ADvice Please

[Hero-Jaxx]

Um I need to know something. I've been workin on a game with Animated Cutscenes. Some games in comparison to it would be like kingdom hearts or the tales of series. Everything on my game is original created from scratch except the music. the music isn't original or made by us. And after letting a few people play it people wanted it (originally the game was saposed to be freely downloaded but the game is too large for internet upload so we've created 2 disced CDs for it).

We want to be playable to other but they would have to order their own copy. Except we are worried about the fact that the music is not original. We don't want to get sued or anything for getting profit for a game with music doesn't belong to us. its easy to replace the music... just the fact that we don't know or how to create any of our own ( none of us are musicians or gud with intrumental programs )

If anyone see what I'm saying... please help!

[Mister Asterix]

A couple of guys who do music for my podcast also do scores for video games. But these guys most likely want to charge you. (Wouldn’t hurt to ask what though.)

The two guys are Rich Douglas ( http://www.myspace.com/richdouglasmusic ) and Michael McCorrmack ( http://michaelmccormackmusic.com )

Both of these guys are fantastic. If they can’t help you perhaps they can point you in the right direction.

[mkelley]

There are also discs available with music usable in any situation without further payments -- however, these cost some money (and in some cases not a trivial amount). It's worth exploring, though (just Google things like Royalty Free Music) as some discs are very reasonably priced.

One thing you absolutely cannot do is use copyrighted music in anything you sell -- this is a quick ticket to all kinds of trouble. Just like you don't want others to use your own animations and game software as their own, folks who create music want to be compensated for their own efforts. And all major music companies have huge teams of lawyers to see that it happens.

[Hero-Jaxx]

There are also discs available with music usable in any situation without further payments -- however, these cost some money (and in some cases not a trivial amount). It's worth exploring, though (just Google things like Royalty Free Music) as some discs are very reasonably priced.

One thing you absolutely cannot do is use copyrighted music in anything you sell -- this is a quick ticket to all kinds of trouble. Just like you don't want others to use your own animations and game software as their own, folks who create music want to be compensated for their own efforts. And all major music companies have huge teams of lawyers to see that it happens.

Well we had the idea to make the game so you can upload your own music but our setup systems won't let us do that.

we also had an Idea that with order you could put up a playlist of songs that you can upload onto by ordering the game before hand but then that problem came to mind...

we also wanted to contact the creators of the music and so forth but its extremely hard to contact anyof them. so we thought maybe somehow we need to get or make our own music...

is there anyway we can make our own music without any confusing or instruments what so ever?

EDIT: Using Royalty free music wouldn't put us in any legal hazards?

[heyvern]

You might want to try a product called "Band in a box". I've heard it's great for creating original music pretty easily (not great music... original).

If you have access to Garage Band (mac) that too has a lot of canned loopable tracks to create "original" music.

If you have no music skills there is no easy simple push a button solution. You have to make an effort of some kind. Either spend money for royalty free music (yes that should be okay, read the license to be sure) or get some software to help you produce your own music.

You may want to find someone to add to your team who has more knowledge about music.

-vern

[mkelley]

Royalty free is just that -- and designed to be used in projects such as yours.

As to creating your own -- well, in my spare time (ha!) I create music (I'm the forum Admin for the only forum on the net that specializes in composing music, www.composeforums.com) and have Band in a Box as well as many many other programs and as savvy as I am about music I don't spend the time creating my own for my own shows.

I would not recommend it -- there isn't any shortcut anywhere (BIAB will write MIDI files, which probably isn't what you want and the time needed to actually get something usable is far far more than making animations in AS, unless you're really into music). Get people who do music and it's as easy to them as animations are to us (actually, creating music is easy to me but not nearly as much fun :>)

[Hero-Jaxx]

You might want to try a product called "Band in a box". I've heard it's great for creating original music pretty easily (not great music... original).

If you have access to Garage Band (mac) that too has a lot of canned loopable tracks to create "original" music.

If you have no music skills there is no easy simple push a button solution. You have to make an effort of some kind. Either spend money for royalty free music (yes that should be okay, read the license to be sure) or get some software to help you produce your own music.

You may want to find someone to add to your team who has more knowledge about music.

-vern

where can I find the licensing. I'm looking and can't find anything yet

EDIT: Nevermind. My friend who is good at figuring out any non-animation or gaming programs if gonna try Band in a box or some other music making program for us.

luckily it will work. anyone knows of another program that will produce the ability to create original tracks or what not?