I purchased some relatively inexpensive stock mucic from ebay that I really like using. I think it was like $60 for 4 or 5 disks. The company has it for sale almost all of the time.

Good clean organized music. Seems that professionals are using the same library - I heard one of the songs I used last year on the radio one day last week.

There are good things to be had on ebay

What is that library or company called so we can look for it... I might be interested in that...

Thanks!

> For stock audio you may want to check out:

I would be careful with FreePlayMusic.com. I inquired about using them for a graduation DVD that I was donating my services for (read: I charge no money, I make no money!) and FreePlay wasn’t Free! They wanted me to pay $10 per song per DVD made. So FreePlay is only free if you already have a contract with BMI/ASACP and are already paying royalties for that. Don’t be fooled. They should just change the name to PayPlayMusic.com.

> But what happens if and when I decide to do this service for others - Either as a gift or for hire?

To answer your question to the best of my knowledge (note I am not a lawyer but I donate my services all the time so I’ve looked into this)

You can copy CD’s all you want for your home videos. No problem. As soon as you want to show that DVD at the church picnic, you are in violation of copyright laws unless you pay for performance rights to the music. If you give that DVD away for free, you are in violation of copyright laws unless you pay for distribution rights to the music. In BOTH cases you are also in violation of copyright laws because you have created a derivative work without a synchronization license. Bottom line, as soon as it leaves your home, you owe somebody something for using their work in your work.

> Are there cheap or free (or public domain) libraries of both stock video or audio that I could use and not be breaking the law with?

Sure. There is lots of buy-out music that you can get. Just search google for the term buyout music. Read the license agreement carefully but most give you unlimited use for its intended purpose. You might also want to check out SmartSounds. They have CD’s of music and a tool that will automatically cut the music to the exact length you need with a beginning, middle, and ending, right on cue. You can also compose your own music with Sony ACID but that takes time and a commitment.

Artbeats is a great place to find stock video footage.

> Also, should I decide I want to use and pay for a song from a CD, how do I go about paying the royalties (or even finding out how much it will cost) so I can use it legitimately?

If you wanted to do this legally you should go to BMI or ASCAP’s web site and do a title search and find out who owns the publication rights (i.e., the publishers). Then contact them to get a sync license. Many won’t even bother with someone as small as you and me so many times it’s impossible to obtain and you are dead in the water. If you do get a sync license, then you have to decide who’s rendition of the music you want to use (because many times several artists will have a version) and then you need to pay mechanical royalties to the performer to use their performance of the song, and distribution rights to make copies of it. There may be more rights that I’m forgetting but you get to pay a lot of people. ;-)

In sort, I gave up. I write my own music with ACID or use SmartSounds Pro if I’m in a hurry. IMHO, it isn’t worth the hassle to do anything else legally.

~jr

http://www.productiontrax.com (not free)
http://www.sonnyboo.com(free)
http://www.vasst.com (some free tracks Spot has posted if you give him credit)

Guy
Pana3CCDUser.com

The one I use is the "impact library". I have the full 9 disk set. Great stuff and an excellent variety.

I've ordered several music cd's from www.music2hues.com from Atlanta - you can order online and their service people are very knowledgeable and friendly - fast shipping too. Lots of selection and reasonably priced.

"Remember, I don't get paid for this "

Profit or lack of it has absolutely **nothing** to do with copyright issues. If you distribute or display copyrighted works without the owner's permissions, then you are violating copyright.

If you have any musical talent, you can make your own tracks with Acid loops. Go to AcidPlanet dot com and you can download a free Acid-Jr program and some free loops (or purchase loop CD's).

I actually have written some stuff with Acid (this all started when I bought the Screenblast version of that) and have composed music on MIDI & Synths since the 80's but as another poster pointed out - that takes a big time commitment plus there are folks who will want certain very specific versions of songs on their wedding (or memorial service) videos......

I think I will try some of the stock music suggestions posted above and see about talking to someone in the music biz (I have a cousin who has had some of his songs recorded by Noel Harrison and Bobby Darin) and see what he has to say....

Thanks to all.

Bruce

> plus there are folks who will want certain very specific versions of songs on their wedding (or memorial service) videos......

I think you will find that the videographers who are giving their customers what they want, are doing so illegally at their own risk because there is no legal way to do this. That, unfortunately, is the sad, sad state of affairs in this country (US). :(

~jr

HEre is a quick little FAQ that answers some questions.

http://www.shockwave-sound.com/myths.html