catalog and a compact API for teams that need repeatable integration and less per-result license handling.

Read the detailed comparison

Model Context Protocol

Give an agent sound search as a tool

Connect to https://api.lotsofsounds.com/mcp so Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT, and compatible agents can search, inspect, and download sounds.

View MCP setup instructions

Documentation for humans and agents

API reference Interactive docs OpenAPI specification llms-full.txt

Sound effects API FAQ

Is there a free sound effects API?

The public sample endpoint can be called without an API key. Authenticated plans unlock search and downloads across the full catalog.

Can AI agents use the API?

Yes. Agents can call the REST endpoints as tools or connect to the hosted MCP server for search, metadata, and download workflows.

How is this different from the Freesound API?

Lots of Sounds focuses on a CC0 catalog, a compact product-oriented API, natural-language search, and a hosted MCP integration. Freesound is a broader community archive with multiple license types.

Start building with the catalog API

Create a key, then make your first search request.

Get an API key View all docs