Suggestions for Royalty Free Music

jsteehl wrote on 9/12/2003, 4:15 PM

As I have zero time and even less talent (actually non) on the music side, I’m looking for a good base library of Royalty Free Music for various video projects. The usual stuff wedding, instrumental, solo’s etc. I’m a small shop (actually not even a shop more like a computer and a video cam) so budget is of concern, maybe in the $200 or less range. Biggest thing is I don’t want that cheesy blue movie stuff (don’t even like saying it).

What are people using for Royalty Free Music? Any suggestion? There is some stuff on ebay, some with examples, but I don’t know if the whole set is worth it.

Might buy SonicFire Pro in the future but for now I just need something I can use off the shelf.

Another question: When I acquire a lib can I make tweaks with Acid Pro? Not to familiar with it but from what I understand you can take music and change its length, loop it etc.

TIA!

-Jason

Comments

scotty_dvc80 wrote on 9/12/2003, 4:22 PM

Acid Pro is a great tool.. If your wanting to get by on the cheap though.. Vegas will do the same thing.. It is lacking a few big features that acid pro has.. Like midi support (i think) etc.. But vegas will basically do the same thing for you.. If your just wanting to make music for your videos it should suffice... Try that and DV direct has some good prices on Loops right now.. buy 2 for 39$ and get the third for 19$ .. you can look at all the loops and sample them here on the sonic foundry site and then find the ones your interested in and go to DVdirect.com and order them at better pricing.. Hope that helps some

Chanimal wrote on 9/12/2003, 4:30 PM

Try BackTraxx from Digital Juice at http://www.digitaljuice.com/backtraxx/backtraxx.asp

I have their 1st 28 CD library and have used it for videos for Motorola, GE, City of Lakeway, Avisys and weddings, personal, etc. videos. Great variety, terrific selection, multiple sizes. The price is $399 for over 1,000 songs but cheaper via resellers.

They have low-res samples of all files.

randy-stewart wrote on 9/12/2003, 4:35 PM

Jason,
Here are a couple of sites. I've used the first one. Haven't used the second.
http://www.freeplaymusic.com/
http://www.partnersinrhyme.com/
I've tried to research this area for future use if I decide to go pro. For the popular stuff, it's tough getting clearances to use in video productions that you will sell on a very small scale. Would appreciate anything you find out being posted here. Good luck.

Randy

AZEdit wrote on 9/12/2003, 4:53 PM

Shockwave music is a great resource- you can purchase what you need- as you need it---online. Below is a link for them. You can play samples before you purchase- and they have a variety of styles (choose from upper right column-"music tracks and loops" )

http://www.shockwave-sound.com/royalty-free-romantic-music.html

VOGuy wrote on 9/12/2003, 5:03 PM

www.sounddogs.com

-- Extensive library from several suppliers. Preview, pay for & download as needed.

Travis
Travis Voice Services
www.announcing.biz

--

kentwolf wrote on 9/12/2003, 10:04 PM

Sonicfire Pro 3.1 is excellent.

See http://www.smartsound.com/sonicfire/index.html

1st class!

DataMeister wrote on 9/13/2003, 1:32 AM

www.musicbakery.com

is good for a selection of prerecorded music.

JBJones

TomG wrote on 9/13/2003, 7:39 AM

Very pleased with music from Fresh Music:

http://www.freshmusic.com/

TomG

JohnnyRoy wrote on 9/13/2003, 9:12 AM

> Might buy SonicFire Pro in the future but for now I just need something I can use off the shelf.

If you can’t afford SonicFire Pro, just get MusicMaestro ($49). Just select the style, adjust the duration, and it composes a piece of the exact length. It doesn’t get any easier than that.

~jr

kentwolf wrote on 9/14/2003, 12:31 AM

>>...just get MusicMaestro ($49)...

Before I upgraded to Sonic Fire Pro 3.1, I used Movie Maestro.

It is inexpensive, but hey...it *does* get the job done.

It is a very effective program if all you want to to is generate music or generate music for a given time.

It is a good proram.

ArmyVideo wrote on 9/14/2003, 11:17 AM

I know you said you were looking at the $200 and under range, but here is a suggestion for you that only costs a little more and is more than worth the investment. Network Music (networkmusic.com) is freakin awsome. You hear their stuff as the bed music for most of the stuff on the History Channel, Discovery Channel, and the like. For a three year lease ($349 / year) you get your choice of 15 CD's. There genre runs the gammit from emotional to down right corny tracks. During the course of your lease, you can do a 1-for-1 exchange of the CD's, so you're not locked in. Also you can use their website to locate and preview the "perfect" track based on keyword searches.
We have their entire catalog in our office (800+ titles) but I find myself using tracks off the same 10-20 cd's time and again. I can't say enough about this place. Their customer service is outstanding, and their products are very top shelf.