Police Siren Sound Effects
7 police sirens: an American wail, a European two-tone, a rapid yelp and a car approaching from a distance, plus synth and arcade versions for games.
You're free to use these sounds. License
US Wail Siren
Euro Two Tone
Distant Approach
Rapid Yelp
Arcade Wail
Synth Sweep
Rising Synth
About police siren sound effects
A police siren is an electronic tone pushed through a loud horn speaker on the car, and its pattern says a lot about where you are. American patrol cars switch between a slow wail that rises and falls and a fast yelp that drivers often use when pushing through intersections. Much of Europe uses a two-tone pattern that alternates between two fixed notes. A patrol car answering a call is said to be running lights and sirens, and the siren itself wails, blares or screams. An approaching siren grows louder before you see the car, and as it passes, the Doppler effect drops its pitch.
How to write it in Korean
| Language | Sound |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 왱왱, 앵앵 |
Which one to pick
Realistic
US Wail Siren is the long American rise and fall, Rapid Yelp is the fast pulse, and Euro Two Tone alternates two high notes the way a European patrol car does. Pick by setting: a US crime drama wants the wail, a scene in Berlin or Amsterdam wants the two-tone.
Distance
Distant Approach grows louder as it comes closer, the right sound for a cut where the police are on their way.
Games and animation
Arcade Wail is an 8-bit square wave, while Synth Sweep and Rising Synth are smoother electronic sweeps. Use them for a wanted level, a getaway mini game or anything that should not sound like a real street.
Uses
- Film and TVChase scenes, crime scenes and the moment a character realizes they have been caught.
- GamesWanted levels, getaway timers and city ambience.
- True crime podcastsSet the scene in a few seconds without narration.
- Language and culture lessonsCompare how police cars sound in different countries.
File details
- −1 dBFS
- MP3 320 kbps stereo