What is the ruling on using sound effects and music in da'wah videos?

It is forbidden to use musical instruments and music, and to listen to them. Backgrounds and sound effects resembling music, whether produced by human voices or otherwise, take the ruling of music, which is prohibition. This is because what matters is the apparent effect, and imitating forbidden instruments is not permissible, just as their negative impact is the same as that produced by real instruments.

As for the sounds of flowing water, wind, animals, and natural human sounds, such as crying and laughter, or the sounds of cannons, cars, breaking glass, and the like, whether natural or produced by modern technology: these are permissible, with the caveat that they should not be used as background for Quran recitation, due to the reverence and attentiveness required for the word of Allah Almighty.