The Rhythm of Sight: Music and Sound Effect Libraries (page 2)

Prices vary widely between libraries and between types of licenses within libraries. It pays to shop around, not only because you'll save money, but also because quality varies - some library music is synthesized, but many libraries use actual recordings of real instruments. The selections themselves are usually available in varying lengths, sometimes with underscores (less-dense passages of music that are well suited for using as a bed) and alternate vesions.

We encourage you to visit some Web sites we've collected on our list and hear the kinds of music you can put into your productions. Having the right music in your production can make an enormous difference to your audience.

Production music is often categorized by genre. The following is a partial list of categories you may encounter on your quest for the best.

• Corporate/Industrial Good for instructional videos, commercials and business presentations.
• Sports/Action Select for dramatic action sequences.
• Romance Typically used for wedding and anniversary videos.
• New Age Good choice for background music that runs under narration voiceovers.

When considering a music library, examine the lengths of the tracks on the disc. Some libraries offer each track in multiple lengths (e.g. :15, :30, :60 and full-length versions). Others offer each song in only one length. Make an educated selection for the type of videos that you will produce.

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