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rules for music track for pc demo for demoparties

category: parties [glöplog]
Hi there.

Im new to the scene but im following it a while now. However.
Currently, im doing my first demo using my own engine and tools, where everything is great. The problem is that i dont know any musician who would create a track for my(our,then) demo. So, i descided to use some still released music from an artist in the electronic music scene.

So here is the question, is it possible to use such music in a demo on any demo party?
added on the 2011-11-15 21:29:09 by makimaki makimaki
Do you have the permission from this artist?

Is this a commercial release?
added on the 2011-11-15 21:31:08 by wullon wullon
Also: maybe you can make a call to find a musician here before considering that solution?
added on the 2011-11-15 21:32:56 by wullon wullon
hi there.

wow, that was fast!

I still haven't asked the artist. I would have done so if the demo was finished.
And the track is still released commercially :( This is the main reason why im asking!

Unfortunately, I have something special in mind, that fits just fine onto that particular track...
added on the 2011-11-15 21:41:23 by makimaki makimaki
As a (scene) musician, I'd say that the general rule of thumb is: no. Don't use commercially released music, and especially not if you haven't obtained rights to use it in the first place - that's a double no-no.
added on the 2011-11-15 21:44:05 by gloom gloom
ok, now that is bad newwwws!

i wanted to prepare something to be shown at the tum2011 in december.
So you suggest to make a call here?
added on the 2011-11-15 21:46:46 by makimaki makimaki
Sure, there are many of us musicians here! Depending on what you have in mind I might have something to fit the bill myself. I was planning to enter the streaming music compo at TuM11 but would happily use that time to soundtrack a demo instead. Drop me a mail (put an @ sign before gmail.com and then put at "t.zero.zik" in front of that ;) ) if you want to discuss. (If not, there are plenty of other musicians to help you :) )
added on the 2011-11-15 22:00:22 by t-zero t-zero
tUM, even - stupid shift key...
added on the 2011-11-15 22:00:59 by t-zero t-zero
Based on past evidence, I'd say that parties will accept demos with previously-released music - even commercial music - but you absolutely, definitely, need to get permission.

The last few Fairlight demos are a good example of using previously-released music to good effect (and no, I'm not referring to Agenda Circling Forth here): Ceasefire and numb res were both based on previously-released soundtracks, and technically, they were commercial releases in the sense that the artists were (and still are) selling those albums from their Bandcamp pages. Obviously, in those cases it helped that A) Fairlight already had personal contacts to those artists, directly or indirectly, and B) we're not talking "major label" levels of commercial. But anyhow, it answers your question: it is possible, as long as you get permission. You'll probably get individual people bitching about it on Pouet, but that's normal for the demoscene. :-)

If the music you're interested in is a major label release, forget it. But if not - get in touch with the artist. You never know... it might work.
added on the 2011-11-15 22:57:55 by gasman gasman
Gasman: I should point out that in both cases we got specially modified versions of the tracks so they are unique to the demo. - Ceasfire would have been disqualified otherwise cos of asm rules, in fact.
added on the 2011-11-16 02:38:45 by smash smash
Plus, there's way less of a distinction between a 'commercial' musician and a scene musician these days, when multiple scene musicians also have stuff selling on iTunes etc, whether under the same handle or a different one.
added on the 2011-11-16 03:53:47 by t-zero t-zero
Argh, sorry, prematurely hit Submit. So, my second point was that I was very impressed by the soundtrack of Numb Res. But rather than "zomg it's cheating to use a non-scene musician," my thinking's gone something along the lines of "... why do so few scene musicians make this kind of music?" Of course, I'm a massive hypocrite here - my current tune-in-progress is old-school drum and bass - but still.
added on the 2011-11-16 04:03:44 by t-zero t-zero
As stated, use something you have permission to use, regardless of source. Apart from that, anything goes unless the rules of the compo at the party you are competing at says otherwise.
Beyond that, everything else is just opinion from people who are no better than you.
added on the 2011-11-16 08:00:13 by lug00ber lug00ber
lug00ber has the lead! and noone can run a compo like him (and gargaj). so pitty the fools who don't listen to him!
added on the 2011-11-16 08:34:35 by Proteque Proteque
lug00ber: anything goes in the compo, yes, but what happens after the compo is usually far more interesting. That said, there is nothing wrong with "already released"-stuff, but the way the question was asked I read it like "Imma gonna use Pendulum!!!111" or something, which is, as said, a super-no-no.
added on the 2011-11-16 09:28:21 by gloom gloom
1) getting permissions is a tricky thing. In many cases, the composer doesn't even have rights to give the permission (even if he mistakenly thinks so) if the music is being sold through some label.

2) there's more willing composers out there to cooperate with than you can shake a stick at. What's the problem? Post a thread calling for a composer, post a couple screenshots.
added on the 2011-11-16 09:43:30 by sol_hsa sol_hsa
Oh and 3), parties generally want stuff that hasn't been released before.
added on the 2011-11-16 09:44:02 by sol_hsa sol_hsa
It is your demo, do with it as you please. The general consensus on the scene has been that its kind of weak to use commercial music ever since it got over the first wave of affordable samplers. (there was a time when playing 1/12th of an MJ tune was considered a leap forward in terms of technology, also for the scene). If you make a really good demo people will forgive the use of a commercial track, if you make something truely horrible the commercial music will count more when people pass judgement.
added on the 2011-11-16 11:47:54 by NoahR NoahR
...unless its noisia or billain or some such, in which case people will hate simply because they love the artist and no matter how much of a wonder your demo is to behold, it would never really do true justice to the brilliance of the music and what was intended, perhaps as a cudos ends up being an insult to the whole fan base of said artist.
added on the 2011-11-16 11:51:10 by NoahR NoahR
What eebliss said > why not, BUT it's not true if you want to release at a demoparty (you will be disqualified).
added on the 2011-11-16 14:16:12 by wullon wullon
ah yes, the times when the french still used to make demos ;P
added on the 2011-11-16 16:04:39 by Gargaj Gargaj
My point of view on the subject :

1) If you want to make a demo especially for this song/music, then go for it. But make it really awesome, so people will almost forgive you. Beware because if it's not awesome enough they will flame you for eternity.

2) If you are making a demo and need some music, then try harder finding a scener musician. They need work. And your demo needs their input on the way your visuals interact with the music, so that the experience will be better.

In any case, NEVER EVER make a demo without asking the musician for his/her authorization to use their music. Often they would be happy with the way you want to make something with their music. If they don't know the scene, explain to them. Most musicians are naturally open minded and like every forms of art. Well it's the way I'm idealizing musicians and artists in general.
added on the 2011-11-16 16:19:11 by flure flure
coder who can't find a musician.. what, did hell freeze over? there are TONS of people who wants to make music for demos dude...or dudette...
added on the 2011-11-16 17:53:05 by thec thec
Quote:
That said, there is nothing wrong with "already released"-stuff, but the way the question was asked I read it like "Imma gonna use Pendulum!!!111" or something, which is, as said, a super-no-no.


Yeah, because Pendulum sucks balls! :D
added on the 2011-11-16 18:14:48 by okkie okkie

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