SampleRadar: 462 free atmospheric samples

Little fluffy clouds.
Little fluffy clouds. (Image credit: Andreas Fux/Corbis)

The SampleRadar vault is stuffed full of high-quality, royalty-free samples, and every Friday, we're opening it up, picking out a choice selection and letting you download them.

This week, we're stepping off the music genre merry-go-round to bring you a wide selection of atmospheric samples. These sounds can be used to add interest to an existing track or, if you're feeling particularly experimental, serve as the basis for a new one.

What you need to know

The samples are split into 11 categories: Dark, Earoh, Harmoneutic, Light, Orgonite, OutSect, Pads, ReAtmos, Sweepa, SynAtmos and Textures.

All the samples are supplied as WAV files so can be imported directly into your DAW of choice. Because they're royalty-free, you're welcome to use them in your music in any way you like - all we ask is that you don't re-distribute them.

The atmospheric samples are supplied in two zip files, so you'll need to extract them before you can see them. Enjoy!

Example sounds

Pad

Synth atmosphere

Dark bells

Orgonite

Atmospheric samples: click to download

Atmospheric samples 1 (358MB)

Atmospheric samples 2 (348MB)

These samples originally appeared on Future Music magazine's cover DVD. Check out the latest issue for many more.

Atmospheric tutorials

27 essential ambient production tips

23 chillout and lounge tips

How to make a swelling pad sound

For more than 50,000 more samples, head to our SampleRadar hub

The MusicRadar team

MusicRadar is the number 1 website for music makers of all kinds, be they guitarists, drummers, keyboard players, djs or producers...

  • GEAR: We help musicians find the best gear with top-ranking gear round-ups and high- quality, authoritative reviews by a wide team of highly experienced experts.
  • TIPS: We also provide tuition, from bite-sized tips to advanced work-outs and guidance from recognised musicians and stars.
  • STARS: We talk to musicians and stars about their creative processes, and the nuts and bolts of their gear and technique. We give fans an insight into the actual craft of music making that no other music website can.