Thread: some questiongs about sounds (ie copyright, getting them, etc.)

ok i really like the song "Wake me up Inside" by Evanessance (sp?) and i wanted to use the beginning part as whats played before you fight a big boss, maybe the final one or something. i know in console apps ur not supposed to use sounds because of high overhead or something, but to be honest im the only person who will probably play the game (maybe a few friends) and i dont do much on my comp where i need a lot of resources.
so anyway, would it be some sort of copyright infridgment (sp for sure) if i used the sound? im not going to be selling the game or anything. also, if someone could tell me a sight to get good game music, i would really appreciate it. and do sounds have to be .wav, or will .mp3 work too? finally, are there other ways to control sound besides just play? (ie stop, pause, fast forward, etc)
thank you for all your help

It's copyright infringment for every mp3 you have on your computer. If you recorded the music (I assume that it's just music at the beginning. I don't know the song), it might be a little less copyright infringment-ish if you stuck it in your game... you could use a MIDI keyboard, or I'm sure that you could get a program to do it for you somewhere. Music for pop songs is fairly easy to find on the internet. But, really, it's a matter of whether you care that much or not. You're not selling the game. It isn't going to be widely distributed. Nobody is going to know or care about your little copyright infringment. I would suggest using the sound if you like it, and if you ever decide to widely distribute the game (to more than friends and the people here) replace the sound with something else.

.wav, .midi, .mp3 and .whateverelse will all work for your game... you'll just need to get a library that can play the type of sound you want. It's also likely that the library will support the other functions that you want...

you'll just need to get a library that can play the type of sound you want. It's also likely that the library will support the other functions that you want...

you wouldnt happen to know what library i would use for .mp3 files, would you?

no, but you could check out this page... it might help you out
http://osalp.sourceforge.net/

Isn't it called "Bring Me to Life"?

FILE FORMATS:
An MP3 file has to be decoded (decompressed). Then, the waveform is reconstructed sample-by-sample. This requires a fair amount of processing power.

WAV files simply store the sampled waveform which is sent to the sound card (or chip). This puts a load on the bus, but doesn't require much from the CPU.

MIDI files only require that you set-up the sound card, and then send it the "notes". This places almost no load on the CPU or bus.

Because a console game (usually) does not require much processing power, you can use any method for generating sound. Graphics games are usually using all the available power for the graphics. So in that case, you don't want the sound processing to slow-up the action.

COPYRIGHTS
There is a "fair use" exception to the copyright laws. It is OK for you to copy music from a CD that you own onto your computer for your own use. I have a few concerts on VHS that I have copied to CD (audio only) to use in my car. Making a copy for a friend is probably a violation. Distributing it on the Internet is clearly a violation. I believe that "fair use" is also the reason that libraries are allowed to have Xerox machines.

well it really doesnt matter what the song is called, i can call it bob for all anyone should care... or something like that

anyway, thanks for the link, and all the information doug, i appreciate it