And that isn't convenient. I'm pointing it out as feedback. Do they not read their forums to collect data for future changes? Where do I need to send it to get it in their face?

This is a user forum. Although Magix staff are known to lurk here, they rarely comment.

Only purchase a commercial license when you are sure that you need to, that is, you are ready to publish for commercial use.

Your second point is correct; there is no distinction in the program. Magix relies on you to be honest. This is normal. If you download an image from somewhere and use it in a commercial context, you should be obtaining (and likely paying for) a commercial license. But the graphics, video or web design program that you use has no idea as to either your intentions or the license.

Furthermore, if there was a distinction in MusicMaker, it would somehow be in the filename or extension, and if you created your project using non-commercial loops, then you would have to recreate your project using commercial loops. You would not like that at all.

There is precedent for this and Magix could use a proprietary format like it does for the Unlimited Loops subscription - .mxcogg. They stop working if you don't pay your subscription. So my previous point (redo the project) would apply unless you purchased commercial loops only and used only them. But then, you wouldn't know if you really wanted to use them until finished, so you could have paid for a commercial license for nothing.

Would you rather pay the commercial license price to try out the Soundpools?

Or are you suggesting to Magix that they should charge the current price for a commercial license only if you have already paid for a non-commercial license?

If not, then are you suggesting that they should charge more for the commercial license if you don't already have a non-commercial license, that is, charge the non-commercial price plus the commercial price?

I would think that the pricing for a commercial license assumes that you will have already paid for the non-commercial license and that you are just paying the difference. But then, you can always ask Magix. I am sure that Magix has already been asked the same question many times.

So, you are saying that being able to buy and use a non-commercial license Soundpool and then buying a commercial license if you really intend to use the loops commercial is an inconvenience?

Just remember, this is a commercial grade product and most users do not want or need to purchase a commercial license. For those who do, Magix have now made it quite simple to do compared to what it was before.

@browj2

I think that what @BMaps13 in essense are suggesting is that you should be able somehow to mark your soundpools and loops as to whether you have obtained the commercial license. In addition to obtaining it directly from the store. In that way you will know that you only use soundpools and loops that you have paid the commercial license for.

Or at least be able to quickly list all soundpools and loops used in a music project so you can manually verify that one have obtained the correct licensing for all licensed resources used in the project.

You are still responsible for obtaining the licenses you need, but the program may help you sort out what you actually need (ie by list all resources used).

@BMaps13

Hi

In a essence what to do and happens is:

1. create your composition and get it ready for public release or commercial use. If you have not done so read the article linked to in the Important posts re Commercial use of Magix Soundpools.
    
2. purchase the required licence for every Soundpool from which you used a loop - retain the order confirmations for step 5
    
3. publish the composition
    
4. some one claims copyright violation - in the case of music publishers, radio and other commercial entities requests proof of licence for commercial use
    
5. provide proof of rights to use the loops commercially - this where you have to be careful - only provide music publishers, radio and other commercial entities that require it - never to person or persons unknown on the Internet - see note 1 below.

Notes:

1. Claims of Copyright/plagiarism for a particular loop or loops used in the composition are very common on the likes of YouTube etc - and do not hold ground just for the loop, copyright of these belongs to and stays with Magix, you only have a licence to use them, if you hold a commercial licence then you can do whatever you like commercially within the terms of that licence.
   
   Do be aware that unscrupulous entities about who scrape YouTube, Vimeo etc making false claims in order to make money.
    
2. To avoid licencing issues altogether - do not use Soundpool loops at all - many commercial music companies balk at loop based works.
   
   Create an original piece of work ie write your own composition, play it using the MIDI instruments -do not use the default melodies for the Instruments - these are copyrighted, or record playing on instrument(s) eg guitar etc.

HTH

John EB

@shgrude

I agree that it would be good to have a way to mark loops for whatever reason that the user would like, including licensing. However, under Properties, one can only add comments.

Looking at what is there now, there is supposed to be a listing of files used under the Information tab of Project Settings. With the latest version, 29.0.2.17 (just came out), the box is empty, but I have used 3 Soundpool loops in the Arranger, and saved the project. Can others reproduce this? Bug?

This listing is where I see that something could potentially be done. An accessible field could be added, or simple give access to the Comments field.

Can this be done on a track basis? For example, put non-commercial loops on tracks separate from commercial loops and note which is which in the track header?

Rather than just dump this on Magix, suggestions as to what is required and possible solutions would help. Keep in mind that the loops themselves do not know which license the user has, so the user will likely have to do some work no matter what.

Whatever is suggested would have to be easy for Magix to implement.

For example, the Project Temp Folder in Video Pro X has fields that are user accessible. Could something similar be done?

I'll take a look in Samplitude later to see if there is anything there that is comparable. That said, if I was going to be creating commercial content, I would use Samplitude, not Music Maker. The same Soundpool Loops are available in Samplitude in almost the same way as in Music Maker.

John CB

@browj2

. . . .With the latest version, 29.0.2.17 (just came out) . . . .

Thanks for the heads up will get it installed - are you testing?

. . . . Information tab of Project Settings . . . the box is empty, . . . .

Agreed looks like a bug in 29.02.16, will wait for another confirmation before adding it to the bug list.

Cross checked against MEP 2020 which is OK.

John EB

@johnebaker

No, I haven't started testing yet.

Thanks for checking the Project Settings box. Did you add anything other than loops or try a quick recording to see if they show up?

I have been retasked to some yard and housework.

John CB