Secrets to getting “Free” Sample Sound Loops

Where can a songwriter, music producer, band or composer go to get “free” music sound loops? This actually is the easiest part of the equation to finding “free” loop sound and sound loops. What one absolutely must realize and never, ever take lightly is the term “free”. Just because a sounds loop says it is free doesn’t mean it’s legally able to be used.

When writing, producing  and composing music one should absolutely be aware of a few licensing terms. When a Music Loop or Loop Sound says that it is copyright free or  public domain it means you as the composer do not have to pay additional royalties on the Loop Sound by using it. Understand that lets say you have a piece of music “Amazing Grace” that is public domain and you want to use it as a sample in your next remix. Know that although the song is in public domain, if the artist covering the peice isn’t public domain ie. ” First Church of Such and Such” then this recorded version of the song cannot be used. You could re-record “Amazing Grace” and then use Sound Loops of that version without paying aditional royalties; but not the church’s recorded version. Another term is “Creative Commons”, this term means that the author is retaining some of the ownership and that you will need to read their specific terms adn conditions in order to use the work. Usually the artist is fairly open to granting you rights to use it; but you must check and definitely  give them credit in the liner notes. Another term that is misunderstood is “Royalty Free” . Royalty Free simply means that you won’t neccessarily have to pay a royalty after an initial licensing fee. The term “Royalties” is the money that you pay  when you make use of a given work or Music Loop, Sound Loops or Loop Sound piece of music; ect. Again, reading up on the “terms and conditions” of the piece is the best practice and will keep one out of a lot of trouble. Then there is “Copyrighted”,  this means you’ll need permission and almost certainly have to pay to use the Sound Loops.

Ok, let me stop here for just a minute and say this. There is a lot of “free” material available on the web, through friends; ect in which to start building up a Sample Sound Library; but be careful and be smart. Usually the free Music Loops and Samples, unless its a sample library that is giving you free music samples as a promotion, are complete garbage. They usually are not of a professional quality and on top of that, and most important it is  unknown if the Music Loops are legally cleared and can be used. Every professional that I know ALWAYS uses the highest quality of sound loops possible. This is the secret, the Pro’s use pre-cleared, high quality music loops and loop sound. No wonder their tracks sound so incredible. the bonus to this is that they are not worried about if they can use the sample or not because its pre-cleared.

Take a few minutes and do a search for high quality sound loops, sample loops, music loops,  music sample libraries. There are many respectable companies that have amazing Music Samples, ultra unique, very customized and most important; pre-cleared and royalty free music loops.

Make sure that all of the Sound Loops are truely royalty-free, legally cleared and sound loops that are able to be used in any many in a song or composition. Yes, the age old adage that the best things in life are free certainly applies; just make sure its actually “free”

P.S. I must end this article by saying that I’m not an attorney, nor should any of this be taking as the final word. PLEASE do yourself the favor of doing some more investigating at this point. If your teetering on the edge of should I use this, or is this situation cool, just one time won’t hurt. Please don’t make the foolish mistake of using the Music Sound Loop or Music Sample without knowing fully that it is legally cleared. The author of this blog Sample Sound Loops ALWAYS uses the highest quality, pre-cleared and royalty-free sample loops libraries and therefore sleeps worry free at night!

Have fun, experiment with free samples, just make sure there “free’