ElevenLabs’ text-to-sound-effects product is now available. The February 19, 2024 announcement was only a preview and early-access waitlist, demonstrated with audio added to an OpenAI Sora video. The public product, called Sound Effects, now turns descriptions of Foley, ambience, impacts, transitions and interface sounds into short audio clips through a web interface and API.
What ElevenLabs announced in February 2024
ElevenLabs was expanding beyond text-to-speech and speech-to-speech into generated sound effects. The company argued that emerging video generators such as Sora could produce compelling pictures without a complete soundscape, then released a teaser showing AI-generated audio added to Sora footage.
The proposed system accepted natural-language descriptions of sounds including birdsong, vehicles, horns, street ambience, people talking, eating and walking. The intended audience included creators making AI video, social clips, commercials and game trailers. However, the February 19, 2024 report described an unavailable model, an early-access waitlist and a request for sample prompts—not a public launch.
Did the product launch?
Yes. ElevenLabs now offers Sound Effects as a working text-to-sound generator for film, advertising, games, podcasts, social media, soundboards and ambient audio. Secondary coverage reported the public launch in May 2024; as of August 18, 2026, the product has web and API access.
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- [Natural Audio Clarity] Operated with frequency response of 50Hz-16KHz, the podcasting XLR mic delivers balanced audio range, likely to resonate with your audience. Directional cardioid dynamic microphone corded will not exaggerate your voice, while rejects unwanted off-axis noise for vocal originality and intelligibility during your PS5 gaming streaming video recording. (Tips: Keep the top of end-addressing XLR dynamic microphone AM8 facing audio source, and suggested recording range is 2 to 6 in.)
- [XLR Connection Upgrade-Ability] To use XLR connection, connect the podcast microphone to an audio interface (or mixer) using a separate XLR cable (NOT Included) . Well-connected and smooth operation improves audio flexibility to make you explore various types of music recording singing. The streaming mic isolates the pristine and accurate sound from ambient noise with greater no interference and fidelity. (RGB and function key on mic are INACTIVE when using XLR connection.)
- [USB Connection with Handy Mute] Skip the hassle of setting something up and plug the cable to play the dynamic USB microphone directly, which suits for beginner creators or daily podcast. You can quickly control the gamer mic with tap-to-mute that is independent of computer/Macbook programs to keep privacy when live streaming. LED mute reminder helps you get rid of forgetting to cancel the mute. (RGB and function key are only available for USB connection, but NOT for XLR connection)
- [Soothing Controllable RGB] RGB ring on the desktop gaming microphone for PC, with 3 modes and more than 10 light colors collection, matches your PC gears accessories for gaming synergy even in dim room. You can control the RGB key button of the dynamic microphone USB directly for game color scheme gaming or live streaming. Configured memory function, the streaming microphone RGB no need to repeated selections after turnning off and brings itself alive when power on. (Only available for USB connection)
- [More Function Keys] Computer microphone with headphones jack upgrades your rhythm game experience and gets feedback whether the real-time voice your audience hear as expected. Get the desired level via monitoring volume control when gaming recording. Smooth mic gain knob on the PC microphone gaming has some resistance to the point, easily for audio attenuation or boost presence to less post-production audio. (Only available for USB connection)
That chronology matters: the 2024 story captured a preview, while today’s service is a usable generator with duration controls, looping and plan-based licensing.
How to generate a sound
- Log in to ElevenLabs and open Sound Effects from the product sidebar.
- Write a natural-language description. Prompts can contain up to 450 characters.
- Specify a duration in the prompt or use the duration control. If you do neither, the system chooses a duration.
- Generate and preview the variations.
- Download a preferred result or iterate with a revised description.
- For a scene, trim, layer and synchronize separate clips in your audio editor.
Website generations return four variations. The API returns one effect per generation. ElevenLabs’ prompting guidance recommends separating complex action into individual clips rather than asking for an entire sequence in one request.
Writing a useful prompt
Include the source, action, environment, perspective, texture and approximate length. For example: “Close-miked rusty metal warehouse door opens slowly, dry cinematic Foley, two seconds.” You can also describe a distance or viewpoint, such as “heard from inside a car,” and a production style such as “realistic field recording” or “short impact.”
Rank #2
- [Convenient Setup] Plug and play recording USB microphone for PC, with 5.9-Foot USB cable included for computer PC laptop, is connected directly to USB-A port for recording music, computer singing or podcast. The office condenser microphone for computer is easy to use and install. (NOT compatible with Xbox and Phones)
- [Durable Metal Design] Solid sturdy metal construction design, the computer microphone for Zoom meetings with stable tripod stand is convenient when you are doing voice overs or livestreams on YouTube. Durable material extends the service life of the voice-over microphone.
- [Mic Volume Knob] Gaming condenser USB mic compatible for PS4 with additional volume knob itself has a louder or quieter adjustment and is more sensitive. Your voice would be heard well enough through the zoom microphone USB when gaming, skyping or voice recording. Also, you can adjust your volume to zero and protect your privacy.
- [Widely Use] USB-powered design, the condenser microphone for recording no need the 48v Phantom power supply, works well with Cortana, Discord, voice chat and voice recognition. The podcast microphone for Mac, with USB-B to USB-A/C cable, is compatible with desktop, laptop or PS4/PS5, which meets most of your daily recording needs.
- [Clear Output Voice] Cardioid condenser microphone for PC captures your voice properly, producing clear smooth and crisp sound. Great computer recording mic for gamers/streamers/youtubers focus on the main source and reduces background noise. The streaming microphone does the job well for broadcast ,OBS and teamspeak.
A request such as “a man walks through a hallway and falls down the stairs” may be understood, but separate footsteps, movement, impact and room tone give you better timing and editorial control.
What it can generate
ElevenLabs lists Foley, ambient beds, nature sounds, impacts, transitions, user-interface sounds, science-fiction effects and trailer-style design among its capabilities. The product is intended for video, games, podcasts, advertising and social content, but those categories describe the tool’s scope rather than a guarantee that every result will be realistic or mix-ready.
Duration and looping
Generated clips can be up to 30 seconds. Looping can extend an ambience beyond that limit without an obvious beginning or ending. The help documentation also explains the duration controls and looping behavior.
Rank #3
- Custom three-capsule array: This professional USB mic produces clear, powerful, broadcast-quality sound for YouTube videos, Twitch game streaming, podcasting, Zoom meetings, music recording and more
- Blue VO!CE software: Elevate your streamings and recordings with clear broadcast vocal sound and entertain your audience with enhanced effects, advanced modulation and HD audio samples
- Four pickup patterns: Flexible cardioid, omni, bidirectional, and stereo pickup patterns allow you to record in ways that would normally require multiple mics, for vocals, instruments and podcasts
- Onboard audio controls: Headphone volume, pattern selection, instant mute, and mic gain put you in charge of every level of the audio recording and streaming process
- Positionable design: Pivot the mic in relation to the sound source to optimize your sound quality thanks to the adjustable desktop stand and track your voice in real time with no-latency monitoring
A 30-second ceiling makes Sound Effects most useful for modular effects, short ambiences, transitions and editable layers—not an entire finished soundtrack. Loops can still reveal repetition; crossfades, layered variations and changing levels or EQ can make them less apparent.
Pricing and credit mechanics
The following figures were displayed on August 18, 2026. Subscription prices and promotions can change, so check the live Sound Effects plans before paying.
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| Plan | Displayed monthly price | Included generations | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | 50 | Personal use only |
| Starter | $6 | 105 | Commercial license |
| Creator | $22 list price; $11 first-month promotion displayed | 605 | Commercial license |
| Pro | $99 | 3,000 | Commercial license |
Additional generations were displayed at approximately $0.04 on Starter and Creator and $0.03 on Pro. A separate captured ElevenLabs pricing page has shown a $5 Starter price, so region, promotion or billing-page timing may explain differences.
Rank #4
- 360 Degree Position Adjustable Gooseneck Design --Plug and play USB microphone Pick up the sound from 360-degree with high sensitivity, in the best possible location for sound to your PC gaming, dragon voice dictation, and talk to Cortana
- Mute Button & LED Indicator --One-click to mute/unmute your microphone for pc, Build-in LED indicator tells you the working status at any time
- Intelligent Noise-Canceling Tech --Premium omnidirectional condenser microphone with noise-canceling technology can pick up your clear voice and reduce background noise and echo
- USB Plug&Play(1.8/6ft USB Cable) -- No driver required. Just need to plug & play for the microphone to start recording, well compatible with Windows(7, 8, 10 and 11) and macOS. (NOT compatible with Xbox/Raspberry Pi/Android)
- Solid Construction--Adopting premium metal pipe and heavy-duty ABS stand to make sure that you will be satisfied with our computer mic quality
Website versus API usage
On the website, an AI-selected duration costs 200 credits per generation; a user-selected duration costs 40 credits per second, up to 30 seconds. The website returns four outputs.
In the API, an AI-selected duration costs 100 credits per generation; a selected duration costs 11 credits per second, also capped at 30 seconds. The API returns one output. The detailed figures are in ElevenLabs’ Sound Effects cost documentation.
The API pricing page separately displays Sound Effects at $0.12 per minute and describes MP3 44.1 kHz or WAV 48 kHz output. Those figures use a different billing presentation from web credits and should not be treated as directly interchangeable. The dedicated product page describes MP3 export and 48 kHz WAV for non-looping effects.
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- 【Crystal Clear Audio Quality】Our Omnidirectional pattern condenser microphone accurately captures your voice, making it perfect for dictation, online classrooms, and more.
- 【Active Noise-Cancelling】Come in CMTECK CCS2.0 SMART CHIP with Omnidirectional Polar Pattern, which can effectively block the background noise. The pop filter prevents plosives from overloading the microphone, ensuring only your voice is heard.7
- 【Convenient Mute Button with LED Indicator】You can quickly mute/un-mute the microphone with the Mute Button and the built-in LED light lets you know the working status(Greenlight: Connected; Red light: Mute mode).
- 【Easy to use】 No drivers needed, just plug and record without external power supply, directly connect the microphone to a USB compatible device, well compatible with Windows(7, 8 and 10), Mac OS and PS4 (NOT compatible with Raspberry Pi/Linux/Android）
- 【Mini size with Adjustable Gooseneck】Adopted flexible and adjustable gooseneck metal pipe, easily adjust position 360 degrees to suit user comfort. The compact and stable base maximizes your desktop space.
Commercial use, licensing and sublicensing
Free-plan output is for personal use only. Paid plans include commercial rights for projects such as monetized videos, client work, advertising and other commercial productions, subject to the applicable terms. Upgrade before using a free-plan result in paid or monetized work.
“Royalty-free” does not mean automatically exclusive or free of every legal risk. ElevenLabs’ Sound Effects Terms, updated February 12, 2026, say users may create outputs and may opt out of sublicensing through a Disable function. That opt-out does not undo sublicenses or uses that began before it took effect.
If exclusivity, chain-of-title or clearance is important, inspect the control and current terms before relying on a generated effect. Keep records of the account plan, generation date and applicable terms; do not assume that paying makes a sound unique.
Where it helps—and where it falls short
Good fits
- A custom effect that is difficult to locate in a stock library.
- Rapid ideation, temporary sound design or rough cuts.
- Short Foley, impacts, transitions, interface sounds and ambience.
- Audio layers for AI-generated video, social clips, podcasts and independent projects.
- Programmatic generation in a game tool, editor or content pipeline.
Common failure modes
- Prompt interpretation: a semantically related sound may be physically implausible or generic. Describe the source, action, setting, distance and texture, then compare variants.
- Multi-event prompts: several actions may blur together or be omitted. Generate room tone, footsteps, movement and impacts separately.
- Frame accuracy: an effect may not land on the required frame. Trim, time-stretch, layer, EQ and synchronize it manually.
- Continuity: repeated generations may not preserve the same acoustic identity between shots. Save preferred results and use recorded Foley or conventional editing where continuity is critical.
- Quality mismatch: the tool supplies effects and ambience, not an automatically finished theatrical mix, music score or complete soundscape.
When a library or sound designer is the better choice
A conventional library is preferable when you need a known recording, searchable metadata, multiple microphone perspectives, predictable versions, long-form ambience or established licensing documentation. A professional sound designer remains the stronger option for tightly synchronized Foley, acoustic continuity, bespoke recording, major film, premium game, broadcast or high-stakes commercial work.
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One free scan finds every outdated or missing driver and matches the right update for your exact hardware.Free scan · exact hardware matchSound Effects works best as a supplement: a fast way to explore ideas and create modular layers that an editor or designer can shape. It is not a substitute for judgment, synchronization, mixing or rights review.
Quick Recap
Bottom line for different creators
- Hobbyist: the free tier is suitable for testing and noncommercial experiments.
- YouTuber or podcaster: use a paid plan before publishing monetized work.
- Indie developer: useful for rapid prototyping and modular game effects; track usage and continuity yourself.
- Commercial studio: a productive supplement, but not an automatic replacement for professional sound design.
- Rights-sensitive production: review the current terms and sublicensing controls, and use a cleared library or bespoke recording when exclusivity is essential.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
