BandTrax FAQ - USING THE MIDIFILES

 

Am I allowed to alter the files for my own use?

Do I have to pay any extra to use the MIDIfiles to perform live with?

Can I use your MIDIfiles on my CD I'm going to record and sell?

Can I buy cheap BandTrax files from ?????". He says "He changes them because he's allowed to". Is this correct?

When I first got the files they worked perfectly, now they've changed. They don't sound as good. Why?

I am trying to use your MIDIfiles on a CD but it won't work. What am I doing wrong?

 

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Am I allowed to alter the files for my own use?
  Yes. The opinion of BandTrax is to make our files fully accessible to editing by musicians or entertainers, by not including encryption or attributes that would restrict editing access. You can add or remove count-ins, take out parts, change the arrangement, alter the mix, etc. We allow you, the end user, to do what ever you like as long as it is for your own use in personal or live entertainment. Please respect our choice to NOT restrict your being able to make your own personal changes, buy not encouraging "pirating" of our products. THIS "FREEDOM TO ALTER" DOES NOT ALLOW YOU TO THEN SWAP, RE-SELL, BATA, DEAL, RECORD, FALSIFY, UPLOAD, RE-PRODUCE, MAKE FREELY AVAILABLE OR DO ANYTHING ELSE WITH THE FILE CONTRARY TO THE EULA, THE COPYRIGHT ACT or FEDERAL LAW covering INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. If you're not sure about this, ask.
Some hardware will not allow MIDIfiles to be altered or backed up. If this happens to you, contact the manufacturer/supplier of the hardware for further help.
 
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Do I have to pay any extra to use the MIDIfiles to perform live with?
  Once you have obtained the MIDIfiles from BandTrax there are no other fees payable for their use in live performance, as the mechanical reproduction licensing fees are accounted for by BandTrax at the time of sale. When performing, other fees my be applicable to a performing rights association or similar body in accordance with agreements or laws within your territory. These fees are usually the responsibility of the venue operator or venue owner. The MIDIfile(s) must not be used in any method of recording your performance for profit or gain, live or otherwise, without prior notification to, and agreement with BandTrax.  
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Can I use your MIDIfiles on my CD I'm going to record and sell?
  Yes. But you must advise us in writing. We will then issue you with a re-recording license and agreement to allow our works to be reproduced by you. We are the legal copyright owner of the data contained within the midifile and will retrieve royalties accordingly. Currently, the value involved is around 6.28% pro rata.  
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Can I buy cheap BandTrax files from ?????". He says "He changes them because he's allowed to". Is this correct?
You can buy MIDIfiles from whoever you want, but NOT BandTrax Midifiles or associated Midifiles. BandTrax Midifiles are only available from our authorised distributors. Anyone claiming to be allowed to alter or modify ANY MIDIfiles needs very good authority. BandTrax has NEVER issued such authority. You should also be aware that obtaining BandTrax midifiles in this manner WILL implicate you in VERY EXPENSIVE legal action. In ALL examples of "modified" files we have seen, they have been "butchered" to the extent of not working reliably, if at all, or being an embarrassment to use. Do you really want people to laugh at you for wasting your money, sounding bad at the gig, and then facing legal embarrassment? Also watch for misrepresentation of products. An example of this was where reputable Midifile brand names were being "embedded" as META TAGS in a WEB page to detract people from finding those names, and then being re-directed to a "less than ethical" outlet who had no authorisation to distribute those products. If this happens to you with any BandTrax products, we ask that you please advise us immediately. Another method used by "rogue" programmers is to obtain a BandTrax midifile and then re-programme it by "playing along" with each part. We have been shown many examples of this plagiarism ..... it would be nice if they gave us a credit!! We are continually amazed at how dumb these type of people are .... they aren't even slightly clever .... here's an example. Take any song where the recording fades out. What's the chance of two or more people writing the identical 1 or 2 bar end arrangement to produce a defined finish? We reckon it's about ZERO, yet programmers(?), MD's(?), producers(?), arrangers(?) all make the same mistake when copying our files. Now that's being REALLY stupid!
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When I first got the files they worked perfectly, now they've changed. They don't sound as good. Why?
This question is similar to "How long is a piece of string?" Firstly, did you make a back-up? If you did, you can check to see if the original back-up files have also altered. If they have, this narrows down the problem to some type of equipment change. Have you changed the sound module, the computer, the software? If the original back-up files work O.K. but your user files have altered, either they have been edited, intentionally or accidentally, or the equipment or disk has a fault. The most common reason for change is the dreaded "edit". The most dangerous editing assumption is to remove the first bar with all of the "number junk" in it and replace it. WRONG! DON'T! LEAVE IT ALONE UNLESS YOU KNOW EXACTLY WHAT YOU ARE DOING! The System Exclusive, controller data, and other data contained within the header bar(s) are for a reason, they structure the file. And for those who think our security data is in there, it isn't. If you need to know what all those numbers do, ask, don't experiment. Even the most simple of edits should be thought over. Don't forget that even the simple task of transposing is NOT a global function, drums and percussion on Chan #10 DO NOT get transposed! (Unless you require something "completely different")
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I am trying to use your MIDIfiles on a CD but it won't work. What am I doing wrong?
AAs all computer configurations are different, we can only advise you of the process and devices required.
Items you must have are:
A MIDIfile playback device. (Media Player, dedicated software like Cakewalk, Cubase, etc, or an external MIDIfile player.)
An audio recording device. (Software within the PC or external devices like tape, minidisc, video recorder, etc)
A CD burner.

If you are using a self contained PC system the process is;
Play the MIDIFile.
Record the audio produced by the MIDIfile as a *.wav (wave) file.
Burn the CD using the *.wav file to an Audio CD.
If you are using external devices the process is;
Play the MIDIfile from the PC or external MIDIfile player.
Record the MIDIfile audio produced, to the PC audio or external tape, minidisc, video, etc.
If recorded to an external device you now record the audio produced, from the tape, minidisc, video, etc. to the PC using audio recording software within the PC. Record this audio as *.wav (wave file).
Burn the CD using the *.wav file to an Audio CD.

For settings and configurations of your software and hardware consult the owner's manual or contact the installer/supplier.

If you do not have the above set-up or would like to simplify the process, you could look at using an "all-in-one" software package. We often use the Roland/Edirol Virtual Sound Canvas Multi Pack with GM2/GS Multitimbral Software Synthesizer. This is a complete package containing software synthesizers that run on Windows and Macs. You can select a Sound Canvas Model to use and then simply convert all of our MIDIfiles to Audio (wave) and then burn your CD.
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