Could I use the music I create in a game

[Frontmaster]

Hello,

Could I use any of the songs I create using this software in a game to sell etc, or would royalty fees, licenses etc be requried?

[9g6t7g967t]

Genneraly software like this allows you to 'own' whatever you create with it. And often they come with or sell a lot of royalty free content that you can use however you want to.

Just keep in mind that if you go and sample a bunch of songs or other peoples work and then try to claim it as your own you could run into problems.

[Frontmaster]

Thats good then, I don't plan on ripping others off.

[LOGAN]

It's a bit more complex. The samples from Magix' soundpools have a specific license. I have a lot of old soundpools which allowed commercial use if the product shows a magix logo. I understand the newer soundpools might have a different license for the use of the provided samples. Please refer to the licenses.

[Knox]

Originally posted by LOGAN:

It's a bit more complex. The samples from Magix' soundpools have a specific license. I have a lot of old soundpools which allowed commercial use if the product shows a magix logo. I understand the newer soundpools might have a different license for the use of the provided samples. Please refer to the licenses.

This.
I'm using Magix for three years, and the only thing that makes me annoyed is that you have to buy a specific commercial license for every Magix soundpool you have. You're allowed to upload to youtube and soundcloud, however you must pay about $200 per Soundpool license.

You are free to buy other loops and use them freely. You can get royalty free loops from other sources and use them in Magix the way you want.

[Acer]

Thanks for the info. What's defined as a "soundpool"? The premium edition comes with "6000 sounds and loops", and 10 soundpools. Are the 6000 sounds and loops grouped into 10 different soundpools, or is it something else entirely?

Sorry if it's a generic term, I'm a noob when it comes to composing music.

[Frontmaster]

Indeed, If its a pay per release (soundpool...what ever that is), that completely changes my thoughts on purchasing the software, As I can make music in other ways, this would have been a slightly quicker way.

[Frontmaster]

Just found this on their website, not sure if its the right piece of information, but i guess its the same for any product they sell.


6. Use of music, video and photo files:

The music, video and photo files included with MAGIX products may only be used within the scope of producing personally created works to be used for non-commercial purposes. This also applies to music, video or photo data acquired through or by means of MAGIX products. Commercial use constitutes receipt of financial benefits through direct or indirect use of the files (through sale, licensing, ad banners, etc.) This applies to the music, video and photo files included with the product "Xara Web Designer" with the stipulation that these files may be used in the scope of the purchaser's own commercial website. Transfer of these files to third parties for commercial purposes is not permitted. Exploitation of these music, video and photo files outside the scope of personally created works is illegal. Exploitation of these music, video and photo files outside the scope of personally created works is prohibited.

[Worst DPS EU]

They really should amend that immediately to allow commercial use excluding replication of the samples to use in another library - unless they don't want to sell their product to professionals I guess.

[PeteUplink]

Well that's bollocks! That's what I get for not reading up on this. I wanted to use it for making music for games and assumed that, since sound loops that come with software are usually public domain and free to use in whatever way you want, they would allow me to make game music with it...

Just spent £71 on a product that doesn't install and I can't use it to make what I want... ♥♥♥♥!

[Frontmaster]

Originally posted by Neurojazz:

They really should amend that immediately to allow commercial use excluding replication of the samples to use in another library - unless they don't want to sell their product to professionals I guess.

I totally agree, looking at the software and even the description, shows the software has many features, professional features at that. So it looks like its aimed towards the professional user, with the licensing that isn't. .

[Knox]

You guys are seriously misunderstanding the license. You can't sell your music that uses Magix Soundpools, aka sounds bundled with the software. It's aimed for professionals, and professionals usually don't use them anyway. You can download other loops/samples and use them the way you want, accordingly to their license. If you liked its loops so much, you can pay for a license that allows you to sell your music. It's not rocket science (even though I don't agree with their policies).

There are royalty free sounds everywhere, a big part of them allows you to sell your music for little to no money at all.

[PeteUplink]

I think we understand that ShinjiKnox. The main issue seems to be that, with this sort of software, the loops that ship with the product can usually be used in whatever way the user wants, whether that be on a commercial song/product or not, as you've already bought them (and the rights) with the software. At least that's the way this sort of software used to be sold and licensed back in the 90's... (like when you buy a backing track to use in a live performance. You can make money on it as the licence is inclusive in the package... Like Karaoke tracks).

I think the problem we're overlooking is the fact that 21st century busness models seem to be designed to force people to pay extra for almost anything, including the right to use the things that you've just bought with the software, and should be covered by the licence for the product you just bought.

By all means charge for a licence to use loops in a commercial product or song. But for the loops you buy as packs, not the ones that come with the software, which should be public domain anyway.

I got the software for making music for games and I wanted to used the loops to make tunes, as, even though I can make and record my own, using the loops is quicker (as I don't have the time to do the programming and record each section of the music myself). Yes... I know I should have read up on it first, and it's my own fault, but I'm especially pissed off due to the fact that I've spent £71 on something that doesn't install and I can't use the loops in any commercially produced games, even after buying the 'premium' version.

As it stands the product is a waste of money for me, and I currently can't afford to buy the needed licence.

What they're doing here would be like the makers of Unity, Blender or Game Maker Studio saying "Yes you can use our software to make a commercial game, but only if you use and program your own actions and commands. If you want to use ours you have to pay us £200"

[Knox]

I can totally understand your point. I'm not happy about heir policy too.

ShadowWarrior (dev), explained it in another thread:

Originally posted by ShadowDancer:

The loops that come with the software have a non-commercial use licence. That means that if you make songs and you distribute them free of charge, then there is no problem.

The standard licence does not allow you to sell songs or use them commericially, like in a subscription Youtube channel.

You can purchase a Pro Licence for all our soundpools at our Catooh website, simply search for the soundpool pack that you want, for instance, Music Maker 2014. The Pro licence charges range from $30 to $200 and allow you to distribute your music as you wish.

http://www.catooh.com/

The artists who make the loops also earn royalties from the Pro licence, hence why we have the different licencing rules. The assumption that you cannot sell any songs made with this software is incorrect. You can either buy an additional licence to use the loops, or use any of the Synth instruments to create your own loops and original material to use how you wish.

I think that the loops included with the software are "slices" of a soundpool. I have the Magix 2013 Premium, and it included a hip-hop and two other genres that are usually packaged in soundpools. While I think that it's not fair to pay $200 for a commercial license (I have great loops packs that are two times cheaper than that), I can somehow understand that commercial lincenses would make the price higher.

Anyway, I don't think that this would go anywhere. It's been their policy since I started using Magix, maybe it was like that since the start. I don't that a Steam release would change it.

You can get plenty of loops for your for free, some even come with commercial licenses.
http://www.producerloops.com/ gives you 300mb of loops (that's a lot) from various creators. They are royalty free, maybe that can help you.

Here's something I made mixing every genre: https://soundcloud.com/yagamishinji/metaphorical-soul

[PeteUplink]

The main issue I have is it would have been nice if they'd included a little "Notice: if you wish to use the included loops in a commercial song or product, you will need to buy the appropriate licence" somewhere on the Steam store page.

Sorry. I don't meant to have a pop at people. I'm just, understandably, annoyed that not only have I bought a product that doesn't work, but when it will work I'll have to pay even more money for the right to use it in the way I intended. Seems a bit like buying a car but only being able to keep it in your drive, if you want use it on the roads you have to pay extra...

The website that you get the licences from also seems to be only in German (at least from the link they sent me in a tech support email)

*edit*

Interesting tune BTW. Sorry, I missed it first time.

[LOGAN]

My bigger question is.... why are there 2 different publishers for Magix and why isnt the license sold on the official magix site but instead on some catooh site i never heard of...