I tried reading some of the YT criteria regarding fair use music on my movie and am still unclear....so, I came here as I know many of you have experience.
I made a documentary movie about my time in Vietnam. It's a .wmv file at 225 meg and 50 minutes long. It has pics, narration, a super 8 movie inclusive from 1966 and music in background throughout. I tried rendering to MP4 and MP1 and I can't get the movie any smaller than 225 meg.
On it, I use the following music: Sirius - Alan Parsons Soltar - Robert Greenidge/Micheal Utley Riders In The Storm - Doors 2000 Light Years From home - Doors The End - Doors Freeway Jam - Jeff Beck East/West - Paul Butterfield
A couple of my songs are on it too. This project is not for money, not for PBS as a 'look at me' solicitation. It's just a documentary I'd link to a USMC site I contribute to.
I'm terrified of doing something wrong in this process. Would anyone care to educate me on going further with my thoughts?
You might get better (smaller) results by using a 2-pass setting to set the optimum bit-rate
Presumably you are using the H.264 video codec?
You can reduce the frame-rate, and also lower the quality of the output and still get very acceptable results for YT.
There is an open-source video transcoder named 'Handbrake'. You can get excellent results with that, it supports batch conversion too. There are controls to adjust resolution as well. That's probably your easiest and best option, and has plenty of online help.
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The first thing which you'll find is that, depending on your YouTube status, which in turn is based on your number of videos and views, you may only be allowed to upload videos of 15 minutes or less. If you have a channel already, you can check this by going to VIDEO MANAGER - CHANNEL - STATUS.
If you've produced a widescreen format video, you are better to upload it in your original resolution in order to get the best playback quality. Although YouTube streams in MP4, uploading in that format doesn't produce good results. Expect the upload to take some considerable time.
If you want to run advertising on the video, then you absolutely need to own copyright of everything contained therein. If not, then you should list and acknowledge the copyright owners. However, you can still be faced with a request for removal, or even a bill for royalties, which can be substantial if the video goes viral.
clv, What are you using to render the vision to mp4? You might get better (smaller) results by using a 2-pass setting to set the optimum bit-rate Presumably you are using the H.264 video codec?
Not trying to be difficult but I have no clue on your above suggestions.
I'm using Sony Movie Studio Platinum 9.0. It has a shvtload of rendering choices and the USMC site suggested I try to render to MP4 because their movie limit is 200 meg....editing/cutting is not an option. Ha...the MP4 and MP1 efforts were actually larger.
Honestly...I wallow in ignorance with these video details and intricacies.
The first thing which you'll find is that, depending on your YouTube status, which in turn is based on your number of videos and views, you may only be allowed to upload videos of 15 minutes or less. If you have a channel already, you can check this by going to VIDEO MANAGER - CHANNEL - STATUS.
If you've produced a widescreen format video, you are better to upload it in your original resolution in order to get the best playback quality. Although YouTube streams in MP4, uploading in that format doesn't produce good results. Expect the upload to take some considerable time.
If you want to run advertising on the video, then you absolutely need to own copyright of everything contained therein. If not, then you should list and acknowledge the copyright owners. However, you can still be faced with a request for removal, or even a bill for royalties, which can be substantial if the video goes viral. Hope this helps. ROG.
Hey ROG....ha.... --My YT status: non-existant. --Yes..it's in WS format. --Paragraph #3...that pretty much explains what I was concerned about. --Ha...my movie going 'viral'...I think it's far too serious a subject matter and my ego it's that big to consider it.
The process/intricacies with all this is complicated and I may be in over my head to pursue this further.
Thank you both for taking the time to offer the guidance.
Shame, I'd have enjoyed watching it. Why don't you just use BIAB to do the backing music and set your mind at rest? You could use styles that reference that era. I'm sure there are loads of BIAB veterans (If you'll excuse the pun!) on this site who could help. Most of the people watching it are probably more interested in your documentary than the music. Just a suggestion. The Doors has been done anyway, Apocalypse Now etc.
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But...I began this project in 2008 (in total movie making ignorance) doing my research, studying AAR's, corroborating details with other Brothers including CO's from my unit, and getting it all into one movie.....it' wore me out but I'm quite satisfied with the final product. Yes...I now recall Stones have been done on AN but the two songs (along with the others I use) fit too perfectly. Plus, I don't have the drive or desire to revisit/edit/re-write all new music as background even though BIAB is far above adequate for the task.
Thanks for joining in with your thoughts on my dilemma. All are appreciated.
clv
(EDIT: "Shame, I'd have enjoyed watching it."...should I succeed in the future I'll advise should you remain interested)
Video Editing can be a complex process, but Handbrake is reasonably easy to use.
I've filled in some items that you need to look at. Hover over the controls (on the real program) and there is plenty of popup hint information to assist. Feel free to experiment, just use a different output name, and you will always have your source.
BIAB & RB2026 Win.(Audiophile), Windows 10 Pro & Windows 11, Cakewalk Bandlab, Izotope Prod.Bundle, Roland RD-1000, Synthogy Ivory, Session Keys Grand S & Electric R, Kontakt, Focusrite 18i20, KetronSD2, NS40M, Pioneer Active Monitors.
Video Editing can be a complex process, but Handbrake is reasonable easy to use. I've filled in some items that you need to look at. Hover over the controls (on the real program) and there is plenty of popup hint information to assist. Feel free to experiment, just use a different output name, and you will always have your source.
Thanks for taking the time to delineate that so well. I'll have to do some homework and see what happens.
I cannot advise on the legality of the project, but given the honorable and non-commercial intent here, you might be successful contacting the rights holders to secure permission for use of their music.
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It would be fun to see Super 8 again. I cannot advise on the legality of the project, but given the honorable and non-commercial intent here, you might be successful contacting the rights holders to secure permission for use of their music.
Hmmm.... Matt....that does sound enticing to consider/pursue. How does one know where to inquire for these rights you reference?
I'm so daft with these things I almost hate to keep this thread going.
You can use any audio and video that YOU originate without any problem, and you can use material in the public domain.
However, if ANY of the music, audio, or video used in the film is written, composed, or otherwise owned by any other person or publishing company, and is NOT in the public domain, you must obtain the copyright owner's permission in writing to use it in your video.
It doesn't matter if this is a for profit movie or a completely non-profit project. You can not use other people's creations without their permission. No so called "fair use" laws apply to what you're doing. Fair use is very narrow in the scope of what it permits and is reserved mainly to educational purposes and in a classroom setting.
Contact the Harry Fox Agency to obtain the licenses for the songs you mentioned. You might find that HFA is asking too much for the licenses to some of the songs. Get the similar permissions for the video that is not yours.
If you proceed without getting the license to use the songs, there is a real possibility that you can and would be sued. In addition, any TV station or Cable channel may require proof that licenses are cleared and all permissions have been obtained so that they are not liable in a lawsuit.
Several years back, I wanted to do a video of a song I wrote. A buddy was helping me. We wanted to use a few short segments from a commercially done movie that was being distributed to the public totally free of charge. I wrote to the company which owned the video's copyright and asked. They refused to allow us to use the short video segments we wanted to use even though they would not lose any money since they were giving the movie away for free. End result, we had to cancel the video project and simply stick with the audio version. They would not even consider selling us the license to use less than one minute of their movie.
Be very cautious if you can not obtain the license. If you proceed and the copyright owner finds out about your unlawful use, you can find yourself hiring a lawyer and planning a courtroom defense.
You can find my music at: www.herbhartley.com Add nothing that adds nothing to the music. You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.
The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
I hear ya...and I've decided I won't pursue the YT process for all the reasons you and others have mentioned. It's very complicated and for obvious reasons. I'd actually overlooked the fee for such usage also. Shows you how ignorant I am with it all.
Another option came up yesterday that might work out for my limited purposes. It would be just imbedded in one of my posts on a USMC site for viewing within that post only rather than on YT or the internet directly. But, from what you state that may not mitigate any of the possible legal consequences either and I'm not inclined to abuse the copyrights of anyone's work.
Thanks for the detailed input...obviously, I need it.
HFA (Harry Fox Agency) does provide the ability to obtain what is called a "synchronization" license, which allows you to use copyrighted music in your videos, but you still have to obtain permission to use the music first (as Herb mentioned), and even then it's pretty clear that it's not for YouTube (or similar website) upload. It's really for playing the video at an event.
John
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Hi You may find this video of interest . from the horses mouth so to speak! I have myself sometimes used commercial recordings on documentaries and most times have just had to have You tubes adverts on the front . On one occasion the video was allowed except in Germany, you tube informed me of this and said the post could remain. Without affecting my standing.
So what's the easiest solution if you want to put covers of songs on youtube or other social networking sites? How about playing live and streaming covers? Do I have to approach the publishers of each song? On Streetjelly you just type in a set list and it's done for you.
Edit: Just watched the TED talk video. That's helpful and I think I've set up my youtube site correctly. I'll need to check.
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