As a GM, I am interested in exploring the option of playing background sounds/noises/music for my players when they enter a scenario to help set the mood.
For instance the sounds of dripping water or bats shrieking when they enter caverns or perhaps the sound of a storm when they are out in a blizzard or even the sounds of merriment and talk when they enter a tavern. You get the general idea.
So firstly, where would be the best place to acquire sound files?
Secondly, I would like to use the sound files for both the typical around the table game but also for online Virtual Table Top gaming. As far as VTT goes, I currently use skype with D20pro. Is there a way to allow sounds to be broadcast through skype or perhaps some other application such as the one in Google Plus?
I suggest you don't. With 4 players and a DM all talking it's already hard enough to hear what's going on.
there are a number of free sites that allow you access to random sounds. I've used them on time to time. Generally I will play it for a few seconds as part of my room description or play a noise in order to hint at something in the room beyond.
You can Google "free sound effects". There are a bunch of really great ones including "Dragon breathing fire", "water dropping", "Angry dogs growling"...