# Free whoosh and sweep sound effects

> Free whooshes, swooshes and noise sweeps for transitions in music, video edits, trailers and games, as short one-shots with previews and a licence verdict.

26 samples from 3 sources (Orange Free Sounds 14, OpenGameArt 7, Strudel sample banks 5), updated 2026-10-23. Picked from a live search and refreshed daily.

- Same search in the browser: https://sound.shep.bot/search?q=whoosh&category=fx.sweep
- Same search over the API: `curl "https://sound.shep.bot/v1/search?q=whoosh&category=fx.sweep"`
- Details, files and the credit line: `GET https://sound.shep.bot/v1/samples/{id}` with an id from the table below.
- Licence verdicts: "Commercial use OK" (with or without credit) is cleared for a release; anything else must be checked or is non-commercial. See https://sound.shep.bot/docs/licences.md

## Sound of movement

A whoosh is the sound of something passing quickly: air moved by a swinging object, or a burst of filtered noise that rises and falls. In music it fills the moment before a section changes; in video it sells a cut or a title. Most are under two seconds long and peak in the middle.

## Choosing and placing

Time the loudest point of the whoosh to land exactly on the cut or downbeat, not its start. For music, a high-pass keeps it out of the bass, and a tempo-synced delay can stretch it into a transition. Recorded whooshes (sticks, cloth, ropes swung past a microphone) sound natural; synthesised noise sweeps sound cleaner and more electronic.

Free sound effect libraries are full of whooshes, with licences from CC0 to non-commercial. Turn on Commercial-safe to keep only the ones you can publish.

## Samples

| Sample | id | What | Source | Licence | Commercial use | Direct download |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Santa Claus Fast Flyby Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/santa-claus-fast-flyby-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:58841` | Sweep, One-shot, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Whoosh 1](https://opengameart.org/content/whoosh-1) | `opengameart:whoosh-1` | Sweep | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Powerful Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/powerful-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:57588` | Sweep, One-shot, 1.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Whoosh 2](https://opengameart.org/content/whoosh-2) | `opengameart:whoosh-2` | Sweep | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · fwoosh · 0](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/fwoosh/3_misc.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/fwoosh/0` | Sweep | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Zoom Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/zoom-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:57045` | Sweep, One-shot, 2.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Air whoosh](https://opengameart.org/content/air-whoosh) | `opengameart:air-whoosh` | Sweep | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · fwoosh · 1](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/fwoosh/2_misc.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/fwoosh/1` | Sweep | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Futuristic Rising Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/futuristic-rising-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:56935` | Sweep, One-shot, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Jet airplane take off with strong ground whoosh](https://opengameart.org/content/jet-airplane-take-off-with-strong-ground-whoosh) | `opengameart:jet-airplane-take-off-with-strong-ground-whoosh` | Sweep, Phrase | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · fwoosh · 2](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/fwoosh/4_misc.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/fwoosh/2` | Sweep | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Airy Cinematic Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/airy-cinematic-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:56647` | Sweep, One-shot, 2.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [wind whoosh loop](https://opengameart.org/content/wind-whoosh-loop) | `opengameart:wind-whoosh-loop` | Sweep, Loop | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · fwoosh · 3](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/fwoosh/0_misc.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/fwoosh/3` | Sweep | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Freight train -- passing by with fast whooshes.](https://opengameart.org/content/freight-train-passing-by-with-fast-whooshes) | `opengameart:freight-train-passing-by-with-fast-whooshes` | Sweep | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Cyberpunk Digital Blade Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/cyberpunk-digital-blade-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:56141` | Sweep, One-shot, 5.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Dough-Fox (FoxDot samples) · fwoosh · 4](https://github.com/Bubobubobubobubo/Dough-Fox/blob/main/fwoosh/1_misc.wav) | `strudel:dough-fox/fwoosh/4` | Sweep | Strudel sample banks | CC BY-SA 4.0 | Restricted: read the conditions | yes |
| [Wierd Whooshes](https://opengameart.org/content/wierd-whooshes) | `opengameart:wierd-whooshes` | Sweep | OpenGameArt | OpenGameArt per-item licence | Unclear: check the terms | yes |
| [Whoosh Zoom Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/whoosh-zoom-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:55674` | Sweep, One-shot, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Bamboo Rainstick Whoosh Sound Effect – Natural Transition Sweep](https://orangefreesounds.com/bamboo-rainstick-whoosh-sound-effect-natural-transition-sweep/) | `orangefreesounds:56628` | Sweep, One-shot, 2.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Fireball Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/fireball-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:53204` | Sweep, One-shot, 2.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Whoosh Breath Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/whoosh-breath-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:53177` | Sweep, One-shot, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Deep Cinematic Whoosh Transition Sound Effect – Powerful Low Frequency Sweep](https://orangefreesounds.com/deep-cinematic-whoosh-transition-sound-effect-powerful-low-frequency-sweep/) | `orangefreesounds:55733` | Sweep, One-shot, 3.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Ghost Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/ghost-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:52560` | Sweep, One-shot, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Cartoon Slide Whistle Zip Whoosh Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/cartoon-slide-whistle-zip-whoosh-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:55592` | Sweep, One-shot, 1.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |
| [Cinematic Fast Rise Whoosh & Hit Sound Effect](https://orangefreesounds.com/cinematic-fast-rise-whoosh-hit-sound-effect/) | `orangefreesounds:55322` | Sweep, One-shot, 4.0 s | Orange Free Sounds | CC BY-NC 4.0 | Non-commercial only | yes |

## Questions

**How do I make a whoosh sound bigger?**

Layer two: a fast, bright one for the movement and a slower, darker one for weight. Pan or auto-pan the bright layer across the stereo field and add a short reverb tail.

**Are whooshes useful outside music?**

Very. Video editors use them for cuts, title cards and camera moves, and game developers for menus and fast motion. Check the verdict before using one in a monetised video too.

## Related collections

- [Free downlifter sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-downlifter-sound-effects.md): Free downlifters and falling sweeps that release tension after a drop or lead out of a section, for EDM, trap and film edits, each with a licence verdict.
- [Free riser sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-riser-sound-effects.md): Free riser and uplifter sound effects for build-ups before a drop: white noise sweeps, pitch risers and tension builds, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free transition sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-transition-sound-effects.md): Free transition effects for music and video: swells, reverse hits, sweeps and stingers that bridge two sections or shots, with a licence verdict on each.
- [Free impact sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-impact-sound-effects.md): Free impact and hit sound effects: cinematic booms, sub drops, braams and slams for drops, trailers and transitions, each with a preview and licence verdict.
- [Free glitch sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-glitch-sound-effects.md): Free glitch effects: stutters, digital errors, buffer repeats, bit-crushed bursts and data noise for electronic music, UI and video, with licences.
- [Free laser and zap sound effects](https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-laser-zap-sound-effects.md): Free laser, zap and blaster sound effects: retro sci-fi pews, synth zaps and glitchy shots for music, games and video, with a licence verdict on each.

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Source: https://sound.shep.bot/samples/free-whoosh-sound-effects