Free EMF Sound Effects
Electromagnetic field recordings of everyday electronics, for sci-fi, glitch and electrical sound design.
Free WAV sound pack
What's Inside the Free EMF Pack?
EMF recordings capture the electromagnetic fields radiated by electronic devices, turned into audio by an induction coil microphone.
They are raw, tonal and often unpredictable: buzzes, stutters, high-pitched tones and crackles that no acoustic microphone can pick up.
This free pack contains 22 electromagnetic field recordings, useful for:
- •Sci-fi and technology sound design
- •Glitch, interference and data transmission effects
- •UI, robot and machine textures
- •Horror and tension beds
- •Electrical and appliance sweeteners
- •Experimental music and sampling
Pack information
- Contents
- 22 stereo EMF recordings
- Sources
- Chargers, screens, phones, Wi-Fi hotspots, kettle, microwave, solar panel, drives
- Format
- WAV stereo, 96 kHz / 24-bit
- Duration
- ≈ 1 min per sound
- Download
- ZIP, 719 MB
- License
- Royalty-free
- Price
- Free
What Are EMF Recordings?
Every powered device radiates an electromagnetic field. A laptop charger, a phone screen, a Wi-Fi hotspot, a hard drive or a microwave each produce their own pattern of electrical activity, and that activity has a rhythm and a pitch of its own.
An induction coil microphone does not hear air: it picks up those fields directly and converts them into an audio signal. What comes out is a sound the room never contained — tonal buzzes, stuttering data bursts, high whistles and crackling noise that follow whatever the device is actually doing.
Because the source is electrical rather than acoustic, these recordings are extremely rich in high frequencies, which is why the pack was captured at 96 kHz: pitching the files down keeps detail that a 48 kHz recording would lose.
How Sound Designers Use EMF Sounds
EMF material is a shortcut to anything that should feel electronic, alien or malfunctioning. Used raw it reads as interference; processed, it becomes engines, scanners, spacecraft systems or creature voices.
- •Sci-fi interfaces, scanners and holograms
- •Signal interference, hacking and data-transfer effects
- •Robot and drone movement layers
- •Power surges, shorts and failing electronics
- •Tension beds for horror and thriller scenes
- •Source material for granular and spectral processing
Tips for Working With These Files
The recordings are deliberately unprocessed, so they respond well to pitching, layering and filtering.
- •Pitch down to reveal detail captured above the audible range.
- •High-pass the very low end before layering several recordings.
- •Layer a tonal buzz with a stutter to build a machine that feels alive.
- •Automate a filter to turn a static hum into a device powering up or down.
- •Keep the level in check: EMF tones are narrow-band and can be fatiguing.
Keep reading
Download the Free EMF Pack
Add real electromagnetic textures to your next sound design session.
22 sounds • WAV 96 kHz / 24-bit • UCS-named • ZIP 719 MB • Royalty-free
Working With Production Audio?
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Explore All Audio ToolsFrequently asked questions
What is an EMF recording?
It is a recording of the electromagnetic field radiated by an electronic device, captured with an induction coil microphone rather than an acoustic microphone. The result is the electrical activity of the device turned into sound.
What devices are in this pack?
Everyday electronics: laptop and phone chargers, computer screens, a Mac Studio, AirPods, a Bluetooth mouse, Wi-Fi hotspots, an SSD, a kettle, a microwave, a hair dryer, a water heater, a video projector, an electric meter and a solar panel.
What format are the files?
22 stereo WAV files at 96 kHz / 24-bit, around one minute each, named with the Universal Category System (UCS), delivered as a single 719 MB ZIP with a license PDF.
Why 96 kHz?
EMF sources carry a lot of very high frequency content. Recording at 96 kHz means you can pitch the files down substantially and still hear detail instead of aliasing artefacts.
Can I use these sounds in my projects?
Yes. The pack is royalty-free, so you can use the recordings in films, games, videos, podcasts, music and other creative projects.
Can I use them in DaVinci Resolve or Pro Tools?
Yes. WAV is read by DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut Pro, Pro Tools, Reaper and other professional editors. Audio Tool Kit is not affiliated with those companies.