How To Choose The Best Music For Your Videos
It just takes a few seconds of online browsing to realize there is an enormous amount of music available for purchase. From very low to very high prices, from distinctly average to stunningly made.
Hopefully, some of the points I've made in this article can assist you in navigating the world of stock music (also known as production music) and avoiding some of the popular pitfalls.
Mood and Fashion
Before you even begin looking, you must decide on the mood and style of your production. Is it fast-paced or slow-paced? Is it uplifting, depressing, heroic, or emotional? Do you want it to sound like the work of a current composer?
It's a good idea to jot down a few keywords that better reflect the mood of the cue you're looking for, as well as composer titles. To tag their songs, most music libraries will employ a keyword scheme.
So, to help you get a better understanding of the music you require:
- Choose your music style: orchestral, piano, electronic, or rock.
- Select a tempo – do you want your music to be fast, medium, or slow?
- Consider the mood of your output – write down a few keywords that summarize what you're searching for.
- If you like the style of a specific composer, make a note of their name to use in future searches.
What Purpose Can Music Serve?
The music you choose must serve a function within the context of your creation. It's tempting to use a song that you like rather than one that is fitting. A massive, epic track with a strong melody, for example, can work well as an opening theme or in a teaser, but if there is a lot of dialogue or voiceover, it may clash with the music, resulting in a muddy mess for the viewer/listener. It's also not a good idea to play a song with lyrics behind any words spoken on screen.
Which License Do You Require?
Once you've found a cue that you believe is ideal, you should consider licensing options.
Many libraries allow you to choose a license form based on your intended use. This can have a significant impact on the track's price. For example, if the video can only be shown on YouTube or is an internal company video, the cost of a license is likely to be much lower than if it will be shown on television. This is probably less important if you're using Royalty Free stock audio libraries, which often only have one or two – if any – choices.
Just Use Instrumental Music
It can go without saying, but you should choose a background song with no vocals. This is often referred to as an ‘instrumental album’.
What's the reason? A voiceover can clarify instructions in-depth in the majority of instructional videos. This voiceover should be the focal point of your instructional video. You don't want your voiceover to compete with background vocals. This is particularly distracting for students and detracts from their overall experience.
Even if your instructional video does not have a voiceover, we do not recommend using a song with vocals. Most of the time, song vocals have little to do with the learning material. Songs with vocals, rather than being beneficial, seem to be distracting. Often, go for an instrumental track that lacks vocals.
Think Of Your Audience's Preferences
Consider your target demographics carefully when choosing a genre for your background music. What is the average age of your students? Where are they geographically located? What are their passions?
All of these considerations will assist you in determining the best genre, or style, that will most likely resonate with your learners. Perhaps you have a millennial audience who prefers lo-fi hip-hop beats. Maybe you have a group of retirees who enjoy a soft acoustic track.
Pay careful attention to your target audience's demographics when selecting music to improve the learning experience.
Define Your Budget
To find the ideal music for your corporate video, you can use the many online libraries that will offer you a large catalog of titles. Prices depend on copyright and broadcast rights, so they are subject to significant variations. But beware of online libraries, as you may end up with the same music as another company. So why not think of it as tailor-made by talking directly to a composer? He will be able to create a personalized piece for you that will meet your expectations. Depending on the broadcast, the notoriety of the advertiser or composer, the price differences can be considerable.
Immerse Yourself With What The Storytelling You
Before choosing the music that will accompany your images, soak up the scenario. Does the music support your message? Does it bring additional emotion? Even if the music is great, if it doesn't add anything to your images, you don't have to choose it. Think about the structure of your film, which should be the visual support of your music and not the other way around. If the music serves your message perfectly, your audience will remember it.
Choose Between Lyrical / Instrumental Music
If your video is a recording of a conference between several speakers or an interview with a leader, there is no need to put lyrical music in the background. This would have the effect of scrambling the message of your interlocutors. On the other hand, if it is a product presentation video, why not choose lyrical music? However, make sure you always agree with the message you want to deliver about your product.
Stay Away From Cheesy Pop Songs
Many instructional video makers do not devote enough time to choosing background music. You can tell from the repeated use of cheesy pop music. You know the type: repetitive melodies and a traditional pop beat that conjures up images of overjoyed business people dancing around the office.
Many of these songs have been dubbed "corporate pop." Take a look at this example. And do whatever you can to stop this genre.
This musical style has been used in instructional videos. You want your video to be one-of-a-kind. You want the audience to feel something. The aim is attained by being deliberate in your music selections. Choosing imaginative, one-of-a-kind songs that your audience can remember.
It does require more time and effort than simply choosing the "most common" choice. Even if your audience does not understand the song, it will still have a more in-depth learning experience in the long run.
Selecting The Best Stock Music Library
It is worthwhile to spend some time looking online for different libraries. Sometimes, a glance at the website's homepage will reveal the form and style of music that sells well. Find a library that has a diverse variety of music in the style you want. For example, if a website mainly promotes vocal songs on its homepage, it is unlikely to have a large range of major orchestral tracks. They will undoubtedly have some, but it is worthwhile to go where the demand is larger. When selecting libraries from which to browse for and purchase music, there are a few factors to consider.
- Libraries with Royalty-Free Rights: There are some extremely popular royalty-free music libraries on the market. Royalty-free ensures that the track you purchase can be used anywhere, including public television, without incurring extra fees.
- The content of these libraries varies greatly, but there are no doubt some excellent composers who contribute to them.
- Non-Exclusive vs. Exclusive: An exclusive library means that the tracks in their catalog are not available elsewhere. Non-exclusive means that if you do a quest, you will find the tracks in other libraries.