SFX-friendly virtual instruments?
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 5 posts since 19 Aug, 2010
Hello,
recently I've found myself quite often trying to understand whether the license of a particular virtual instrument allowed or not the use for sfx production.
For example, Omnisphere does not, same with Sonic Implants sounds included in Cubase, other doesn't mention it (so I'm implying they does). Since these informations are not always easy to get, it could be interesting to populate a list with verified SFX-friendly and SFX-unfriendly virtual instruments.
SFX NOT ALLOWED:
- Omnisphere (http://www.spectrasonics.net/support/kn ... egoryID=78)
- Sonic Reality in Cubase (enclosed pdf)
- Native Instruments samples (http://www.native-instruments.com/en/co ... agreement/)
SFX ALLOWED/NOT SPECIFIED
- Sample Logic (http://www.samplelogic.com/terms-license-agreement - all commercial uses allowed)
- Sonik Synth 2
- Soundiron - specifically allowed: http://soundiron.com/pages/help
- Soniccouture (not specified) http://www.soniccouture.com/en/terms-and-conditions/
- Impact soundwork - allowed only after significant processing http://impactsoundworks.com/license-agreement/
I will populate the list as often as I look at a license
recently I've found myself quite often trying to understand whether the license of a particular virtual instrument allowed or not the use for sfx production.
For example, Omnisphere does not, same with Sonic Implants sounds included in Cubase, other doesn't mention it (so I'm implying they does). Since these informations are not always easy to get, it could be interesting to populate a list with verified SFX-friendly and SFX-unfriendly virtual instruments.
SFX NOT ALLOWED:
- Omnisphere (http://www.spectrasonics.net/support/kn ... egoryID=78)
- Sonic Reality in Cubase (enclosed pdf)
- Native Instruments samples (http://www.native-instruments.com/en/co ... agreement/)
SFX ALLOWED/NOT SPECIFIED
- Sample Logic (http://www.samplelogic.com/terms-license-agreement - all commercial uses allowed)
- Sonik Synth 2
- Soundiron - specifically allowed: http://soundiron.com/pages/help
- Soniccouture (not specified) http://www.soniccouture.com/en/terms-and-conditions/
- Impact soundwork - allowed only after significant processing http://impactsoundworks.com/license-agreement/
I will populate the list as often as I look at a license
Last edited by gmlion on Thu Aug 28, 2014 3:24 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Gianmarco Leone - Composer / Sound Designer
www.gianmarcoleone.com
www.gianmarcoleone.com
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- KVRist
- 440 posts since 22 Feb, 2014
Omnisphere is a Rompler and Sample Logic is a sampler. Making a list of synths that aren't actually synths won't be helpful.
I would suggest you buying a sampler and using free sounds and messing that bitch up til it sounds like aliens smoking a bong.
I would suggest you buying a sampler and using free sounds and messing that bitch up til it sounds like aliens smoking a bong.
- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
For commercial FX production you can use every synth that doesn't use samples...
Sonik Synth 2 uses samples, as all IK sample-based plugins do...
Sonik Synth 2 uses samples, as all IK sample-based plugins do...
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 5 posts since 19 Aug, 2010
Well, with synths we're safe and we already knew it. I'm talking of virtual instruments here, so to clarify a bit the question:
Which virtual instruments have samples that can be used on sfx production in the context of a multimedia production? (like you would do with sfx sample libraries)
Which virtual instruments have samples that can be used on sfx production in the context of a multimedia production? (like you would do with sfx sample libraries)
Gianmarco Leone - Composer / Sound Designer
www.gianmarcoleone.com
www.gianmarcoleone.com
- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
There shouldn't be any problems to use sample-based synths for FX in multimedia productions as long as you don't sell the FX in a commercial sample library... Or imagine, an advertisement agency would use them for TV spots or radio ads, that should be legal...gmlion wrote:Which virtual instruments have samples that can be used on sfx production in the context of a multimedia production? (like you would do with sfx sample libraries)
The Spectrasonic License is pretty strange, BTW... So if I make a simple Power Point presentation, I couldn't use the FX?
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 5 posts since 19 Aug, 2010
That's actually the point of the thread...it really depends on the license. Omni and Sonic Implants are actually forbidding such use, while others - I suppose - are not. I both compose and create sfx, so I have various VIs and I have to keep an eye on these limitations all day long. I never made a list, but I think it could be useful for others in the same situation as me, or for sound designer interested in buying a particular VI for sfx production.Tricky-Loops wrote:There shouldn't be any problems to use sample-based synths for FX in multimedia productions as long as you don't sell the FX in a commercial sample library... Or imagine, an advertisement agency would use them for TV spots or radio ads, that should be legal...gmlion wrote:Which virtual instruments have samples that can be used on sfx production in the context of a multimedia production? (like you would do with sfx sample libraries)
Gianmarco Leone - Composer / Sound Designer
www.gianmarcoleone.com
www.gianmarcoleone.com
- Banned
- 10196 posts since 12 Mar, 2012 from the Bavarian Alps to my feet and the globe around my head
That's a great idea, I didn't know that the terms of licenses are that complicated! Using sample-based virtual instruments for presentations or ads SHOULD be allowed IMO, otherwise they should write on their sites in huge letters "for musicproduction ONLY"...gmlion wrote:That's actually the point of the thread...it really depends on the license. Omni and Sonic Implants are actually forbidding such use, while others - I suppose - are not. I both compose and create sfx, so I have various VIs and I have to keep an eye on these limitations all day long. I never made a list, but I think it could be useful for others in the same situation as me, or for sound designer interested in buying a particular VI for sfx production.Tricky-Loops wrote:There shouldn't be any problems to use sample-based synths for FX in multimedia productions as long as you don't sell the FX in a commercial sample library... Or imagine, an advertisement agency would use them for TV spots or radio ads, that should be legal...gmlion wrote:Which virtual instruments have samples that can be used on sfx production in the context of a multimedia production? (like you would do with sfx sample libraries)
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 5 posts since 19 Aug, 2010
That's actually not a well-know limitation, you can see people suggesting Omni for sfx production all over the internetTricky-Loops wrote:]That's a great idea, I didn't know that the terms of licenses are that complicated! Using sample-based virtual instruments for presentations or ads SHOULD be allowed IMO, otherwise they should write on their sites in huge letters "for musicproduction ONLY"...
Gianmarco Leone - Composer / Sound Designer
www.gianmarcoleone.com
www.gianmarcoleone.com
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- KVRist
- 464 posts since 19 Oct, 2012
Can we add Soundiron to this list? This is what they say on the page below under Soundiron policies
http://soundiron.com/pages/help
http://www.soniccouture.com/en/terms-and-conditions/
http://impactsoundworks.com/license-agreement/
http://www.camelaudio.com/End-User-Lice ... eement.php
http://www.bestservice.de/en/license_agreement.html
http://soundiron.com/pages/help
Just like Soundiron, Soniccouture also doesn't give you permission to compile or create a sample library with their products. As for sound design, the license doesn't say anything specific.Soundiron allows the licensee to use any of the sounds and samples in the library(s) they have purchased for the creation and production of commercial recordings, music, sound design, post production, or other content creation without paying any additional license fees or providing source attribution to Soundiron.
This license expressly forbids the use of any Soundiron library in the production of any other sample library or virtual instrument without our express written consent.
http://www.soniccouture.com/en/terms-and-conditions/
Here is a part from Impact Soundworks' license agreement page below.Soniccouture Ltd grants the Owner of a Soniccouture product the right to create finished musical works and performances using the sounds and software that comprise the Soniccouture product.
The making of sample libraries in any form, commercial or otherwise, using Soniccouture audio or software (be they single hits, loops, fully mixed audio clips, or scripts) is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN without express written agreement of Soniccouture Ltd, and violations will be prosecuted to the full extent of international and local copyright law.
http://impactsoundworks.com/license-agreement/
Camel Audio doesn't allow anything aside from music production from what I have understoodThe licensee is entitled to the use and unlimited editing of the product within the scope of music production and composition. The product may be installed on as many computer systems used by the licensee as desired, but in no case does a single license allow multiple individuals to use the product.
The licensee may not use the product in the creation of other sample, sound effect, or loop libraries.
The licensee may not use sound recordings contained in the product as individual sound effects for sound design work, unless the sounds are significantly processed, layered, and otherwise altered beyond recognition.
The licensee may use the product in the creation of music for production libraries.
http://www.camelaudio.com/End-User-Lice ... eement.php
Finally Best Service. It seems to be similar to what Spectrasonics has.1. The license to use Camel Audio sounds is granted to a single user only. You cannot transfer ownership of Camel Audio sounds, without first obtaining a Registration Service from Camel Audio.
2. You may not distribute (commercially or otherwise) or re-package in whole or part (as audio samples, sound libraries or sound effects) individual sound samples, sound sets or audio loops. Reproduction or duplication of these collections, or any of the sound recordings contained therein, either as they exist on the discs, or by any means of processing, reformatting, mixing, re-synthesizing, or otherwise editing for use in another product or for resale, is strictly prohibited without the express written consent of Camel Audio.
3. You cannot electronically transfer samples from Camel Audio to another person or group of people over the Internet, or place them in a computer network to be accessed by multiple people.
4. You may not use the these collections or any of the recordings contained therein for the creation of a sound library or as a sound library for any kind of synthesizer, virtual instrument, sample library, sample-based product or other musical instrument.
5. All unauthorized copying, trading, giving, lending, renting, redistributing or reselling of Camel Audio sounds, is expressly prohibited.
http://www.bestservice.de/en/license_agreement.html
The samples and programs contained in any software/library produced by Best Service are licensed to the buyer of the product only.
Only the purchaser of the media or download is authorized to use the sounds for his music-, multimedia-, film-, TV-, radio-, games-, webcast- or similar production in musical context, and only as long as no isolated samples, loops or phrases become available for a third party as a similar kind of sound file.
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- KVRer
- Topic Starter
- 5 posts since 19 Aug, 2010
Thank you very much for sharing your findings! I've updated the list. I didn't know about Soundiron, but it looks like it offers some very good products.
I'm still unsure about Camel Audio and Best Service, tough. Camel Audio license looks similar to others forbidding the repackaging of individual samples, but I don't see an explicit prohibition of using the sounds as a part of a sound design work - that is, edited, layered and processed.
Concering Best Service, I see it more like a "distributor" so I suppose individual licenses apply to the single product (if I recall correctly, I bought a sfx library through them in the past). I think they put the most restrictive license on the website just in case another license is not attached to the sold product.
I'm still unsure about Camel Audio and Best Service, tough. Camel Audio license looks similar to others forbidding the repackaging of individual samples, but I don't see an explicit prohibition of using the sounds as a part of a sound design work - that is, edited, layered and processed.
Concering Best Service, I see it more like a "distributor" so I suppose individual licenses apply to the single product (if I recall correctly, I bought a sfx library through them in the past). I think they put the most restrictive license on the website just in case another license is not attached to the sold product.
Gianmarco Leone - Composer / Sound Designer
www.gianmarcoleone.com
www.gianmarcoleone.com
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- KVRist
- 464 posts since 19 Oct, 2012
My pleasure! I was looking for a resource like this as well. Soundiron libraries are ace by the way.gmlion wrote:Thank you very much for sharing your findings! I've updated the list. I didn't know about Soundiron, but it looks like it offers some very good products.
I don't know. I guess we can just ask them to clarify at the Camel Audio forum here at KVR.gmlion wrote:I'm still unsure about Camel Audio and Best Service, tough. Camel Audio license looks similar to others forbidding the repackaging of individual samples, but I don't see an explicit prohibition of using the sounds as a part of a sound design work - that is, edited, layered and processed.
That makes sense. They even published the new "Foley Stage" library for this particular purpose.gmlion wrote:Concering Best Service, I see it more like a "distributor" so I suppose individual licenses apply to the single product (if I recall correctly, I bought a sfx library through them in the past). I think they put the most restrictive license on the website just in case another license is not attached to the sold product.
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- KVRAF
- 1565 posts since 1 Aug, 2006 from Italy
This is what I found on DCAM Synth Squad license:
I'm not sure this applies to sfx for a website or a multimedia project (since it involves sampling, I think it does), but I would definitely contact FXpansion if I were in need to use Synt Squad (and their other products too, if I remember correctly they all have a statement like that in their license) for this kind of task.The making of sample libraries in any form, commercial or otherwise, is STRICTLY FORBIDDEN without express written agreement of FXpansion and its audio partners, and violations will be prosecuted to the full extent of international and local copyright law.