job Offer: MIDI "re-instrumenting"

[Lasse Lammert]

Hey, I need someone with awesome sounding orchestra instruments (mainly strings, but also one marimba I think) to run some midis through those sounds for me.

it's 10 Songs (I think), not many different instruments, mainly strings, there might be one or two odd instruments as well though

 

[OneDaySky]

Hi Lasse, I got East West Quantum Leap Symphonic Choir I can run em through if you want?

 

[DanLights]

You could contact Jussi, Vespiz in this forum, He surely a few good tricks up his sleeve that could help you

 

[sawtooth]

I have eastwest orchestra gold complete, choirs and synthogy ivory. I also hold a classical music degree where I also did orchestration. So I can look at the midis to see if they are realistic in combination with the samples. Also add keyswitches so the parts are not all one single patch. PM me for more details

 

[Black neon bob]

Yeah same here, i got gold, silver and choirs from east west.

 

[cobhc]

I've got some EWQL Stuff as well as Omnisphere if you're interested...

 

[sys_fail_you]

L.A. Scoring Strings and Symphobia + True Strike here.

 

[Empathy]

Can I just pitch in and remind you guys to be very careful how you go about this; there are legal implications to this sort of thing. I know both EastWest and VSL are lethally vocal about how their samples are used by licensees. Check out EastWest's T&C page, it expressly forbids the usage of their samples in these scenarios.

To apply it to this situation as simply as possible; unless Lasse actually owns a license for any sample libraries you guys run his midi files through, selling the results (hell, even giving them to him for free) puts both you and Lasse in breach of the T&C for that library. Again, not trying to be a killjoy, just asking you guys to be careful. Read your T&Cs carefully, then if in doubt, contact the company about it.

 

[DanLights]

Can I just pitch in and remind you guys to be very careful how you go about this; there are legal implications to this sort of thing. I know both EastWest and VSL are lethally vocal about how their samples are used by licensees. Check out EastWest's T&C page, it expressly forbids the usage of their samples in these scenarios.

To apply it to this situation as simply as possible; unless Lasse actually owns a license for any sample libraries you guys run his midi files through, selling the results (hell, even giving them to him for free) puts both you and Lasse in breach of the T&C for that library. Again, not trying to be a killjoy, just asking you guys to be careful. Read your T&Cs carefully, then if in doubt, contact the company about it.

I understand this is not your opinion, you are simply stating fact, and I might've gotten it wrong, but does that mean if I have a studio and I mix a band's record, and nobody in the band has a license to any of these software (which why would they? They're musicians, not Audio Engineers or studio owners) then it can't be on the record?

 

[darthjujuu]

I understand this is not your opinion, you are simply stating fact, and I might've gotten it wrong, but does that mean if I have a studio and I mix a band's record, and nobody in the band has a license to any of these software (which why would they? They're musicians, not Audio Engineers or studio owners) then it can't be on the record?

excellent point... where does one draw the line?

 

[Empathy]

I understand this is not your opinion, you are simply stating fact, and I might've gotten it wrong, but does that mean if I have a studio and I mix a band's record, and nobody in the band has a license to any of these software (which why would they? They're musicians, not Audio Engineers or studio owners) then it can't be on the record?

Very valid question, I'm still not 100% sure on the answer myself. I have noticed that it tends to vary from company to company, but this is a direct copy/paste from the VSL terms of license page;

Can my writing partner, colleagues or friends use the sounds or the software once I’ve licensed the product? Can I form a group to buy and share products?

NO, each person who uses the sounds or the software must purchase their own copy (which licenses them to use the sounds). Anyone other than the original purchaser of the product, who uses the sounds or the software, is doing so illegally – risking legal action against both them and their clients! Contact us regarding package deals for special circumstances.

Can I offer the sounds or the software to clients as part of my recording studio or rental company services? Or, as a freelance sound designer, can I put custom compilation discs together (or any other medium) that include your sounds for my composer clients?

NO. Sorry, but each person who uses the sounds (the creative person) has to be a licensed user. Otherwise, this could cause tremendous legal problems for studio or rental clients.

This much I know stands quite true in the industry; the only major metal release I can think of off the top of my head that used VSL samples was The Varangian Way by Turisas, and they owned their own licenses to the samples. I think I heard something about Jari owning and using VSL samples with Wintersun, too. To be honest it's not too shocking that they enforce the license ownership shit so rigorously at VSL; the big boys use it on major releases because they or their label can afford to.

Similarly on the EastWest end user license FAQ page;

Who else can use the sounds on the CD that I have purchased?

Nobody, unless they also purchased the same Sample CD or downloaded the same sound sample. Only the ORIGINAL PURCHASER has the right to use the sound samples. This means you CANNOT SELL or give the sounds to anyone else. If you do, and they use the sounds within a commercial release, they, or anyone associated with the distribution of the music, may face legal action from the producer of the sounds. Many of these cases have resulted in multi-million dollar awards to the producer, and ruined the reputation and future job prospects of the composer. It is simply not worth using the sounds 'illegally'.

However, it slightly contradicts itself regarding using the samples for a clients mix;

If you are a music or production library composer/producer using our 'loops' (compositions that contain a combination of sound samples that can be repeated to form a continuous piece of music), the following terms apply -

• Loops must be used in a musical context with at least two other instruments that contribute significantly to the composition.

• The entire loop cannot be left exposed at any time in the composition.

• If you have any doubts a composition meets this criteria, you may submit it to licensing@eastwestsounds.com for written approval. (Please do not send audio or MP3 files, send us a link to your composition on your web server.)

It then goes on to say that multi-sampled instruments such as pianos are exempt from this exception. Confusing shit to say the least!

From what I can tell, the general consensus among these companies is that if you have a client that wants to use all those fancy samples you own, they need to buy a license for it. Feasible for cheaper libraries like EastWest, but a bit out-of-reach for entry level bands, or anyone without the budget for Symphobia or VSL.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

Wow, that's gaytarded.
Curious to know if that goes for the instruments that come with PT as well....would certainly not be interesting for a client to buy PTHD just so they can work with me

So if I'm mixing a band that supplies midis, can I not use SSD unless the band also owns a copy?
That would mean that it'd make zero sense for me to buy eastwest etc, cause I'm not allowed to use it on one of my client's projects.

Thanks for the heads up though... Means I'm not gonna buy eastwest, but I'll be looking for something I'm allowed to use instead

 

[Empathy]

Wow, that's gaytarded.
Curious to know if that goes for the instruments that come with PT as well....would certainly not be interesting for a client to buy PTHD just so they can work with me

So if I'm mixing a band that supplies midis, can I not use SSD unless the band also owns a copy?
That would mean that it'd make zero sense for me to buy eastwest etc, cause I'm not allowed to use it on one of my client's projects.

Thanks for the heads up though... Means I'm not gonna buy eastwest, but I'll be looking for something I'm allowed to use instead

In regards to dum samples and such, I don't think the same deal applies. Consider that engineers worldwide have been using SSD and Toontrack samples for client work for many years without any issues - while I cannot find a set license agreement on the Toontrack site, I imagine there is no such limitation. I can't say I have any idea about the PTHD instruments as I'm not a user, though I would guess they aren't covered by an equally stringent license. Can't recommend anything but reading through it yourself.

As for an orchestral library you can use with clients, have a look at ProjectSam's stuff - Symphobia's license agreement does not expressly forbid the use of the sample library on client work, it simply states that the person who buys the license is the only one authorised to install/use it. Simply state that you were the (co)producer on the project and you're pretty much in the clear based on that license agreement.

Thinking about it further, I imagine if you were noted as a producer on the album, you would be in the clear for any sample libraries you used on a production. Would definitely be worth you contacting the guys at EastWest about this to clarify - they won't turn down a big-name engineer such as yourself if it means good exposure of their product. My guess is they'd just affirm that you'd need to give full credit to them for the samples used.

 

[Lasse Lammert]

ok, thanks for the info