There is very little free music. Here are some sites that where you can buy syncronization rights for music.
http://www.audiosparx.com/
http://www.wickedwavs.com/
http://www.sopersound.com/index.cfm
http://www.uniquetracks.com/index.html
http://www.shockwave-sound.com/
http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/
http://www.media-tracks.com/
http://www.magnatune.com/
http://musicmoz.org/Sound_Files/Samples_and_Loops/Production_Music_Libraries/Links/

Ebay has a few decent libraries for very reasonable prices. If you can get it, I recommend Tracks Now 1-4. A very good library and I purchased it for under $50.00.

WHat is the criteria for the eBay libraries? How do I look it up?

Thanks

Hey, I am selling some royalty free music libraries on E-bay for a "close to free" price. Just type in "Royalty free buyout music from Seville Media". Not sure if this is the style you need for your particular video project, but three libraries for $15.00 is cheap.

I found it be searching for "royalty free music" then scrolled down for Tracks Now.

Mind you .... there is a differance between "Free Music" and "Royalty Free Music".

Sony has a great library of music samples you can purchase...and mix...and do pretty much anything you please with it. Very reasonable in the price...and I like what I have so far.

If royalty free music is so cheap to purchase, is anyone really going to pounce on a videographer who uses relatively old recordings with, for example, old time favorites on them. If it is just background music played by an orchestra or piano, without a recognizable artist, do you really think videgraphers are taking a risk putting parts of such music on to a film, particularly if there are only a few copies of the DVDs made?

Regards, Fred

. . . is anyone really going to pounce on a videographer who uses relatively old recordings with, for example, old time favorites on them.

Yes, there is that very real possibility.

. . . do you really think videgraphers are taking a risk putting parts of such music on to a film, . . .

Yes, they are taking a "risk," but risk or not, doing so is breaking the law. I guess it boils down to Dirty Harry's famous quote, "You've got to ask yourself one question: Do I feel lucky? Well, do ya punk?"

J--

Also here;
http://www.vegasusers.com/audshare/
John

>>> You might want to check out: http://www.freeplaymusic.com/<<<

I have to say something about these guys - I have used them in the past and LOVED to recomend them. But man oh man - I just went to look for some new music and they have gotten into the money game big time. They used to have a simple concept and model - free meant free. Their agreement even stated this in explicit terms - saying that use in any meduim for any reason was free. And that you would never be charged for use. Than things stated to change - some people in these forums started talking about getting price quotes from them which I thought was odd, but sure enough - at that time it suddenly said something like "For a quote please email..."

But now - well clearly someone came in and said "Free??? What are you guys crazy???"

But here is my real beef - look at the "rate card". if you are using it as part of a major netowork show (NBC, ABC, etc) thatn they tell you it is free. But hey - using it for a church? non profit? Wedding video? Film festival? Local TV? Well hey - they have the opinion that unlike major national broadcasters those with limited or no funds have all kinds of money to put out. ?!?!?!?!?! Lets see - If I want to use it on some local PEG station that 3 people are watching I have to pay - "85.00 per freeplay music title, per year (Local) ". if I wanted to use it on a website, for any reason (other than adult) it is - "$250.00 per freeplay music title, unlimited use, annual, renewable license" and if I want to use it in some training video that will only be seen/heard in my company than - "250.00 per freeplay music title, per year, unlimited Multi Media Use" but if I wanted to use it, lets say, during the Super Bowl or other event where my network was charging a quater of a millon for 30 second spots - being so sympathetic to us because we are just a poor network who couldn't possibly afford to pay for things - my cost would be - "Freeplay's musical compositions and recordings may be used (broadcast, synchronized and/or copied) without fee. These reproduction rights, known as master synchronization rights, are absolutely FREE and are granted in perpetuity, provided Freeplay is accorded appropriate screen credit..."

WTF?!?!?!?!? Is this done a tribute to the Regan/Bush way of thinking? Give tax breaks to the rich mentality? Sorry but this just pisses me off.

But wait - films are still safe right? Um - yeah if you are making a major studio film. I want to use something free in my Lord Of the Rings sequel because 250 million isn't enough to cover music - no problem. Same as for national network broadcasts provided it is a "Feature-Length Films released by a major studio". But if you are making a small indy film with a few bucks out of your own pocket...maybe making it to show in film festivals or to be sold at a film market fo direct to video....well - " If you are using Freeplay Music for: / 5. Direct-to-video, DVD, CD, CDR DVDR or other, programming use / 14. Film Festivals " "Then Freeplay Music requires a signed license agreement and a license fee payment (in most cases) as described in the Freeplay Music Rate Card."

Freeplay now is on my "You suck list".

Compare now - as of June 2004 - in addition to what I mentioned above (as well as more detailed info I did not mention) the use is summed up thusly:

Other than for broadcast per our Terms Of Use, using freeplaymusic in conjunction with or to promote a revenue generating business, product or service requires a direct paid license with Freeplay Music.

Verses 2001/2002 agreement -

FreePlay Music, Inc.'s musical compositions and recordings may be broadcast and/or copied for the purpose of being included in any programming or advertising being produced for transmission over any medium (including radio, television, satellite, wireless or internet media) worldwide. FreePlay music may also be synchronized in programming for the purpose of retail videotape or DVD distribution, if such distribution follows broadcast or transmission of the synchronized FreePlay music in the programming over radio, television, satellite, wireless or Internet media. These rights are also granted for personal, non-commercial uses. These reproduction rights (known as mechanical, synchronization and master recording rights) are absolutely FREE, and are granted in perpetuity. You're free to include FreePlay music in programming or advertising for distribution anywhere in the world.

I think it is important to point out that it is up to YOU, the purchaser of the royalty-free music, to find out exactly what the license agreement is for a particular library. Before I purchase any library, I always e-mail the seller with very specific questions about usage. "Royalty-Free" does not mean the same to everyone, and, in fact, some uses may be royalty-free and some may require extra fees.

For example, I purchased TracksNow and like it very much. We use it for videos in our worship services. However, we cannot sell those videos with the TracksNow music without paying an additional license fee. That's how that agreement is worded and I confirmed as such with the library producer.

We also have the MovieMania library. That library DOES allow us to sell our worship videos, but we have to give credit to the library.

So, we are careful to keep track of which libraries can be used for what purposes.

Personally, I think Royalty-Free should mean just that - you buy it. It's paid for. you can use it in whatever you want. Yes, you get it pretty cheap, but the trade-off is that the guy next door can use the exact same music. If you want exclusive music, you pay MUCH more, but it's yours. To sell it Royalty-Free and then put in a bunch of "ifs" doesn't seem right. Comstcok Images has different categories. Music Library producers should do the same thing.

>>>I think it is important to point out that it is up to YOU, the purchaser of the royalty-free music, to find out exactly what the license agreement is for a particular library.<<<

yes indeed. This is very important now, especially with the internet and places that offer "free" and "Royality Free" music. If you look at the Freeplay agreement as it used to read it was very clear - in case someone did not get that the music they offered was "free" they broke it down. Really no misunderstanding. Now it is misleading...more than it needs to be I feel. And to me if you are using it in a Chruch it should be free. If you are using it for PEG it sghould be free. Educational/School Classroom use - free. Film Festival use? It should vary on type of festival and projects budget. Such as any feature under 1 million would be free, 1 million - 5 million maybe 40 per cut, worlwide use, and so on. Wedding video use - use the model for paying royalites - rate based on how many copies being sold. And so on. But cetianly Freeplay has it so back asswards now by allowing those with the most money to use it for free, forever for any reason and those with little or no money to pay year by year with restrictions and "ifs"...it just boggels my mind.

The orginal poster never mentioned how he was going to use his video...

" just edited a project w/ Vegas 5, and need to find some music.".

Without this information you cannot really qualify what music you can and cannot use with/without royalties.

I know that FreePlay Music is on Filmy's "You Suck List" but for private use (i.e. home videos that you are not selling for distributing" it is still free. Say what you want but I can't name one other commerical RF music vendor that can make that claim. Do you know of any?

Yes I know it is tough when something is free free and then it is limited after you got use to it but hey it is a free market economy (pun intended).

-J

I think Freeplay's Terms of Use changed when they changed the design of their web page and presented a more professional and polished look. In other words, they went big time on us. I've been using Freeplay for private non-commercial use and I think it's great. It's the main reason I haven't invested in Acid or any other means of creating a soundtrack.

Yep, they've really tightened their Terms. In addition to some free use, you're required to provide credit for this free music by showing "Music Provided By www.freeplaymusic.com".

To be clear, hear are the terms by which their content is still free (from their website www.freeplaymusic.com).

""1. *Programming content to be included in an ASCAP or BMI licensed US TV Broadcasts, as well as later rebroadcasts of same ex-US (excludes local-only TV, community access TV, Radio and Advertising Commercials)
2. Feature-Length Films released by a major studio
3. Private Non-Commercial Use (Non-revenue generating or associated)
4. Educational, Non-Commercial use (limited to school grounds and classroom - non broadcast)

Then Freeplay's musical compositions and recordings may be used (broadcast, synchronized and/or copied) without fee. These reproduction rights, known as master synchronization rights, are absolutely FREE and are granted in perpetuity, provided Freeplay is accorded appropriate screen credit as follows, on a most favored nations basis with all other music providers: "Music Provided By www.freeplaymusic.com". In addition, provided the use first occurs in the US, videocassette synchronization fees are also FREE. ""

Dave

smhontz...

I findly found someone who has the MovieMania library. I keep seeing it pop up on eBay and was wondering how much of it is useful (read, non-cheesy).

How does it compare to others out there... is it a good value?

Thanks,

-J

I have the MovieMania 40 CD set. (I think there are other, smaller sets out there...)

There are definitely some cheesy, synth-driven tracks in the mix. But, then, there are some that are very good. There are some fun movie knock-offs (sound-alikes to Chariots of Fire, Jaws, Top Gun, etc.) I recently did a 45 minute video for my son's fifth grade class and I used 20 or so tracks from the MovieMania library. I got the library for < $200 so I felt I got my money's worth. Over the 40 CD set, there are many different styles, so you really do have a lot to choose from.

You can listen to samples from the library at elitevideo.com.

I also have the Tracks Now library that I like very much - it's not cheesy at all. However, the MovieMania library has better licensing than the TracksNow library, as far as selling products containing the music.

Steve

>"but for private use (i.e. home videos that you are not selling for distributing" it is still free. Say what you want but I can't name one other commerical RF music vendor that can make that claim. Do you know of any?"

Depending on who you ask, what time it is and what mood they're in, it's apparently legal under those conditions for everything in your CD collection.

But I might be wrong.....

Thanks for the feedback Steve. I noticed you also do worship video. That is another one of my side projects and it is quite fun.

Do you do it for your Church or as a biz?

I'll check out the MovieMania lib.

-Jason

Not to hijack but I do have a few questions related to this:

1) Have you used ACID for creating music beds?

2) Is ACID your primary music resource?

3) Do you prefer to cut picture to existing music beds or do you prefer to create music (or have it created) to match the picture?

4) What types of projects do you most often need music for (events, weddings, spots, docs, longform drama etc)

5) If you use music libraries, which one do you prefer?

6) What style of music do you use most (so in terms of a music library, "Corporate", "Action", "Atmospheric" etc)

7) If you use library music, do you typically cut it up or do you use the whole track as-is?

Jason,

I work part-time for Community Church of Joy, in Glendale, Arizona. I use Vegas, and my partner uses FCP on her Mac. We are now just starting to package and sell some of the graphic and video work that we have used in our services so that other churches can take advantage of them (Our first pass at a website is at www.media4worship.com).

Steve

Just to clarify the situation, if I add small extracts of sound tracks to a film from a CD I bought, and I use the end product for my own personal use and make copies for two or three other family members, am I obliged to write the CD distributor and ask for permission to do this? Who in their right mind would prosecute a person who didn't seek permisssion, it would make world headlines.

I can see the point where a videographer makes a film and sells large numbers of it for profit to members of the public, then the music industry should receive further royalties for the music.

Are there any known cases where the music industry has taken a videographer to Court for using music extracts on film where less than a dozen copies of the film were distributed on a non profit basis to other people?

Surely no one is likely to be prosecuted if it cannot be proved that the music industry has suffered some loss of revenue because music has been used for background purposes on a film. The reverse situation is more likely to occur, people are likely to go out and buy a CD after hearing small extracts from it on a film! But, even then, people are so absorbed with watching the film, that few would even remember what the music on it was!

In any event, does Sony include any royalty free music with Vegas and warn users about the copyright situation? After all, it is Sony that has given us the tools to produce film with extracts from CDs on them. It would be a nice gesture with an expensive video editing product to make some royalty free music available and to set out clearly what the legal copyright position is for both non profit and commercial video work.

Regards, Fred