You'll have to forgive me as I had just spent almost three days trying to get the software to work properly and was beyond frustrated.

I do appreciate you trying to help.

I've gotten over the soundpool thing (which really are paid samples, as you can't do anything with them, even non-commercial, without purchasing the unlimited versions). I've since found another source for sound loops, so them disappearing and needing rescanning every time I fire up MM has become a moot issue. I may eventually get an unlimited pack (when I can afford it), but I have plenty from the other source for now. Nevertheless, I have 15 soundpools that are useless to me for the time being.

And when I made that comment, the area where MM does appear to be useful (that being the instruments) wasn't working properly (and still isn't, as the two instruments redeemed through the editions still appear locked in my library). But figuring out a workaround where I can access and use them has cast a silver lining over the dark cloud that had begun to make me regret making the purchase.

Hi

. . . . You'll have to forgive me as I had just spent almost three days trying to get the software to work properly and was beyond frustrated. . . . .

That is understandable - after 3 days struggling with a program it can be very difficult to maintain ones sanity and not throw the PC out the nearest window.

. . . . which really are paid samples, as you can't do anything with them, even non-commercial, without purchasing the unlimited versions . . . .

You will find that if you use other music creation software their sound loops etc are also 'samples' of the relevant instruments.

The SoundPools in MMM are not limited to what you can do with them in terms of creating music, you can edit them, apply effects etc.

There are several tutorials on using Music Maker by John CB in the Tutorials section of the forum. - link at top of page.

The limitation comes when you look at the terms of the licencing - as supplied with the program or purchased in the store you get a licence to use the loops etc for private use and limited 'public' broadcasting.

For commercial use you must upgrade to the appropriate licences as found on Catooh.com.

More information on what you can and cannot do with respect to licensing is here in the Magix Magazine

HTH

John EB

Thanks, but it appears you may have misunderstood my use of the word 'sample'.

I wasn't referring to the sampling of the instruments, themselves, but rather that the packs bought in the store can't be used for anything and are designed to let you sample the sounds before choosing which unlimited pack to buy. Magix states 'non-commercial' use, but according to the license terms on Catooh, 'non-commercial' requires an unlimited license also.

Hi

. . . . it appears you may have misunderstood my use of the word 'sample'. . . . .

Not at all, I understood precisely what you were intending 'sample' to mean, however I was pointing out that 'samples' has a different meaning in music software to the one you intended and that other music software also uses similar types of sound files.

If you have a Soundpool installed, for instance the 80's Soundpool, then you can edit this as you will and create music. Some Soundpools have more loops (samples) in them than others.

This is the same for all versions of Music Maker whether the free version or Premium version. The limitations are not the soundpools but the effects, instruments and export formats available for the version of Music Maker you have.

Here is a good example of how to use the soundpools - it refers to an old version of Music Maker (MX) however within the capabilities of the different versions it shows how to add and edit soundpool loops.

HTH

John EB

But technically, due to the license restrictions on Catooh, you could not use the music made with any of the soundpools in any form or fashion, be it non-commercial or otherwise, without first purchasing an unlimited license for the packs involved. This limits it to 'in-studio' use only, allowing you to (for a small price) try out the full range of loops in a given pack to see which ones would work best in a composition before committing to a purchase.

Btw, I did refrain from pointing out the difference between 'demo' and 'trial' earlier in the thread. ;-)

Hi

. . . . But technically, due to the license restrictions on Catooh, you could not use the music made with any of the soundpools in any form or fashion, be it non-commercial or otherwise, without first purchasing an unlimited license for the packs involved. . . . .

This topic has been raised many times before and I feel you are reading too much into the Private licence statement on Catooh.

From the article I linked to - the key words are highlighted

'As long as your own songs – which contain loops or sounds from Music Maker/ Music Maker Jam – are not used commercially, you can upload them to Soundcloud, Youtube or other portals'

This means you can use your music creations as you will with the standard licence, providing you or 3rd parties are not:

• making money directly or indirectly by selling the music, or through advertising attached to it
• 3rd parties attaching advertising to your music - eg Youtube advertising - whether you are paid or not.
• broadcasting on commercial / public radio, tv, internet radio / tv or other 'public broadcasting' eg music festivals, shop music, street music etc.
• making money from other products or public broadcasting of those products, which contain music with the loops or sounds from the soundpools, eg music videos, films using the music for background audio, eg Wedding videos etc.

If you meet or need any of the bullet points above, then commercial licences, as found on Catooh, come into play.

And - you cannot claim copyright of the loops or sound used in the music, only on parts where you have used instruments - see 3 and 4 below.

If you want copyright then you must :

1. not use any of the soundpool loops or sounds - no matter what licence you have they are still copyrighted to their creators.
2. not use the default compositions of the instruments, the exception is the drum instruments which are too generic.
3. compose the score
4. create the score in the MIDI editor or play the instruments eg using an external MIDI keyboard

HTH

John EB

Thank you for taking the time to clarify that, John. The private license terms on Catooh are a little vague and I would not have gotten that from reading what they list. I'll make a note of it for future reference.

Now, then... Do you have any idea on how to get the instruments from showing as locked in my library? It's not a major thing, as I can still add them directly with the "+" on the left of the track, but it does kinda play with my OCD to see those padlocks.

@ReplicantX

Did you update to the latest patch?

The + at the left of the track is the normal way to select an instrument, not the Instruments tab. The + gives you a list and then you have sub-lists and sometimes sub-sub-lists (bank and patch) to select the type of instrument from within a main instrument.

@ReplicantX

Did you update to the latest patch?

The + at the left of the track is the normal way to select an instrument, not the Instruments tab. The + gives you a list and then you have sub-lists and sometimes sub-sub-lists (bank and patch) to select the type of instrument from within a main instrument.

I'm on v. 25.1.1.67, with 80s Edition and Hip Hop Beat Producer. All up to date as far as I can see.

And, yeah, I can access the instruments by clicking the "+" on the left side of each track or by going into the store and scrolling through all the instruments.

While I technically do have access to them in those ways, the two I redeemed through the '80s Edition and Hip Hop Beat Producer still show in my instruments tab with padlocks.

Good, you have the latest version. I had one instrument that showed up under Store as purchased, but did not show up under Instruments. That seems to have been resolved. Now I only have two that I had purchased through Magix.com and not through the Store. It seems that these have not been sorted out yet.

Try going to Store, clicking on the gear and logging into the Store. It may do a refresh. Otherwise, there is a new problem with the instruments that you obtained through 80's and Hip Hop. Which are the two that show up a locked?

About using the + at the left to get the instruments, do you see the sub-lists under the instruments?

John CB

I got Analog Synths and Drum Engine. Those are the two that show as locked in the Instruments tab.

When I click the "+", they're both listed under "Vita Solo Instruments" along with Concert Grand LE, above the bar that separates them from Revolta 2 and Vita.

It goes:

Vita Solo Instruments

Analog Synths

Concert Grand Le

Drum Engine

----------------------------------

Revolta 2

Vita

-----------------------------------

If that helps.