ElevenLabs Sound Effects

Generate sound effects from text descriptions — supports looping, custom duration, and prompt adherence control.

Setup: See Installation Guide. For JavaScript, use @elevenlabs/* packages only.

Quick Start

Python

python

from elevenlabs.client import ElevenLabs

client = ElevenLabs()

audio = client.text_to_sound_effects.convert(
    text="Thunder rumbling in the distance with light rain",
)

with open("thunder.mp3", "wb") as f:
    for chunk in audio:
        f.write(chunk)

JavaScript

javascript

import { ElevenLabsClient } from "@elevenlabs/elevenlabs-js";
import { createWriteStream } from "fs";

const client = new ElevenLabsClient();
const audio = await client.textToSoundEffects.convert({
  text: "Thunder rumbling in the distance with light rain",
});
audio.pipe(createWriteStream("thunder.mp3"));

cURL

bash

curl -X POST "https://api.elevenlabs.io/v1/sound-generation" \
  -H "xi-api-key: $ELEVENLABS_API_KEY" -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"text": "Thunder rumbling in the distance with light rain"}' \
  --output thunder.mp3

Parameters

Parameter	Type	Default	Description
`text`	string (required)	—	Description of the desired sound effect
`model_id`	string	`eleven_text_to_sound_v2`	Model to use
`duration_seconds`	number \| null	null (auto)	Duration 0.5–30s; auto-calculated if null
`prompt_influence`	number \| null	0.3	How closely to follow the prompt (0–1)
`loop`	boolean	false	Generate a seamlessly looping sound (v2 model only)

Examples with Parameters

python

# Looping ambient sound, 10 seconds
audio = client.text_to_sound_effects.convert(
    text="Gentle forest ambiance with birds chirping",
    duration_seconds=10.0,
    prompt_influence=0.5,
    loop=True,
)

# Short UI sound, high prompt adherence
audio = client.text_to_sound_effects.convert(
    text="Soft notification chime",
    duration_seconds=1.0,
    prompt_influence=0.8,
)

Output Formats

Pass output_format as a query parameter (cURL) or SDK parameter:

Format	Description
`mp3_44100_128`	MP3 44.1kHz 128kbps (default)
`pcm_44100`	Raw uncompressed CD quality
`opus_48000_128`	Opus 48kHz 128kbps — efficient compressed
`ulaw_8000`	μ-law 8kHz — telephony

Full list: mp3_22050_32, mp3_24000_48, mp3_44100_32, mp3_44100_64, mp3_44100_96, mp3_44100_128, mp3_44100_192, pcm_8000, pcm_16000, pcm_22050, pcm_24000, pcm_32000, pcm_44100, pcm_48000, ulaw_8000, alaw_8000, opus_48000_32, opus_48000_64, opus_48000_96, opus_48000_128, opus_48000_192.

Prompt Tips

•Be specific: "Heavy rain on a tin roof" > "Rain"
•Combine elements: "Footsteps on gravel with distant traffic"
•Specify style: "Cinematic braam, horror" or "8-bit retro jump sound"
•Mention mood/context: "Eerie wind howling through an abandoned building"

Error Handling

python

try:
    audio = client.text_to_sound_effects.convert(text="Explosion")
except Exception as e:
    print(f"API error: {e}")

Common errors:

•401: Invalid API key
•422: Invalid parameters (check duration range, prompt_influence range)
•429: Rate limit exceeded

References

•Installation Guide