FAQs

What Rights do I get when I buy a Sound Ideas product?

Sound Ideas' royalty free products are sold with their synchronization rights only. Master rights are not included and Sound Ideas retains the copyright in their own sounds. While performing rights do not apply to sound effects, they do apply to royalty free music. Performing rights are not included in the purchase of Sound Ideas royalty free music products. You must therefore report your music use to your local Performing Rights Society via Cue Sheet, so that performing rights revenue can be paid to the music's composer(s) and publisher(s).

Can I download my order from your site?

For most products, the answer is “yes”.   Each product’s Delivery Options are a listed in a drop down menu just under the price on the product page. Many downloadable products are available in more than 1 sample rate, so you could see several Delivery Options that start with the word “Download”.  For instance – Download 16/44.1 kHz or Download 24/96 kHz.  If you are ordering a downloadable product and you pay online via Paypal or Credit Card, your download will be ready for you as soon as the payment is processed – usually immediately. Please note, there are no refunds for downloads and download links stay active for 24 hours after your purchase.

How do I download my order?

If you have purchased a downloadable product (the Delivery option you selected starts with the word “Download”), click on the My Downloads link at the top of any web page (this appears beside your login name).  All your available downloads will be listed on your My Downloads page. The 4th column on this page is titled “Downloaded File”.  This column contains the links you click on to start a download. Some larger products will have several download links posted, and they will be identified as Part 1, Part 2, etc. When you have successfully downloaded your purchase, the download link disappears, and the note in the status column changes to Downloaded. If you run into any difficulties retrieving your purchases, you can click on the Get Help link in the Request Support column.  This will send an alert to our “issues” monitor who will contact you to resolve your difficulties.  Please note, there are no refunds for downloads and download links stay active for 24 hours following your purchase.

Does Sound Idea Have a Hard Drive Warranty

Yes, we do. All Sound Ideas Hard Drive sales are final. We stand behind the quality of our product by providing this warranty. If a registered Sound Ideas Hard Drive crashes and can no longer be accessed, the following warranty will apply.

For any crash reported within 12 months (1 year) of purchase, Sound Ideas will replace the hard drive with all of the contents supplied in the original purchase free of charge, upon return of the non-operational hard drive and cables to Sound Ideas for full inspection.

For any crash reported more than 12 months (1 year) after purchase, Sound Ideas will replace the hard drive with all of the contents supplied in the original purchase, but a fee will be charged for this replacement service. The customer will not have to pay for all of the libraries included in the original hard drive, but they will have to pay a replacement fee equivalent to the value of the hard drive itself, plus an administrative charge that will cover the cost of re-creating the hard drive and shipping charges. The customer will be required to return the non-operational hard drive to Sound Ideas before the hard drive can be replaced.

NOTE: This warranty does not apply to (i) any damage arising from failure to follow instructions relating to the product's use (ii) to cosmetic damage (including but not limited to scratches, dents and broken plastic on ports) (iii) to damage caused by accident, abuse, misuse, flood or water damage, fire, earthquake or other external causes or (iv) if the Sound Ideas serial number on the product has been removed or defaced.

What is synchronization?

Synchronization is the term that describes the way in which sound effects and music are used in productions. A sound can be synchronized with a visual presentation [the sound of a dramatic film score timed to be heard as the credits roll], or with other audio material such as a voice over – as in the case of a radio commercial. Audio can be synchronized for use in many media: television, radio, film, multimedia and audio visual presentations, web sites, computer games and podcasts. Synchronization rights are included with the sale of Sound Ideas sound effects and music, which means that when you use our audio it must be synchronized within a presentation, film, web site, game, audiovisual production, live performance, or broadcast.

What are synchronization rights?

With a synchronization license, you gain permission to reproduce the sounds in an audiovisual media form [like films, television programs, commercial announcements, music videos, multimedia or other visual presentations]. The audio must be synchronized and/or re-recorded in timed relation with visual images, graphic designs, live performances or voice overs.
Sound Ideas audio is licensed with a specific synchronization rights included as outlined in our End User License Agreement.

What are performing rights?

The composer and publisher of a piece of music generally reserve the right to make money any time their music is performed in public. This applies to royalty free music as well as to rights managed [or blanket licensed] music. Around the world, performance rights societies [like ASCAP and BMI in the United States, PRS in the United Kingdom, or SOCAN in Canada], collect public performance revenue from radio and television stations and networks, movie theaters and other sources. This public performance revenue is divided amongst the composers and publishers based on “reported use”, which is usually submitted via Cue Sheet.

What kinds of applications can I use your music, sound effects & production elements in?

Sound Ideas audio can be used in a variety of audio and audio visual productions. Examples include radio and television broadcasts, commercials, motion picture and video scores and soundtracks, corporate & training presentations, web sites, computer games, software applications, live theatrical performances and multimedia. For more information, please see the Sound Ideas End User License Agreement.

Can I use Sound Ideas sound effects on my Web site?

Yes, within the following limits... you can synchronize our sound effects for playback only on your Web site, so that button rollovers "bark" or a banner crackles in the "wind". This type of use is absolutely legal. But you are not allowed to distribute our sound effects in any way - whether you intend to give, trade, loan or sell them. You are not permitted to present our sound effects in any way that would allow access to the sound effects or sounds as downloadable audio. This would be a violation of our proprietary property rights and is therefore unauthorized without express written permission from Sound Ideas.

I used Sound Ideas music in an online video. Why did I get a Copyright Violation Notice?

The online site you posted your video to (such as YouTube) has identified some content in your video that belongs to someone else – in this case, it is music that belongs to us. Sound Ideas participates in the Content ID programs which monitor all uploads to YouTube and similar online sites and searches for audio content that matches its catalog.

The Content ID technology exists so that: (a) music publishers can identify videos that include their music, (b) the site can generate revenue by placing ads on those identified videos, (c) the site can share that ad revenue with Content ID partners like Sound Ideas and its composers; and (d) YouTube can use this ad revenue stream so it can continue to provide its video sharing site for free.

You may have received this copyright violation notice from The Orchard. They work with us and many other composers and publishers to monitor music use online. While you own your video, you do not own our music.

If you licensed the music from Sound Ideas for this use, contact your production consultant by email. Your consultant will confirm your license and start the process to have the notice removed from your video. In your email, please make sure to give us the URL for your video, relevant information about your license and the best way to contact you.

You should be aware that there is some music that we may not be able to clear. Music from Music CDs with an SM number below 200 (i.e.: SM001 through SM199) is music we have published on a non-exclusive basis. If the copyright violation notice you received is from The Orchard, we will be able to clear the notice (as explained above). If the copyright violation notice you received in NOT from The Orchard, we may not be able to assist you.

Copyright Claim Disputes

But my video does not contain your music!
Our music is available from many online sources. You may have acquired and used our music without knowing it. The good news is that your video should not be taken down because of a claim in relation to Sound Ideas Music content. However, if you believe that the YouTube Content ID system has misidentified the music in your video or that you own the identified music content – you should dispute the claim. It will be reviewed quite quickly. Once we receive notice from YouTube, we will review your claim. If your video does not contain music owned by Sound Ideas, we will release the claim.

But I don’t want advertising in or next to my video!
This advertising is the way that YouTube generates revenue to pay for its service. Supporting the Content ID system helps keep YouTube free for everyone. If you properly licensed a track from Sound Ideas, and you have concerns about the advertising next to your video, please contact your production consultant by email with the URL for your video, relevant information about your license and the best way to contact you. Your consultant will confirm your license and start the process to have the notice removed from your video.

Here's More on YouTube Copyright Issues, straight from YouTube. For access to the links mentioned, watch the video at YouTube:

Can I use Sound Ideas sound effects in my music?

Yes you can. Under the terms of our license, this qualifies as synchronizing our sounds with other audio content.

Can I use Sound Ideas sound effects in my computer game?

Yes you can, provided that the sounds are embedded in the code of your game and are not available for an end-user to access or download. If your application allows the end-user to access or download unsynchronized sounds, you must contact us to arrange supplemental authorization for the use of the sound effects. A license fee may be charged.

I am making a video game for release in retail stores. Can I use your sound effects in it?

Yes you can. Synchronization of our sound effects in this manner is permitted under the terms and conditions of our license.

Can I Use Sound Ideas sound effects in my App?

The answer to this question is yes and no. It depends on how the sounds are used in the App.

Yes: If the sounds are synchronized with a visual presentation [for instance the App is a motorcycle race and as the user moves the device, the motorcycle races around the track. The sound of the engine revving accompanies the visual.] This is a "synchronized” use and is okay.

No: If the App's only purpose is to play sound effects or music like a juke box – or a random shuffle player – or a “guess what this sound is?” game – this is not okay under the synchronization license.

You can be in touch with Sound Ideas to make sure that your use of our sounds in your App is permitted. Special licensing can sometimes be issued for an additional fee, depending on circumstances. Sometimes the additional rights are not available to license.

Can Sound Ideas sound effects and music be included in toys or games [other than a video game]?

With additional licensing only. Any use of Sound Ideas audio in a toy, game, or consumer product such as greeting cards requires additional licensing and will be subject to an additional licensing fee. Contact us for more information about custom licensing.

Do I have to pay you more if I include your sound effects in a production that will be broadcast on radio or TV?

You do not need to pay any additional money to Sound Ideas if a production is going to be broadcast or performed publicly. If your broadcast production makes use of our royalty free music, you must file a Cue Sheet with your local Performing Rights society.

Can Sound Ideas sound effects be used for live theatre productions?

Yes. Our sound effects can be used for a live theatre production, either through the creation of a cued tape or CD that you make with only the cues you need for the production, or through use of a direct cue from the original library CD. These uses meet Sound Ideas' definition of synchronization.

I think my use falls outside of the Sound Ideas License Agreement – what should I do?

Get in touch with us and we can help with additional licensing that will meet your needs.

Sound Ideas
105 West Beaver Creek Road, Suite 4
Richmond Hill, Ontario L4B 1C6
Canada

Email contact@sound-ideas.com

Give Us a Call:
(905) 886-5000 (Local & International)
(800) 387-3030 (U.S. Toll Free)
(800) 665-3000 (Canada Toll Free)
(905) 886-6800 (Fax)

When and how should I submit a Cue Sheet to a Performing Rights society?

If you make use of Sound Ideas' music in your broadcast or public performance productions, you must file a Cue Sheet with your local Performing Rights society and with Sound Ideas, so that the composer(s) and publisher(s) of the music will receive appropriate performing rights revenue.

What does the term public domain mean?

From the time a piece of music is created, it is protected by copyright. Once a piece of music has existed beyond the copyright protection period, that piece of music is considered to be in the public domain.

The international laws governing copyright are the Berne Convention and the Universal Copyright Convention. Copyright extends at least for the life of the composer plus 50 years following his or her death. Most of the world’s industrial countries have signed the Berne Convention and comply with it, although all countries have their own copyright laws which may extend the copyright period.

In fact, many countries have extended this copyright term to a period of 75 years following the death of the composer.

If you intend to use a piece of music that is in the public domain, make sure that you check the copyright laws in all countries where the production will be used to ensure that your use conforms to the laws of those countries. Be aware that you still must purchase a synchronization license in order to use any public domain music in your productions, unless you have performed that music yourself using your trusty kazoo.

Does Sound Ideas buy Sound Effects or Music?

Yes we do. If you are a composer, sound designer or recordist, we welcome demo submissions.   Every demo we receive is acknowledged.

Submitting Music

Here is a short list of what we are looking for when we review music:

• 10-12 compositions available in the same genre provided on disc as 16/44.1 wav files (or better) or CD audio;
• Music that is available for purchase;
• Instrumental music only (no Vocals) but with a lead instrument to carry the melody;
• Each composition should have an Alt Mix or Underscore version (with the lead instrument removed from the mix);
• Each composition should be 2:00 to 3:30 in length;
• Posts or Edit Points built in to the structure of the composition so that broadcast length tracks (:60s, :30s & :15s) can be easily edited;
• Fully composed endings with the last note allowed to ring off naturally no fade-out endings. 
   

Submitting Sound Effects

Here is a short list of what we are looking for when we review sound effects:

• Stereo recordings at 24/96;
• Unique sounds that are difficult to get – from unusual locations, factories, settings – recordings of out of the ordinary things, animals, people;
• Sounds in which you own the complete copyright and for which you are willing sell all worldwide rights to Sound Ideas;
• Sounds Ideas pays for sound effects based on the number of minutes of material that we select from your submission.  Our standards are high and our needs are very specific, and that means that we often select just a small portion of what is submitted to us for review.

Send your Demo to the attention of:

Brian Nimens
President and CEO
Sound Ideas
105 West Beaver Creek Road, Suite 4
Richmond Hill, Ontario
Canada L4B 1C6