Music for video, well known song or original ?

[ronscuba]

Just curious what people's opinion on this is.

Forgetting about copyrights, skill level, originality, etc..

As a viewer, for pure enjoyment, do you prefer to watch a UW video with a well known song or less known music or possibly music generated in S/W.

I ask because as a hobbyist, I'm not really concerned about the legal aspects of copyright. I'm most concerned about enjoyment of the video.

In the last year, I've played around with soundtrack software and it's worked pretty well. I like how I can manipulate and adjust both the video and audio to fit each other. Where as with commercial music you have to edit the video to fit the audio.

What's your opinion ? Do you have a preference ?

 

[Papa_Bear]

If you never want to enter a festival or contest, then copy right music for personal use is up to you, if you put it anywhere else you need non-copy right material! It also gives you a chance to be more creative!

 

[ronscuba]

Thanks Papa.

But forget about contests, copyrights, and creativity. Think pure entertainment, as a viewer, what do you prefer ?

 

[drbill]

I use a narrated soundtrack with background reg noise. I've had several viewers say they prefer a musical background most of the time. With my tin ear, I don't dare try blending my video with actual music. Of course I use the reg soundtrack for two reasons: no copyright worries and it makes the experience more realistic IMHO. I don't listen to music underwater.

 

[Papa_Bear]

I like to add my own to set the mood I am looking for like the one here! I want it to be subdued and non threatening so I pick what I think will work as a mood setter..... I like original sound tracks! Although if you have the budget like Howard Hall and can get Crosby, Stills, & Nash that worked out real well

Two Tanked Productions HD & SD Underwater Productions and video services

 

[stillhope]

That's a hard question to answer in a limited lifetime. You can take a poll and find out that x% of the people prefer familiar songs and y% of the people prefer unfamiliar songs, then pick the bigger of the two, but I think that's oversimplifying the issue.

There are really many different types of movies -- even many types of underwater movies. There are documentaries, travelogues, adventure movies, love stories, etc. I think the first questions to ask are: "What kind of movie are you trying to make?" "Who is your audience?" "How do you want the movie to affect them?" Once you've answered those, take a look at other movies in that genre. If you are making an adventure movie: Star Wars was fantastically popular, and the music for it wasn't well-known. Well not at first anyway. But it was composed to be the right kind of music for the movie. But Star Wars music wouldn't have worked for Titanic, whether it was familiar or not.

Sorry to make this such a long answer. In short I'd say it doesn't matter if the music is familiar or not, as long as it is well suited to the task.

 

[Empty V]

I like to think of music as a device to help tell the story so IMO whatever music does that for you is the right way to go. Personally I like music that doesn't have lyrics and that is not known by the average person. This way the audience is not distracted by it and can focus on the story. At the same time it's very important to make your images work with the music which means when the song changes, so do your images/story. I take editing seriously because it puts food on my table so my opinion is a little different from most hobbyists which is neither good or bad. I'm also not a big fan of hearing bubbles. I think most everyone who watches a dive video knows what divers sound like underwater. Maybe it's appropriate in rare occasions to accent the soundtrack but the majority of the time it's not. That's just me. Great topic BTW!

Billy

 

[ronscuba]

Thinking about what everyone has said, I think I agree that whatever helps tell the story, fits the mood, etc., be it original or commercial, works best.

Billy, I agree that a strong or familiar song can take attention away from the video. That can work to one's favor if the footage is a little weak. Since I am a hobbyist who makes vacation videos, I don't always have the luxury of great footage.

I've also recently experimented with narration. Although I hate the sound of my voice, I noticed it does keep the attention of the viewer and helps with telling the story.


Thanks for your opinions guys.

 

[marshallkarp]

I know what you are saying Ron. You love a commercial recording of something and you are thinking, wow, that would be perfect here.

I have produced two versions of a few of my videos, one if I had an unlimited budget and could buy the rights to music. This is for private showing to friends and family, as I doubt they will report me to ASCAP/BMI. The things that I put up on vimeo or video google are all my music.

I know though, sometimes it is tempting.

 

[ronscuba]

If someone did report you, at most I think you would be asked to take the video down. I can't picture them suing you unless somehow your video devalued or damaged the music/song.

You are right, it is SO tempting to use an old favorite song. However, you run the risk of people hating the song or it bringing back bad memories. A less familiar song is probably safer, but then again, I do this as a hobby for me. I guess you can expect to see a mixture from me in my future videos.