A few questions about covers...

[jyfe]

Ok so i'm thinking about putting out a free ep type thing in a few months when i get it recorded and i was wanting to put a cover on it but i googled around a bit and i was a little confused about it so i was wondering if anybody on here knows the rules about putting covers on your albums and stuff. And also do the same rules apply to putting them on myspace and purevolume and stuff?

And one last question which doesn't really have anything to do with covers but does anyone know of a program to make audio files louder? Because i use garageband to record and i've got everything turned up all the way but it's really quite.

Thanks for any help!

[razzman3]

To make files louder you have to go through the mastering process. If your serious about your stuff, you should send it out to a mastering company. Otherwise you could export it from garageband, then import it into a new file and compress it and turn it up.

[CaryGrant]

If you're releasing the EP for free, you'll be fine.

[bradsonemanband]

yeah, i think as long as you aren't selling the covers, you won't get in trouble.

[ZachCTC]

I've heard you could also just label the cover on the album as 'Bonus Track' or something like that and it'll be fine. That's what School Boy Humor did with 'Realize' by Colbie Caillat, and they sold it and nothing happened.

[DanPiazza]

You could always ask the band, but I know that may be difficult depending on the cover. Also, their label may have the rights to it, not them. Although I think they're right that you'll be fine if it's a free EP.

[flks511]

Whatever you do, don't turn everything up on GarageBand, it'll peak and you'll be hearing lots of distortion, resulting in a gererally poor-quality recording. Like the guy above me said, put it into a compressed file and raise the master volume.

[rawkandrowl]

BAD ADVICE up above. Read this: http://www.harryfox.com/public/DoIneedaMechanicalLicense.jsp

It doesn't matter if you give the album away free or not, you gotta get the license. Read the rest of the Harry Fox site for info on how to do that.

[shorttonpro]

+1 on the Harry Fox Agency!

You wouldn't be violating the label, but the publisher and songwriter. You would have to pay 9.1 centers per cover song per each CD you press, you might can negotiate it down to 6.8 cents, but if you are giving the CD away for free, you would just be losing money. :/

Although, chances are no one will find out, but you never know, would be safer to leave it off the cd and offer as a free download.

[Austin A.]

+1 on the Harry Fox Agency!

You wouldn't be violating the label, but the publisher and songwriter. You would have to pay 9.1 centers per cover song per each CD you press, you might can negotiate it down to 6.8 cents, but if you are giving the CD away for free, you would just be losing money. :/

Although, chances are no one will find out, but you never know, would be safer to leave it off the cd and offer as a free download.

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?

[Austin A.]

+1 on the Harry Fox Agency!

You wouldn't be violating the label, but the publisher and songwriter. You would have to pay 9.1 centers per cover song per each CD you press, you might can negotiate it down to 6.8 cents, but if you are giving the CD away for free, you would just be losing money. :/

Although, chances are no one will find out, but you never know, would be safer to leave it off the cd and offer as a free download.

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?

[Austin A.]

+1 on the Harry Fox Agency!

You wouldn't be violating the label, but the publisher and songwriter. You would have to pay 9.1 centers per cover song per each CD you press, you might can negotiate it down to 6.8 cents, but if you are giving the CD away for free, you would just be losing money. :/

Although, chances are no one will find out, but you never know, would be safer to leave it off the cd and offer as a free download.

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?

[Austin A.]

+1 on the Harry Fox Agency!

You wouldn't be violating the label, but the publisher and songwriter. You would have to pay 9.1 centers per cover song per each CD you press, you might can negotiate it down to 6.8 cents, but if you are giving the CD away for free, you would just be losing money. :/

Although, chances are no one will find out, but you never know, would be safer to leave it off the cd and offer as a free download.

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?

[flks511]

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?

Yeah he's correct. Hundreds of amateur bands will put out cover CDs (even for free) without the notion of getting permission. And while depending on your fanbase and your location you may never get caught, if you ever do come into the limelight, they may crack down on you. And you don't want to spend your first 5,000 dollars on a cover EP from five year ago, right?
rightrightrightright

[Austin A.]

Well shoot. That was a ridiculous quadruple post, my apologies.

[flks511]

Well shoot. That was a ridiculous quadruple post, my apologies.
Haha, no big deal.

[The_Revisionist]

I had been wondering about this too. Thanks.

[Drop Tank]

We cover Ace of Spades and Rock and Roll Outlaw

www.myspace.com/droptankband (http://www.myspace.com/droptankband)