Jeremy Soule Interview
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Q: How will rights will the consumer have to buy and copy the music offered by Direct Song?
A: Direct Song offers two types of products... Original Soundtracks and Direct Song "Paks".
Original Soundtracks (OSTs) contain music that debuted with the original retail versions of each correlatively titled game. Original Soundtracks are not software enabled to work in a video game--at least unless specified otherwise. In the near future, we hope to be able to enable the bonus tracks to work in their respective games. The OSTs work on Microsoft's proven DRM system. A customer can preview this music and buy hi-res versions of the tracks for only $5.99! From there, our customer can burn unlimited copies of the music to CD or take the files on the go in a portable player.
Direct Song Paks are our most exciting upcoming offering at Direct Song. Think of a Pak is being like the "director's cut" of music. All too often, time constraints that are dictated by development schedules limit how much music a composer can complete before a game goes to the retail store. So, as a composer myself, I am often aching to have more scenes and plotlines addressed with music. Games aren't like movies. Movies are here for two hours and they're done. A game experience can go for hours and hours and many games have replay value because of dynamic storyline technology. Direct Song Paks are software plug-ins to a game that allow a composer to work on an existing game for longer period of time, while optionally enhancing the game for customers that are diehard music fans. Each Pak contains music data and software that downloads new music and integrates it into the right places and timelines of a game.
