Posts by timmcmorris

ZtarrZound said
Having control over the process > not having control.

+1

I start threads like this one

I noticed this too, but only with the dashboard plus plugin. Not sure if that is what you are referring to or if you could do that even without the plugin! I’ve become so reliant on so many of the user created features I forget they are not actually a part of the original UI now

Hey friends

I’ve seen a few posts here and there about measuring the loudness of music with the newer Loudness Unit standard that is being adopted by more and more countries and thought I’d share this video that really explains things well:

I’ve recently been using “Insite” by izotope to help keep my music levels more practical and consistent, so that’s why I’ve been interested! So – you may already be aware, but for those who aren’t I thought I’d share!

But that’s the idea of all micro stocks and royalty free music, to get cheap music with no papers, no hassle, no cue sheets. How will help you country info of a buyer, Tim? By the way, when someone register here, do he mention where he comes from? I just don’t remember .

Hey man,

You see, there is an interesting phenomenon happening right now. While I agree that the idea BEGAN as a micro stock marketplace, the reality is that major companies are now actually using the site and this is bringing issues Envato didn’t anticipate I believe. One of the major issues is the licensing structure (which everyone on the site now knows is a huge issue). Control and protection of content (which is what this thread is really about) is another major issue.

Some may feel the fight against piracy is a waste of time – and that is fine, however if AudioJungle will not invest the resources to actively combat it other then giving out badges for sending in links, at least empower those who want to protect their music. After all, it is THEIR music. I don’t even expect AJ to police the internet for that, but a policy of withholding all buyer info, in my opinion, actually encourages improper use on many levels. I do not believe asking for a few lines of info is considered a hassle to buyers and separates AJ from a true RF site.

How will having the country of a buyer help?

As I said in my last post, it will firstly help me to educate other buyer on where my music is currently being used. Some customers only want a song that is not being used a lot in their area. Other customers want the opposite. I am not asking only for the country though, but am saying it is a step in the right direction.

Ultimately, I want enough information to be able to verify some of the larger uses that are happening. While it seems foolish for a large company to improperly (or even illegally) use a song, I actually believe this is happening… and in my opinion, it is worth the legal pursuit.

Possibly my approach is not the best and I can understand that. However, the overwhelming evidence of misuse on-line and lack of knowledge about where our music is being used calls for SOME better system of handling things. If I had the perfect solution I would post it, but so far this is the best I got.

Yeah thats what I’m saying, you can’t collect performance royalties from songs here so there is no point in asking for the cue sheet or even a brief description of how the song is being used

Thanks for the input Liam

The reality is that as composers we should have a right to know where the music we’ve worked so hard on is being used.

Though the PRO debate is another legitimate debate, that issue was not tied into the original question and has been infused into this thread when it shouldn’t be. To be clear there however, a Royalty Free Library can be PRO friendly. I see there is great confusion in many previous posts on this and it’s a shame really.

But back on topic now…

The thought here is that the current system makes no provision for anyone to monitor use of their music. There are many valid reasons for this beyond deterring illegal use and building show reels.

It has happened now on a few occasions that I have been contacted by a buyer that wants to know how popular a song is in their region. For example: A company wants to license a song but is worried it is over exposed. They really like the song, but won’t use it if there are hundreds of other companies using the same song in their area. Well, with the current system I can’t give them any information whatsoever.

Even the opposite has happened. Another buyer wants to make sure a song is “popular enough” in their area to be recognizable for their brand. Again – how can I know?

Just because this is a “stock audio site” doesn’t mean it needs to be a second rate site and that we’re a bunch of second rate composers. If for no other purpose, some information should be required and released for ethical reasons.

Are we a bunch of nameless, faceless, sweat shop ghost writers creating music in the back corners of the internet who are OK with pumping out world class music for pennies – being happy with a credit-less system that encourages non-transparency between it’s suppliers and it’s customers? Guess I can’t speak for everyone, but I say NO.

I certainly don’t know how it would make anyone else feel, but I don’t like it when I can’t even confirm that a major motion picture using my song (with a budget of over 4 million dollars) has purchased the appropriate license (and if someone wants to get angry about the PRO thing, this is the spot

At the absolute very least, the territory (simply “online” if on the web) or the country would be a step in the right direction. How would this harm sales? If anything I think it legitimizes the site MORE.

As sales increase and music continues to become more popular, my concern about the misuse and abuse of licensing terms is growing rapidly.

Our music is now being used everywhere: In major motion pictures, world class commercials and television, corporate videos, websites, youtube, vimeo and beyond.

As the popularity of AJ has skyrocketed, so has my concern about illegitimate use of music. I am not just seeing it online – I am starting to see it on TV too.

Personally, my production company is considering hiring an agency to monitor the use of music. The current system of non-disclosing customer information however makes this completely impossible. Not only do we not have the names of companies or uses, we don’t even know the country that our music is being used in – we are totally and completely blind.

Now, I would not be bringing this up unless I thought it an extremely serious matter and this is not a post on Wa**z sites, so I kindly ask moderators that you do not categorize it as such to lock the post.

My question to you AudioJungle, is if you will not release sufficient information for authors to monitor proper use of their music, will you be taking on the responsibility of doing this with genuine effort? If not, while you are of course not misusing the work yourself, I believe you are becoming indirectly liable for currently enforcing such a poor policy.

In the real word of professional audio, it is normal for music supervisors, producers, broadcasters etc. to have to not only give credit where credit us due, but disclose this type of information. Many countries like Germany require it. Outside of AudioJungle, its treacherous for a composer to not know where their music is being used.

Will AudioJungle become a truly professional music production entity in the years to come? Or will it continue to straddle multiple legal grey areas until some horrific legal action arises? We’re not just selling music for flash games anymore, and we need to step up the policies that protect authors and our music.

So what am I asking for?

I am not asking for personal customer information, however, I am asking for a new system that will incorporate song use and country. When a buyer purchases a song, having two simple fields “use” and “country of use” should be filled out and this info should be sent along to the author’s sales history beside each purchase. I am not looking to hassle buyers, or have their email addresses – but we need SOMETHING.

Before the comments come about us deciding to join AJ and we knew what we were getting into: It was one thing to join the site and work with the current day system, but it’s a different thing to be around for years, watch the sales boom, contribute thousands and thousands of dollars via music sales to AudioJungle, yet watch the handling of legal matters, the protections of author rights and the licensing structure stay exactly the same as it was when you started.

Of course, this is strictly my opinion, however I believe we are (even if indirectly) currently being withed the right to protect our work.

Thanks for reading, and I truly hope your are watching as well AJ staff.

Something I’ve learnt, there is only one thing we really want in life; is to be happy in the present moment. ......... which can only exist in the present moment.

Lot of interesting posts! Here on my thoughts on the above:

Have you ever watched a child with a colouring book when they are young? Their strokes are erratic, their colour choices nonsensical and they never stay within the confines of the borders of the image they are colouring. Over time we teach them to stay inside the borders, to choose the appropriate colours and apply the appropriate techniques to “properly” colour a picture. Interesting that while still infants we are taught to think and operate within the confines of a box.

You see, it is good to teach children of course, however the point here is that our thoughts have been crafted since before we can remember and a great part of our interaction with humanity is not even by choice, but by youthful programming. Many of us make daily decision that we believe “we” are choosing – but what we believe and have repeated for years produces in us a programmed reaction.

There is a study of the brain that shows the more you make the same decision over again the deeper the neurological pathways between two points in your mind becomes – and the faster a thought will take the same path when presented the same information. In almost all cases, the introduction of the same situation, or same choice presented to individuals will result in the same outcome over and over again. Belief has produced a consistent thought, which responds with consistent actions.

So then, it is fairly safe to say that ways of thinking are passed down through many generations without being contested – as it is the most difficult thing in life to change what one truly believes.

Is is true that the only thing we want in life is to be happy however? I wound say no actually. The problem however is that most people are in fact perpetually unhappy, so this become the major focus of life and is often confused with the purpose of life itself.

Most people are unhappy because they continually put their trust in things they ought not to. If your happiness is found in something that will disappoint you, like money, objects, a career and even people, you will be perpetually unhappy and always chasing the wind. You will be let down sooner or later. Unfortunately, most people do find contentment in things and circumstances. When circumstances are up they are up. When circumstances are down, they are down. However – what if your peace of heart and happiness are not found in circumstances? Circumstances cannot take away or add to peace of heart and happiness if they are not founded on them to begin with.

...say you want something in the future, it creates a sense of lack in the present…

Well, that all depends on ones perception of things:

The events and experiences of life are filtered through the condition of a person’s heart. When a child is bitten by a dog at a young age, the child often begins to believe that all dogs will bite them. Many adults have irrational fears because of single childhood experiences. The heart becomes skewed in a sense and perceives a circumstance not on the evidence presented in the present situation, but past experiences. One dog bit me, therefore all dogs will bite me.

To say a desire in the future creates a sense of lack in the present (which is what most in the world really believe) shows me hearts that have been disappointed many times over. I have heard this same thought expressed in a more transparent saying: “Don’t set your expectations to high or you will be disappointed” – it is the realist. For the realist, it is easier to protect happiness by “hoping less”. Less hope = less challenge and therefore less instability and risk in life… at least that is hope behind the thought.

The problem with this for me is that this hoping less is really just the inevitable path to hopelessness and indefinite discontentment. What is worse then not fulfilling any dreams? Not having any dreams at all.

For me, the thought of a future unattained actually produces hope, challenge – purpose. So how can the same thought produce a different response in two different people? Quite simply, they believe or perceive the same situation a different way based on belief, and their heart (or mind ) is filtering the same information differently. This is the same reason one person sees opportunity where another sees struggle. It is the same reason why one man runs to danger while most run away from it.

The initial question on thought is truly interesting. Going further however – can changing what you believe (and therefore your thoughts) really change the outcome of your life? I dare to say yes. The first step to succeeding in life is believing that you can.

Your beliefs create your thoughts.
Your thoughts produce your words.
Your words initiate your actions.
Your actions create your habits.
Your habits form your character.
Your character produces your destiny.

... and if you don’t like your destiny, change what you believe.

I believe whatever you give your attention to will create your desires – and the direction of your thoughts will in fact guide your life over time (for good or for bad, depending on what you constantly think about and how you perceive the world around you).

The good news about thoughts are that you can indeed control where they take you. Few people however have learned how to harness their own mind.

Alrighty then! I will choose two from AJ because I am too biased with the VH projects that use my music