Free Soundtrack Music™ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Quick Links:
General Questions:

A lot of the previews are very short. How can I listen to full versions of the tracks?
Purchasing any type of download pack (or even a single download credit) will allow you to preview full length versions of any of the tracks available in the FSM library. The different FSM purchase options are described on the Buy Credits page.


What is a Subscriber?
Anyone who purchases download credits from freesoundtrackmusic.com automatically becomes a "Subscriber". This means that you get a login password and can listen to full-length versions of any tracks in the library. Currenly subscription accounts last for 60 days from the date of the last download credit purchased. To purchase download credits and to find out more about how a freesoundtrackmusic.com account works, go to the Buy Credits page.


I can't play the tracks I have downloaded. How do I convert them to a playable (MP3) format.
Music files downloaded from freesoundtrackmusic.com are compressed into the .zip format, which makes downloading quicker and easier. Most recent versions of Windows can easily unzip files: Clicking on the zip file with your RIGHT mouse button should present a menu containing the "Extract" or "Extract All" option. If you have an older version of Windows, you can install one of the many archiving utilities like "Enzip", "Winzip", "Extract Now", "WinRar"...


How can I see how many download credits I have left in my account?
After logging in from the F.S.M. home page, the login form changes to show your login name and a "Show account status" link. Clicking on this link will display a popup window showing the number of tracks downloaded, number of credits remaining and your account activation start date. Your account will be active for 60 days after the access start date.


I have not purchased any download credits. If I use one of the tracks from your site in my video, do I have to put "freesoundtrackmusic.com" in the actual video somewhere?

No. Many small productions (like Youtube videos) will not have a credits section. In these cases, a small mention in any of the descriptive text (either online or printed) accompanying the video will be sufficient. Alternately, purchasing a single download credit (for only $3.50 USD) entitles you to use either "FREE" or "1 credit" tracks in your productions without any mention of freesoundtrackmusic.com.


If we need background music for a specific demo video are you available to compose it? If so, what would you charge for it?

F.S.M. can create custom compositions to suit your requirements. For music produced on a non-exclusive basis (where the track will be added to the catalog of available compositions), the hourly rate can be inexpensive. In addition, custom editing or reworking of tracks from the existing catalog may be available if required. Please email info@freesoundtrackmusic.com for more details.


What software do you use to run the freesoundtrackmusic.com site and handle orders? Is it open source?

The F.S.M. audio file database and subscription processing system is a custom application developed and managed by InterAnnex Web Applications. If you are interested in implementing a similar system for your business or project, please contact: info@freesoundtrackmusic.com


User Account Issues:

I purchased download credits for your site through PayPal, but did not get any email with a user name and password, so I still can't log in.

*You DO NOT need the information from your confirmation email to login*
Login instructions:
Your Paypal order will automatically create an account on the freesoundtrackmusic server. The login link is on the top right of the Freesoundtrackmusic home page. Your default login credentials will be the email address that you used to make your Paypal order, plus a password which will be the combination of the firstname and lastname you used for your order, without spaces. (For example, if your name is Jane Smith, your initial default password will be assigned by the system as: janesmith.) It is recommended that you change this default password to prevent someone else logging in to your account. Renewals:, if you are renewing your account by purchasing additional licensing/download credits, your password WILL NOT BE RESET to your first and last name - it will remain the same as whatever you had set it to previously.
Why didn't you get a confirmation email? The problem with missing confirmation emails is usually due to the increased scrutiny placed on automatic (system-generated) email messages by your email hosting provider for security reasons: If you have an email address from one of the big online email providers (like Yahoo), the account information email from freesoundtrackmusic.com will likely be diverted what is called a "BULK" or "SPAM" folder (depending on your email account security settings). You will probably find the account confirmation email in the folder with one of these (or similar) labels.

Password Retrieval:
In the case of lost passwords, or if for some reason the system does not seem to accept the password you are trying to enter, there is another way to retrieve the password associated with your account: You can use the password retrieval form (requires PayPal transaction ID or order number). If, for some reason you still can't retrieve the password for your account, email support @ info@freesoundtrackmusic.com.


I purchased F.S.M. download credits through PayPal and am using what should be the correct login details, but for some reason the system won't let me log in.

There are 2 situations that could apply:
  1. Wrong Email Address: Sometimes the email address supplied by PayPal to freesoundtrackmusic.com is not the one you may expect. If you have used PayPal before in the past, they may have multiple email addresses listed with your account, and an older one may be designated by them as your default email address which is supplied to businesses who you make purchases from. If you find that you can't log in with what you believe should be the correct email address + password combination, check your PayPal account to see if you have an older email address on file with them which is designated as your default email address.
  2. Non-English Characters in your name: The default password is made up of your combined first and last names but what if you have a non-English name? The freesoundtrackmusic.com system program code can only recognize English letters (characters from the English alphabet). To avoid problems, the program code which creates your initial password will substitute the English letter "x" for any character in your name which is not from the English alphabet. For example, if your name is "Björk Jackson" try "bjxrkjackson" as your password.
If neither or the above situations apply to you, please email info@freesoundtrackmusic.com with a message containing your first and last names and we will check the system to see which email address and password were assigned to your order.


I bought a "12 - track download pack". Some of the songs that I want to use are "FREE". If I download the free tracks while I am logged in, will they count against my total credits?

No. You can download and use as many of the FREE tracks as you want without affecting your total number of download credits. Credits are deducted only when you download tracks labeled with a "[1 credit]" usage status. Also, because you have purchased a subscription, you may use any of the "FREE" tracks without including a notice crediting freesoundtrackmusic.com.


As a subscriber, how long can I make "royalty free" use...
Your FAQ mentioned that purchasing credits would enable me to become a subscriber for 60 days. During those 60 days, if I were to download both free and paid sound tracks, how long can I use those sound tracks without including a notice crediting freesoundtrackmusic.com? Is it for only the duration of those 60 days, or can I do so with unlimited period?
In other words, after those 60 days, if I do not purchase another download credits from freesoundtrackmusic.com, will I have to include attribution notice for freesoundtrackmusic.com for both the free and paid sound tracks I downloaded from freesoundtrackmusic.com?

You can continue to use the tracks WITHOUT including credit notices in your videos for an unlimited period of time after your 60 day subscription period expires. This applies to ALL of the tracks that you may have downloaded DURING that 60 day period (both "FREE" and "1-credit") tracks.


YouTube Revenue Sharing, License Documents etc...

Can I use your music, in the videos on Youtube partner program revenue sharing?
You can use the same music in more than one video?
Will have problems in the future if the musician decides to change their minds and decide not allowed to use their music videos and published?
When requesting the inclusion of video in the revenue sharing program YouTube that I specify in relation to the music included and what type of authorization will be?

From the perspective of freesoundtrackmusic.com, registered users of our service are permitted to use downloaded music in an unlimited number of video productions whether on YouTube or whatever other medium. This (registered user's) right of use does not expire when composers remove their tracks from the online service. You may read the agreement which all composers/musicians must agree with here: soundtrack composer's licensing agreement. In my experience, the YouTube partner program has its own requirements which could include proof of authorization in writing. For YouTube partners and other commercial production enterprises, we provide an additional document creation service available for a fee of $9.99 USD (which is waived for subscribers for purchase subscriptions at the 12-TRACK or 24-TRACK level). Each document can verify licensed use for a list of up to 12 tracks. Details and links for purchase of subscriptions (licenses) can be found here: Royalty Free Licensing.


I am submitting my video to compete in a video competion. The videos may be shown on TV and the competition organizers want written clearance for all music used in the video. Can you give me a signed license agreement?

The same conditions apply as to those who need documentation for the YouTube revenue sharing program. Because of the additional time involved in preparing license agreements, a document creation fee of $9.99 USD is required for each document requested. This may seem unfair when considering that the music offered at freesoundtrackmusic.com is royalty free (and in many cases completely free of any charges): but you must consider that the greater majority of site subscribers and occaisional users do not require any written license documentation. Subscription fees can be kept low only as long as administrative overhead is kept to a minimum. Until further notice the document creation fee will be waived for subscribers who purchase subscriptions at the 12-TRACK or 24-TRACK level.


I have a bad internet connection and I had to try downloading some of the tracks more than once for the download to complete. Are my download credits being used up even when I have to download the same mp3 file more than once?

You can download any "1 credit" track up to a total of 3 times. Separate downloads of the same track are not each deducted from the download credits total. If, for some reason you are still having trouble downloading a track after three attempts, contact F.S.M. support at the email address below.


I have not used my account for more than 60 days and now when I try to log in I get an "ACCOUNT EXPIRED" Message. What happens to the download credits I paid for, have they expired too?

If you renew your account with any new "TRACK-PACK" purchase (or even a single track credit), any of your previous unused download credits will be added to your new order. In order for this to work, you must use the SAME email address that you used for your original PayPal order. For example: if your account has expired, but you still had 4 unused track credits and you purchase a new "6-TRACK-PACK" using the same email address you used for your original order, your account will be reactivated for another 60 days from the latest purchase date with a new total of 10 download credits. *Note* this offer to carry forward unused download credits will be available at least until the end of 2011. (Beyond that, the subscriptions policy may need to be revised.)


I am a soundtrack composer / music producer who would like to sell my music through Free Soundtrack Music™. What are the legal terms and conditions for 3rd party composers?

Licensing terms and conditions for guest composers are set out in the Soundtrack Composer's Agreement document.


If your questions are not answered here, email: info@freesoundtrackmusic.com