Ok to us a single GB Loop in commercial YouTube video?

From: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT2931

The GarageBand software license agreement says:

"GarageBand Software. You may use the Apple and third party audio loop content (Audio Content), contained in or otherwise included with the Apple Software, on a royalty-free basis, to create your own original music compositions or audio projects. You may broadcast and/or distribute your own music compositions or audio projects that were created using the Audio Content, however, individual audio loops may not be commercially or otherwise distributed on a standalone basis, nor may they be repackaged in whole or in part as audio samples, sound effects or music beds."

So don't worry, you can make commercial music with GarageBand, you just can't distribute the loops as loops.

Looks like you cannot use an individual loop on it's own as a backing track/music bed. Try making it your own in a subtle kind of way with two or more loops.

That's not correct. Read it again: "... nor may they be repackaged in whole or in part as audio samples, sound effects or music beds." The important word is "repackaged". So if you create a cd with music beds for others to use and sell it, that would be a violation. It's perfectly okay to use Apple loops for your movies, no matter whether you use one, two or more.

Christoph, I certainly understand your finding in Apples use of the word 'repackaged'. That tells me I cannot take Apple's Loops from where they are stored on the internal hard drive, and burn them to disc (or upload them online etc). The section you read that from is preceded by direction on how you can use the loops (as follows):

You may use the ... Audio Content ... to create your own original music compositions or audio projects.

To me, the important term is '...your own original'. Using a single loop is not a creation of original work, nor is it a composition.

To me, this is pretty clear that the original poster, should they want to use Garageband for commercial use, will need to create an original piece/soundtrack in Garageband before uploading to YouTube.

Goodluck!

No, you don't have to alter it, your "original piece" can consist of one loop. Apple is very happy that their jingles and loops are used all over the place, and they certainly don't do a "creativity check" to see whether you have added anything. They are perfectly okay with you using their music, what they don't want you to do is re-sell it as a collection of loops and jingles.

epiphone_tone wrote:

I've trawled through the forums and I'm still confused. Can I use a single, un-modified Garageband loop as a soundtrack to my commercial YouTube video?

Thanks.

The answer to that is absolutely, unequivocally

YES.

No gray area, no ambiguity, no legalese, just

YES.

(As Christoph said) Apple absolutely endorses that kind of use of its loops.

YES.