SEARCH TIPS

The Sound FX Search includes both a drop down Category List and a Keyword Search. You can use either the Category List or the Keyword Search separately, or you can use them both at the same time for more precise results.

CATEGORY: Use this to choose the general category of the sounds you're looking for. If the category you choose has sub-categories, these will be displayed in the second and third drop down boxes. For example, to see the Dogs category, choose Animals, then choose Domestic, and then choose Dogs

KEYWORD: Type in one or more words that you wish to search for.

IN: Choose where you want to look for your keywords:

Name/Description: This includes the actual name of the file, as well as the description and the name of the sound category.

Library: This includes the name of the production company that created the sound (such as Sound Ideas) and the CD title the sound was originally released on (such as The General 6000).

Filename: This includes the exact name of the file. This search is useful if you already know exactly what file you want from previously searching in the Sonomic Online Library. Click here to see how sounds are named.

EXCLUDE: If you type one or more words here, your search will NOT return results that contain those words. (Note that the EXCLUDE search will only work if you've also typed a word in the KEYWORD field; you can't use the EXCLUDE search alone.)

ANY WORD/ALL WORDS/EXACT MATCH: Use these buttons to choose how picky you want the search engine to be.

Any Word: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain at least one of the words. It will also return results that contain a variation of one of the words. For example, typing dog bark will return all results that contain any variation of dog or bark, such as dogs barking, big dog, and loud barking. If you type only one word, this will return all variations that contain the word (i.e., wildcards).

All Words: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain all of the words. It will also return results that contain variations of all the words. For example, typing dog bark will return all results that contain any variation of dog and bark, such as dog barking, dogs bark, and dogs barking. If you type only one word, this will return all variations that contain the word (i.e., wildcards).

Exact Match: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain all of the words exactly as typed. For example, typing dog bark will return only results that contain both dog and bark, and will not return variations such as dog barking, dogs bark, and dogs barking. If you type only one word, this will return results that contain the word exactly as typed.

SEARCH WITHIN RESULTS: Check this box if you want to search within the results that are already on the page from the last search you did.

The Samples Search includes both a Keyword Search and several drop down lists. You can use any of the drop down lists or the Keyword Search separately, or you can use them at the same time for more precise results.

You can choose more than one search term from each of these menus to broaden your search. For example, if you choose G#, C, and E for Key, you'll get samples that are in any of these three Keys.

TYPE: Choose whether you're looking for Loops, One Shots, or Multisamples. (Click here if you're not sure what to choose.)

FORMAT: Choose the file format you need. (Click here if you're not sure what to choose.)

INSTRUMENT: Choose the instrument you're looking for. If the instrument you choose has sub-instruments, these will be displayed in the second and third drop down boxes. For example, to see Snare Beats, choose Drums, then Acoustic Kit Beats, and then choose Snare Beats.

STYLE: Choose the musical style, or genre, of the samples you need.

KEY: Choose the musical key of the samples you need. Not all samples have a key; for example, drums and many percussion instruments generally don't have a key.

BPM: Choose the tempo in beats per minute of the samples you need. BPM is only relevant for Loops; One-Shots and Multisamples do not have a BPM.

KEYWORD: Type in one or more words that you wish to search for.

IN: Choose where you want to look for your keywords:

Name/Description: This includes the actual name of the file, as well as the description and the name of the instrument and the style (for samples)

Library: This includes the name of the production company that created the sound (such as Zero G) and the CD title the sound was originally released on (such as Planet of the Breaks).

Filename: This includes the exact name of the file. This search is useful if you already know exactly what file you want from previously searching in the Sonomic Online Library. (Click here to see how samples are named.)

EXCLUDE: If you type one or more words here, your search will NOT return results that contain those words. (Note that the EXCLUDE search will only work if you've also typed a word in the KEYWORD field; you can't use the EXCLUDE search alone.)

ANY WORD/ALL WORDS/EXACT MATCH: Use these buttons to choose how picky you want the search engine to be.

Any Word: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain at least one of the words. It will also return results that feature a variation of one of the words. For example, typing funk bass will return all results that contain any variation of funk or bass, such as funky bass, big bass, and loud funk. If you type only one word, this will return all variations that contain the word (i.e., wildcards).

All Words: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain all of the words. It will also return results that feature a variations of all the words. For example, typing funk bass will return all results that contain any variation of funk and bass, such as funk bassline, funky bass, and synthbass funk. If you type only one word, this will return all variations that contain the word (i.e., wildcards).

Exact Match: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain all of the words exactly as typed. For example, typing funk bass will return only results that contain both funk and bass, and will not return variations such as funk bassline, funky bass, and synthbass funk. If you type only one word, this will return results that contain the word exactly as typed.

SEARCH WITHIN RESULTS: Check this box if you want to search within the results that are already on the page from the last search you did.

The Royalty Free Music Search includes both a Keyword Search and several drop down lists. You can use any of the drop down lists or the Keyword Search separately, or you can use them at the same time for more precise results.

LENGTH: Select the duration range of the track(s).

KEYWORD: Type in one or more words that you wish to search for.

IN: Choose where you want to look for your keywords:

Name/Description: This includes the actual name of the file, as well as the description and the name of the instrument and the style (for samples)

Library: This includes the name of the production company that created the sound (such as Zero G) and the CD title the sound was originally released on (such as Planet of the Breaks).

Artist: This includes the actual name of the composer that created the track.

Filename: This includes the exact name of the file. This search is useful if you already know exactly what file you want from previously searching in the Sonomic Online Library. (Click here to see how samples are named.)

EXCLUDE: If you type one or more words here, your search will NOT return results that contain those words. (Note that the EXCLUDE search will only work if you've also typed a word in the KEYWORD field; you can't use the EXCLUDE search alone.)

ANY WORD/ALL WORDS/EXACT MATCH: Use these buttons to choose how picky you want the search engine to be.

Any Word: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain at least one of the words. It will also return results that feature a variation of one of the words. For example, typing funk bass will return all results that contain any variation of funk or bass, such as funky bass, big bass, and loud funk. If you type only one word, this will return all variations that contain the word (i.e., wildcards).

All Words: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain all of the words. It will also return results that feature a variations of all the words. For example, typing funk bass will return all results that contain any variation of funk and bass, such as funk bassline, funky bass, and synthbass funk. If you type only one word, this will return all variations that contain the word (i.e., wildcards).

Exact Match: If you type in more than one word, your search will return all results that contain all of the words exactly as typed. For example, typing funk bass will return only results that contain both funk and bass, and will not return variations such as funk bassline, funky bass, and synthbass funk. If you type only one word, this will return results that contain the word exactly as typed.

SEARCH WITHIN RESULTS: Check this box if you want to search within the results that are already on the page from the last search you did.

The Downloadable Cds Search includes both drop down lists and a Keyword Search. You can use any of the drop down lists or the Keyword Search separately, or you can use them at the same time for more precise results.

TYPE: Choose whether you are looking for samples, sound effects or royalty free music.

FOR SAMPLES: Please see Sample Search Help for additional help searching for sample.

FOR SOUND EFFECTS: Please see Sound Effects Search Help for additional help searching for sound effects.

FOR ROYALTY FREE MUSIC: Please see Royalty Free Music Search Help for additional help searching for royalty free music.

Most Sonomic sounds follow standard naming conventions.

Sound Effects are named as follows:

DESCRIPTION_PRODUCTION COMPANY or LIBRARY

For example: DOG_BARKS_ANGRY_CLOSE_CA

More Details:

• Description is typically a string of attributes that conveys what the file sounds like, e.g. DOG_BARKS_ANGRY_CLOSE. Words are often abbreviated to save space.
• Production Company or Library is denoted by an abbreviation, e.g. CA Sound, Inc. = CA. Sound Ideas General 6000 Extension 2 = G2.

Loops and One-Shots are named as follows:

SUBINSTRUMENT_LOOP(LP) OR ONE SHOT(OS)_DESCRIPTION_TEMPO_ROOT NOTE_ARTIST

For example: EBASS_LP_2SLAP_105_CMIN_DB

More Details:

• Subinstruments are abbreviated, e.g. Electric Bass = EBASS
• Samples are either a Loop (LP) or a One Shot (OS), but never both.
• Sample Description gives extra information about the sample that is not included in the rest of the name. This can include sub-genre or more detail about the sound of the file, e.g. 2SLAP (EBASS_LP_2SLAP_105_C_DB) indicates that it is played in a slap-bass style.
• Tempo is indicated in beats per minute (BPM). Some samples do not have BPM, in which case tempo is not included in the file name.
• Root Note indicates the pitch of the sample, and in some cases the key. Key qualities (major, minor, dominant, diminished) are abbreviated (MAJ, MIN, DOM, DIM). Some samples do not have a root note, in which case the root note is not included in the file name.
• Artist is typically abbreviated by the first initial of the artist's first and last name, e.g. Doug Beck = DB. In some cases (particularly where there are multiple artists) the production company name may be used.

Multisamples are named with a general descriptive name.

Royalty free music is named with a general descriptive name.