Background music & sources

[The Publisher]

I purchased SonicFire Pro. You can make the soundtracks exactly the length you want, with a proper ending too, BUT, going much longer than the song makes it sound somewhat tediously repetitive.

Here are some suggestions, and please, by all means, add your music sources and what you think of them, costs, etc.

Audio Network (http://www.audiolicense.net/)

Davenport Music (http://www.davenportmusic.com/)

Digital Juice (http://www.digitaljuice.com/)

GMP Music (http://www.gmpmusic.com/)

Jamendo (http://www.jamendo.com/en/)

MagnaTune (http://magnatune.com/)

Music Bakery (http://www.musicbakery.com/)

Royalty Free Music (http://www.royaltyfreemusic.com/?gclid=CJDq3dvowpICFRwbagodAQYgcg)

SonicFire Pro (http://www.smartsound.com/sonicfire/)

Sounddogs (http://www.sounddogs.com/catsearch.asp?Type=3)

Stock 20 (http://www.stock20.com/commerce/index.php)

As you all chime in any good tips you have I will edit the above list and add the referred source in alphabetical order.

[Papa Bear]

Digital Juice is very good and they have a lot of flexibility. It and Sonic Fire is all I use.

[The Publisher]

Ok, I added Digital Juice, thanks Papa.

[HDV_Diva]

I like the SonicFire Pro and the SmartSound Music. It allows me to create variations that fit my films, so now I can focus on the visual part of the production but have very good sound and quality.

Barbara

[The Publisher]

What I am finding with Smartsound is although it is quite useful being able to make the music the exact length you need, making it much longer makes it quite monotonously repetitive.

[David White]

SONY also has a software product called Cinescore which I imagine is similar to SonicFire in that it allows you to create music to fit the length of your video. I purchased the product but, apart from playing a bit to figure out how it works, have yet to use it in any of my productions. My preference is to find a piece of royalty free music created by real musicians that fits the mood I am attempting to portray and then edit the video to the music. In my opinion this allows the video and audio tracks to work in co-operative harmony as though they belong together.

[The Publisher]

Yes, this time around I am going to lay down the score first but the workflow looks like it will be more daunting.

[David White]

Daunting is a good word to describe this particular style of editing. Some others that come to mind are time-consuming and frustrating. The end result may be justified for some videographers though. Each time that a video is completed there is the satisfaction that comes from having given it your very best. To a large extent editing the video to the soundtrack has become an editing style for me since it sets my work apart from what many others are doing.

[hd2o]

I've used stock music tracks for more than 100 commercials over the years as an inexpensive means to an end, however nothing beats and original soundtrack. I have a Berkley grad. composer now especially for underwater. It's not cheap, but you're not going to hear your music on some used car commercial.
Have a listen to the preview clips: hd2o.tv (http://hd2o.tv/)
If you have a serious project and need professional music give me a shout. Original music is a selling point!
Regards,
Paul

[The Publisher]

Ok Paul, spill the beans, what does it cost?

[klemens Gann]

Here is a post with samples of Pady Mc Harding who is composing music for underwater videos.
http://www.scubamagazine.net/showthread.php?3949-Music-for-underwater-videos

[The Publisher]

It has to be interesting creating music from scratch like your friend Pady.

I know when I am editing, the tracks are boring with no music or sound. When I am searching for music, once I find something, I play the track at its source while watching the sequence in my editing timeline. If it seems good, I obtain it, along with a few others. Then I lay down multiple sound tracks to a particular sequence, then listen to each one individually as the timeline plays. I pick which one has the right feel although I sometimes ask for other's opinions too.