Freesound Forums

My question is to attributing credits for sounds. I work in audio books, and sometimes we do full dramatization of the books (sound fx, music, etc.) in which I may use 100's of sound fx. There is no way possible to credit 100+ individuals on the packaging or in the audio itself for the use of 1 sound each (this is an over exaggeration of course, but it could happen).

How is the best way to still utilize FreeSound, but give proper credits? Would a simple message or email notification of the use of peoples sounds be enough?

I certainly wouldn't want to exploit FreeSound for its services, but thats what its here for right?
I'd be interesting in hearing any thoughts.

Microscopia
Hi Stephan.Matson

My initial reaction is, that if you incorporate sounds in such works without the correct attribution to the original artists, then you leave yourself open to possible legal action being taken against you and your organisation, which I am certain would be far more costly and time consuming than were you to go the extra mile by inserting a liner giving due recognition to the original artists. After all, it is they who are contributing to the production and ultimate sale of the final product. If you cannot attribute, then don't use - simple!

Having said that, I appreciate it may be difficult, but then successful enterprises are able to overcome such difficulties.

At the other extreme, where for instance you were providing a social service similar to audio books for the blind etc. then I am certain, the majority of artists would waive all rights for attribution on the basis of at least a courtesy email from you.

I think the safe-key to your question and many similar ones relating to attribution is found by satisfying the following line of the License:-

You must attribute the work in the manner specified by the author or licensor

and the only way you can do that is .....................you've got it...........by asking the author or licensor.

Regards

Thank you for your reply! I'll probably just stick to my purchased sound libraries then except for smaller projects.

I really enjoy the community here. Thank you for putting this up!

Stephan.Matson
My question is to attributing credits for sounds. I work in audio books, and sometimes we do full dramatization of the books (sound fx, music, etc.) in which I may use 100's of sound fx. There is no way possible to credit 100+ individuals on the packaging or in the audio itself for the use of 1 sound each (this is an over exaggeration of course, but it could happen).

How is the best way to still utilize FreeSound, but give proper credits? Would a simple message or email notification of the use of peoples sounds be enough?

I certainly wouldn't want to exploit FreeSound for its services, but thats what its here for right?
I'd be interesting in hearing any thoughts.

Create a webpage with the credits listed in full and put the URL of the webpage on the product.

Timbre
Create a webpage with credits in full and put the URL of the webpage on the product.

Thats exactly the thought I had from Micro's response.

Note taken.

Microscopia
It still would not necessarily satisfy the License conditions, as it may not be in the manner specified by the author or licensor!

Regards

Is there someplace that I can find the "License conditions specified by the author or licensor"?

Thanks Micro. Sometimes I just need things pointed out to me.

And I apologize if this is in the wrong place. It should indeed be moved.

1. moved
2. in freesound there is no way for the uploaders to specify their terms. I HAVE seen people add things to their "profile" page though. ( ex. http://www.freesound.org/usersViewSingle.php?id=8043 ) But mostly those requests are "lighter" than the ones in the CC license. As far as I understand, you must ALWAYS attribute the author, even if he does not tell you how to do it. So, use the username unless...
3. microscopia, I know you're trying to be nice, but could you use less colors

- bram

hehehe

- bram

I feel your pain OP I am creating an audio book as well. I have also released material, I'm an artist myself. Goodluck cause you are going to need it. You are literally going to be using hundreds and hundreds of sounds. If not thousands. Their is no way you will be able to put all the credits on the CD panels without spending hundreds extra for the panels on the pressing. I feel your pain believe me I made a couple posts on it recently.

I have a couple of recommendations in no specific order here they are:

1. Maybe you already do this but you must name your sample and file it in an organized fashion on your drive. Folder categories such as sounds, instruments, animals, etc. Then you name the files with info. Lets say you have a dog barking. In your animal sounds folder you would name the file like so: Dog-Bark_by-JohnDoe_Freesound.

2. Begin your own created sample library. You are going to have the quality you need this way. Write out a rough script for the sounds on each track number your audio book. Maybe chapter 1 is in in a city you can record your own car honks and traffic. Though if your story takes place in a jungle you will have problems unless you live in one. You could legally use fair use copyright law and take something off an obscure commercial movie or documentary. As long as you sample underground unknown stuff for a audio book that is going to be under a 1,000 press release, chances are slim anyone will notice. Though a chance is there, one can always get sued. I'm not a lawyer so if you do this it's your risk. Don't blame me. lol

3. If you do a lot of audio books or plan to, I would just call up the Hollywood sample place (I forget the name. "Hollywood Sound" I think. I can find out if you really need it just let me know I have to look thru my physical sample disc library) and buy a a sound library suited for your audio book style. That's what I would do. It's easier and you don't have to worry about anything on sampling. You can also buy sample libraries from Eastwest which is also Big Fish. A google search will get you there. Prepare to spend at least a few hundred to $600. If you are doing lots of them it's worth it. They are pro and clean sounding. Your audiobook will benefit from them. That's what I would do if I were you. That is what I am going to do if my audiobooks take off in the future. I've spent $100's on Eastwest and Big Fish Audio sample CDs for my electronica production. They are great awesome pro quality. Though I have never used them on a release because I find that it's faster and I have more freedom making my own beats, synths, and sounds. I have a ton of CDs I should just Ebay them but I am such a packrat.

4. I don't any exist but if you find a full public domain sample site then you are golden, you don't have to credit or pay anything! I'd love to make a site like that but I don't have the connections for webmasters and php people who can do it. I personally thing Freesound would benefit immensely from doing a sister site that is Public Domain 100%

P/S My favorite audiobooks are the ones with sounds and not just voice. My fav being the BBC's dramatization audio book of the Chronicles of Narnia. It is absolutely beautiful! The voice actors are incredibly talented and the sounds productions is perfect. I highly recommend it.

I have another idea: put the attribution list in a text file on the cd. If that is possible (having data on an audio cd?...)

Also, I don't believe that it's impossible to put 100 attributions on an inlay. Just print one more page and use small type.... It should be enough to list the author names, along with the file names and then point to http://freesound.org

monnie101
4. I don't any exist but if you find a full public domain sample site then you are golden, you don't have to credit or pay anything! I'd love to make a site like that but I don't have the connections for webmasters and php people who can do it. I personally thing Freesound would benefit immensely from doing a sister site that is Public Domain 100%

Hopefully, we will be able to search by license type. I luckily have kept freesound downloads in a different folder, it seems they have to be removed from soundminer. There is no way to attribute for most of my work, tv spots, radio spots. Even longer form I sometimes get left out of the credit roll, lol. With the shrinking budgets, we barely have enough time to finish and make deliverables, Not worth going through the trouble. I love the site, was planning on contributing more, but will have to wait for the update. Maybe i'll still use it for inspiration, but it's not practical for work.

I just found out about this website and it sounds great. I'm creating a video game that will be downloaded from my website and I wanted to use sound effects from thefreesoundprogect in the video game. The game will be free but there will be adverising on the web page. I wanted to make sure that wouldn't be a legal problem. The sound effects would only be on the game. Could you give me some advice? I've read that as long as there was proper credit given it should be alright, but I wanted to make sure that because there would be advertising on the web page that it wouldn't be an issue.

Josh Burk: It shouldn't be a problem. The Hollywood film Children of Men used a Freesound sample, and they made loads on money.

Thanks for the advice. I'll keep it in mind.

Well I'm glad to see my question sparked a lot of questions and replies!

So in regard to getting someone's permission to use sounds... Since this is an online forum, and of course there are many people that post sounds but only check their account once every 6 months, if you can't get a hold of them... can you still use the sound?

This is the internet, and if you put it out there it is implied that you want it used by 3rd parties. Perhaps when people upload a sound, they can choose a license agreement? so downloaders can see right away what the author accepts as a form of credit.

I know with YouTube.com, if its up, you can use it in any project without credit being given. And Freesound seems very similar. Someone's going to say thats wrong, but I've been in court and its true.