Updated September 2nd, 2019
Once you get the green light from a music library or music supervisor, best be prepared to deliver what they need!
This post will list all the audio files you need to maximize your chances of getting your music licensed.
The 5 Essentials
Here’s my list of the 5 essential audio files that need to be ready for licensing….
MP3, 320 kbps
AIFF, 16 bit, 44 kHz
AIFF, 16 bit, 48 kHz
AIFF, 24 bit, 44 kHz
AIFF, 24 bit, 48 kHz
Some customers will ask for WAV files but you can send them AIFF files instead.
AIFF and WAV are both lossless audio file formats which is really what customers are after.
Why am I choosing AIFF?
Because many audio media players like iTunes and Windows Media Player don’t read the metadata embedded in WAV files properly.
What does that mean?
It means that, depending on the device your customer uses to listen to the audio file, they may or may not be able to see the song information attached to the audio file.
Since there is no way to predict which media player the customer will use, I prefer to send AIFF files.
How Do You Get The Various MP3 and AIFF Files?
If you produce your own music, you will be familiar with the “bounce” option that allows you to export the entire tune into one audio file. All you have to do is bounce the tune several times in the 5 suggested formats.
If you go through a third-party to produce your music, you will need to ask the mixing/mastering engineer for the MP3 and AIFF files.
In any case, it’s important that you always start with the highest quality format (AIFF > MP3).
Why?
Because you can easily convert AIFF (no compression) files into MP3 (compressed files), using free AIFF to MP3 converters online for example. However, because an MP3 is a compressed file, you cannot convert it into a lossless, no compression file like a AIFF or WAV file.
Why MP3 320 kbps? What Does It Mean?
MP3, 320kbps is the highest quality of MP3 you can export. Some libraries will ask lower quality 128kbps versions when you first submit but you will need high quality if your track is accepted so you should have it ready.
kbps stands for “kilobits per second”. You don’t need to worry about this though…
Just remember that 320kbps is the highest quality (it sounds “cleaner”): 320kbps > 256kbps > 128kbps
Those are just the broad lines by the way, your DAW will give you loads of options for mp3:
Why 4 Different Types of AIFF Files?
Alternative Versions
Having 2-4 alternative versions of your song is always a good idea because it gives your customers options.
That can only be a good thing when prospects are browsing a music library’s results page.
Here are some examples of additional tracks and audio files you can prepare to improve your chances of getting your music licensed and/or provide your customers with a better experience working with you….
Alternative ending
Alternative arrangement
Alternative instrumentation 1 (e.g. no drums)
Alternative instrumentation 2 (e.g. no vocals)
Alternative instrumentation 3 (e.g. no synth)
30″ edit
60″ edit
90″ edit
How Do You Choose Which Alternative Versions To Offer?
If you recorded a song with vocals, it’s 100% guaranteed that a potential customer will want an instrumental version (so they can easily take vocals out of the way of dialogue if needed).
If there’s a very melodic instrument, the same applies. An alternative version without it can help the music department take it out of the way of dialogue.
You can be creative with your alternative versions. For example, you could have percussions replace the drums.
Do You Really Need To Create 30”, 60”, 90” Versions Of Tracks?
You don’t have to do anything. Music departments can do it themselves.
BUT….
if a potential customer is hesitating between two songs in the music library and only one of them includes shorter versions, chances are they’ll go with that one.
It just makes their lives easier.
How Do You Create Short Versions Of Your Tracks?
Step 1: identify 30” segments of your tune that stand alone (edit slightly if needed)
Step 2: bounce the 30” version
Step 3: identify if the same can be done with 60” and 90”:
If yes, bounce those versions as well.
If no, change the arrangement slightly to make it work
You could do this yourself or, if you’re having your tunes produced by a third-party, ask them to do it (preferably with your artistic input so you can decide which sections of your tune to work with).
Stem Files
Being able to provide your customers with stem files is a huge bonus from your customer’s perspective.
Why?
Because stem files give your customers a lot of options and editing flexibility. They can easily pick and choose how to layer the song so that it doesn’t interfere with the visual side of their project.
Ok, let’s back up a little bit…..
What Are Stem Music Files?
In the context of music licensing, a “stem” file is the audio file for one instrument.
Your music project contains multiple tracks and, chances are, you’ve layered a few tracks to make up one instrument sound.
For example, let’s say you have recorded 9 tracks just for your drums. In that case, providing the drum “stems” means you mute everything BUT those 9 drum tracks and bounce them into one WAV file.
You’ll do this for each instrument.
If your track is purchased for licensing, this gives a lot of flexibility to the music department who is working with your tune.
For example, they may like you song but want to adjust the sound of the piano or cut a single melodic phrase. In that case, it’s very helpful for them to have all the stem files. It allows them to edit and play around with your song so that it fits their needs perfectly.
At the top level, this is a requirement, especially in the advertising world.
Side note: you could also create a stem file for a group of instruments instead of just one instrument. For example, larger orchestral projects could have a stem file for 1st violin, a stem file for 2nd violin, a stem file for cello, etc. Or it could be broken down into instrument sections and then you’d have a stem file for all strings, a stem file for brass, etc.
How Do You Edit And Export Stem Files?
You do NOT edit stem files. One instrument in your song (no matter how many tracks were recorded for this instrument) = one stem file.
Stem files are bounced out of the software used to produce the track (e.g. ProTools, Logic, Ableton Live, etc.).
For music licensing purposes, they should be bounced in 24bit, 48kHz for maximum quality suitable for video.
Next Steps?
Prepare for success….
Pick one track and get started.
First export the 5 essential audio files, then choose 3-4 alternative versions, then prepare 1-2 shorter edits.
This is boring stuff. Don’t be afraid to take it slow…
Bonus points if you comment below when you’re done! 😉
Great article! Very helpful as I’ve just finished 13 new tracks!
That’s great news Sharon! Can’t wait to hear the new songs 🙂
Wow, so detail and so accurate Joyce! I even learned from yours that 48khz is for films and videos, and also 44.1 khz is for CD/audio only (like albums or EP CDs). I never thought about that honestly. I thought it was useless for looking for, but wow, you gave me that clarity Joyce, thanks.
Yes I know it is so boring when we want to work with some technical stuff, but strangely enough, I am ADDICTED to them. Am I the only one? XD
Okay just for telling the truth about some technical stuff you had mentioned, I will give you some right infos:
Kbps actually stands for kilo BITS per second. Bits are smaller than bytes. It is about one eighth of the bytes (yes dont really thinking about this haha), it will be bytes IF the “B” word was in uppercase (i.e. kBps, MBps). Haha, it is okay Joyce, lots of people also had wrong this, and I used to got wrong also XD, same applied to internet connection and datas, but differs in function and implementation. Lots of ISP (internet service provider) ads tricked us by this haha.
I dont know if Logic X can do this, but from my experience and also technically of my DAW, 32-bits are the most highest possible for WAV in my DAW (FL Studio), (again, i agree we shall not overthink about this XD). Yes it gives us most the best quality possible, but it doesnt compatible with most device. I accidentally tried it on older MP3 player, even my old phone, some of them works but produces ONLY white noise without the actual song (strange), and some of them couldn’t play at all ! Interesting. 🙂
That’s why some of people or library still want 16 bit, or even so strictly want it like AudioJungle. 16 bit still compatible for most of our older and most devices. Although not so much difference at GLANCE for different BITS on WAV (some of people claim that it can also produce MUCH HIGHER frequency response, that means it can hold and store frequencies that are HIGHER than 20,000 hz, although it was completely not needed, cause we couldn’t hear anything above 20 khz), but I agree with you that when it practically applied to the MP3, it has prominent difference. It sounds clearer.
48khz I think wanted for some coorporate or individual people who wants our song to be played or accompany to their videos or ads like TV or Youtube videos, or Wedding videos, or Indie film trailer. 🙂
That’s it Joyce. I hope you enjoyed it. Thanks a lot for making this website. I am enjoyed it so MUCH as YOU ENJOY your career for being a musician and Licensing expert. 🙂
Thanks for the clarification and sharing your audio format geekery, Jackson. Love it! 🙂
This so carefully explained. Thanks for the details
You’re welcome, Joy! Glad I could help 🙂
Hi Joyce Great stuff as always……………..i’ve been bouncing 15 30 and 60 second versions of all my tracks . I noticed a 90 second one alsoin this post, is that a standard thing or dépends on the Library? Thank you for that and for all this great info you provide.
Hey Ric!
Libraries often give you a lot of freedom to choose the different versions you want to include on there.
90 seconds is a format I like to have for my action style music because it suits short videos and trailers well 🙂
Hey Joyce. Thanks so much for sharing this. I shall keep you updated with my efforts!
My pleasure! Please do 🙂
Thank you so much for all this information. I am new at this, but i am trying to learn and your info. helped me a lot.
I am working on my meta data (boring stuff but need doing it)
How can i put meta data with my audio is my next step.
Thanks again Joyce you sound like an expert at this.
Hey Joe, glad you’re finding the website helpful 🙂
Here’s a post that goes deeper into metadata for audio files.