As the use and creation of video has exploded over the past several years, so has the demand for sound effects. Therefore, many folks who have recordings or sound design experience may want to put together sound effects libraries of their material which can be licensed for money. Below you will find a broad outline of the process for creating a profitable sound effects library.
1. Using a mobile hand-held digital recorder, record a huge variety of 48k sample rate single hits and ambiances of all possible types.
2. Import this raw audio into a digital audio workstation (DAW) and edit, using eq, filters, and normalization, to take out noise and maximize sonic impact.
3. Create stereo 48k 24bit products if possible as distinct .wav files.
4. As you bounce each file, name them with consistent SKU numbers with three unique letters followed by 5 digits such as AOS00001 Dog Bark 1, AOS00002 Bird Chirp 1 and so on.
5. Create a master excel sheet of all your products that includes SKU number, file name, categories and sub-categories, time length, pricing, descriptions, and keywords.
6. Once you have your excel information and .wav files, consider converting the .wavs to both .aiffs for Mac users and .mp3s for web use, making sure that all .mp3s are based on a 44.1k sample rate.
While any number of sound effects can be considered a library, no matter how small, aim for several thousand to generate enough hits and sales to make a financial impact on your life. Seek out as many online distributors as possible. With a little effort, one can find at least 10 to 15 online stores willing to host and market your products.