Commodore Remix

Hi !

I don't know if this issue has been discussed before (I tried several entries in the search without success). If so, I apologize

anyway, my question is this: is it generally allowed to use C64 remix tunes as background music for one's videos (non-commercial of course) ? There are quite a number of such videos on YT and what I've seen so far is cool. But I just want to be sure.

Thank you for your answer(s)
shadow

Generally you'd ask permission, and put credits in the video and the description on YouTube, not forgetting a link to the remixer's website (or anything else they ask you to do). Unfortunately most people who use other people's background music usually have a sudden attack of "I want to write about me, not someone else", or "I don't want to share the credit".

Chris

Hi Chris,

thank you very much for your answer. Yes, that's the way I thought it takes place. Maybe some people also don't ask because they fear they won't get an answer or because they fear that the arranger wouldn't like the video (or other videos) in the account.

Thus, if I'd make a video I would first ask an arranger if I can include his music, then I would upload the video, ask him/ her if it's okay and if so I can leave it on YT. Okay, thank you again

Kind Regards
shadow

shadow wrote:Hi Chris,

thank you very much for your answer. Yes, that's the way I thought it takes place. Maybe some people also don't ask because they fear they won't get an answer or because they fear that the arranger wouldn't like the video (or other videos) in the account.

Thus, if I'd make a video I would first ask an arranger if I can include his music, then I would upload the video, ask him/ her if it's okay and if so I can leave it on YT. Okay, thank you again

Kind Regards
shadow

It's not just up to the arranger, it's up to the original composer too, though most of them don't mind. PM me for more specific advice.

Chris

Why not do your own music? SID2MIDI is available, the SID files are available and there are piles of virtual instruments (including SID emulators) freely downloadable. It doesn't take long and you can concentrate on being creative rather than scrabbling around for somebody's email address or letting the project stall while waiting for a response from the remixer.

Or better still, compose your own. Look at the Instant Music post I wrote to see how you can just pull a decent tune out of the hat with virtually zero effort and zero inspiration.

And check out the Amiga's Music Mouse, something similar, as available from Zophar's Roms.
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http://www.dustybin.org.uk takes you to my pages where I've conveniently compiled links and disk images to all the goodies.

@ Commie_User: well, I've tried the free version of Magix Music Maker, MadTracker and some other stuff. MMM doesn't have a keyboard (at least not the free version) and I'm not sure if I'll ever comprehend MadTracker

I always wanted to make my own music, preferably C64 style, but it would have to be freeware since I'm not going to make it for profit (unless someone wants to promote it ). Thus, I'd be glad to read more about your ''instant music''. Could you provide a link to your thread/ website ? Somehow I don't find it

@ Chris: yep, sounds reasonable. I'll let you know if more ''concrete'' ideas emerge.

Let's start with the trackers. I've used Magix Music Maker myself and as far as I can recall it has no MIDI capability. Well, not the very old versions I last saw anyway.

I don't know what you mean when you say 'MMM doesn't have a keyboard'. If you mean an on-screen virtual layout is what you're after, then try using Cantabile: http://www.cantabilesoftware.com/. It's free, supports VST and VSTi and has a simple sequencer. Other free MIDI sequencers can be Googled, though I've not tried them: http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&q= ... ncer&meta=.

Some Commodore 64-style virtual instruments patch in to the MIDI sequencer and can be played through the PC (simply by installing or manually copying the DLL file to the sequencer's plug-in folder). They can be found here: http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=commod ... GB284&sa=2.

Connecting your external keyboard to the sequencer is simplicity itself. Get yourself a PC MIDI cable and plug the 15 pin plug into your computer's joystick socket. Then plug the two In and Out 5 pin DIN plugs into your keyboard's MIDI ports. And if you want to record the sound of the keyboard itself, run a standard audio cable from your keyboard's audio or low-impedence headphone out to the line in on your soundcard.

Remember that just the line out carries the actual audio, whilst MIDI only concerns itself with control data. In your sequencer all you need to do is activate your MIDI controller in the relevant dialog box, activate the recording channel in MIDI mode and you're away. Just like that.

Of course another way to do the MIDI thing in the 64's orbit is to buy a MSSIAH cartridge for the 64 itself (see root page of this very site) or try to strike it lucky on Ebay with this especially nice MIDI interface (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Rare-Sequential-c ... 286.c0.m14). Then just download something like Sonus Super Sequencer and port the disk image to a floppy disk or load directly into the 64 using one transfer device or another.


Instant Music thread: viewtopic.php?f=3&t=6949

My general C64 page, with links to what I've mentioned: http://homepage.ntlworld.com/michael.br ... Record.htm

Some of my own music, with the C64 often involved in one way or another: http://www.concept-single.net/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjbBw7ctP-0
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BvVc-oHW ... re=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wY2cZrrW ... re=channel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VTwFLsaM ... re=channel

wow, thank you for all those links and info - will take quite some time to study since I'm a novice

Yes, I meant a virtual on-screen keyboard. My manual skills (on my old KORG) are not that good - to put it mildly. Mad Tracker has got a keyboard but in fact it's just the keyboard of the computer. So I'll give Cantabile a try - sounds promising

I'll go through all the other links later and I hope that my attempts to make music result in something useful.

If your keyboard skills are shaky, you're in for a nice surprise when you discover a sequencer's Quantisation mode.

With Quantisation applied to your MIDI playing, it won't matter if your timing is a little shaky. If you're recording a track in 4/4 time and the computer knows it, Quant' mode will tidy up your recording to an extent and keep it all in exact time.

On top of all that, Varispeed can allow you to slow down the recording to match the speed of your playing, which also helps you tighten up your melodies. (Though you'll have to compensate by playing in a lower octave)

And as if that wasn't enough, there's nothing to stop you recording in pieces, stage by stage, even recording the left hand seperate from the right. MIDI sequencing software opens the door.

This may be useful too, though I've not investigated it: http://www.kvraudio.com/forum/archive/h ... /25059.php