What is Big Fish Audio's License Agreement?
What if I didn't get exactly what I was looking for?
How do Big Fish Audio downloads work?
How do I track my order?
What is a Plugin?
What is a Loop, Sample or Sound library?
What is a Construction Kit?
How do I use Instruments?
What do I do if I can't access the downloadable product I purchased?
How do I install a Kontakt Player 3 Instrument product like Mojo?
How do I install a Kontakt Player 2 Instrument product like VI.ONE, BASiS, etc.?
How do I install my Ueberschall Liquid Series or Elastik Series product?
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What is Big Fish Audio's License Agreement? [back to top]
You can use our loops to create, produce and release your own productions without paying Big Fish Audio any royalties. Our products are "license free" because you buy the license to use our products when you buy that specific product. The only thing you are not able to make with our products is a sample library like the ones we sell. You can't resell, loan, or rent any of the Big Fish products you have purchased. Below is a copy of our general license agreement:
The samples contained on our products are licensed, not sold to you, the individual end user, by Big Fish Audio. This non-exclusive, non-transferable license is granted only to the individual end user who has purchased an unopened, new and lawfully made copy of this product from a dealer or distributor authorized by Big Fish Audio. All samples remain the property of Big Fish Audio and are licensed only for use in the creation of a recorded or live performance that includes the licensed samples as part of a derivative musical work created by the licensed end user. This license expressly forbids resale, rental, loan, gift or transfer of these samples in any format or via any medium, except as part of a derivative musical work. This license does not allow you to include the samples, whether unmodified or as part of a derivative work, in any music library or sample library product. However, a "special use" license may be requested from Big Fish Audio, free of charge, if you wish to use this product as part of a musical work intended for use with music libraries (some conditions apply, and Big Fish Audio retains the right to refuse any request that does not meet those conditions). Any unlicensed usage will be prosecuted to the maximum extent possible under the law.
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What if I didn't get exactly what I was looking for? [back to top]
No problem, we have an exchange policy because your satisfaction is important to us. For products purchased from Big Fish Audio, you can not return a product for a refund, but you can exchange a product one time only, within one week of your receipt of the product. Any software requiring registration (i.e.: Kontakt Player instruments, etc.) can not be exchanged if the product has been registered.
In order to exchange, you must call our Customer Service Department to obtain a Return Authorization number (products that arrive to us without a Return Authorization number will be refused). Then send your original product back to us, and as soon as we get it, we'll get your new product right out to you. All you are responsible to pay for is shipping, or the difference, if your new product is more expensive than the original.
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How do Big Fish Audio downloads work? [back to top]
When you buy a download at Big Fish Audio the checkout and delivery process is simple. Press "Buy Download" and proceed through the two step checkout process. Confirm your order and input your payment information. Once your order is processed you can view your receipt online. This web based receipt will contain one link for each of your download product purchases. At the same time an e-mail receipt will be sent to your e-mail address. This receipt will also contain your download links. The link will be active for 24 hours. During this time you should download the file and expand it. If you have any trouble with your download purchase, please contact customer service at 800-717- 3474 for assistance.
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How do I track my order? [back to top]
When you order on bigfishaudio.com you will receive an e-mail receipt from customerservice@bigfishaudio.com and a second e-mail from the shipping courier (i.e. Fedex, UPS, etc.) with your tracking number. This will be sent to the e-mail address you supplied at checkout. Once you have located your tracking number follow the instructions on the e-mail to track your package. If you have the tracking number you can return to the courier web site as often as you'd like and track your shipment's progress. Shipments can only be tracked after they have left our warehouse so it is best to wait one day before tracking your shipment.
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What is a Plugin? [back to top]
A plugin is a piece of software that works within and enhances the functionality of a larger application. In the music world, typically a plugin will be something that either creates or alters audio within a digital audio workstation (DAW), such as ProTools, Logic, Cubase etc. A plugin is selected when needed, inserted into the audio chain and then used to modify or create sound, using the DAW as the platform on which the plugin operates.
Big Fish Audio sells a number of plugin based products that are fully integrated with large sound libraries for maxmum musical value. The Big Fish Audio and Vir2 plugin products license the Kontakt Player engine and work with plugin standards such as AudioUnit, VST, RTAS and DXi. These plugin formats allow the software to work with all the major DAW platforms available today.
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What is a Loop, Sample or Sound library? [back to top]
A "loop" is a piece of audio data that is used as part of a larger musical production. In the early days of sampling, the most common type of audio used was that of a 'drum loop', which consisted of a short, one or two-bar recording that was then "looped" to play from beginning to end, and repeated as often as necessary to fill up the length of a song. This term has come to describe any section of audio that is used as an element to a song or a production, regardless of whether it is repeated or not. A "loop" can be anything from a one beat long guitar riff, to a five minute drum performance, to a non-rhythmic synthesizer sweep, and anything in between. A "loop" is different from an "instrument" or "one shot" in that it is intended to be placed sequentially in an audio track, rather than played or triggered polyphonically in a sample-playback engine.
A "sample" is a generic term used to describe any audio that has been recorded digitally, and then is used in conjunction with other sounds in a musical production. It can be used to describe "loops" or relatively static and/or repeating audio fragments, and it also is used to describe melodic or percussive sounds that are played or triggered from a hardware or software interface. Some of the many examples of a "sample" are: snare and kick drum sounds triggered from an Akai MPC2000, a one-bar guitar recording that is copied and pasted into a track of ProTools for the length of the song, or a collection of audio recordings of a solo violin, which are then played chromatically by responding to MIDI note information in a sample playback plugin.
A "sound library" is a collection of samples, usually with a unifying theme, sold as a product. The 'sound library' is most often sold as a collection of samples on a DVD-ROM or CD-ROM. A 'sound library' can consist of loops, multisamples, one shots, or all three.
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What is a Construction Kit? [back to top]
A construction kit is loop which usually contains multiple instruments (i.e.: drums, bass, keys, guitar, horns, etc). It sounds like a fully produced, song. However, all the elements that made that loop are broken out after the loop for you to use.
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How do I use Instruments? [back to top]
Sample library instruments come in a variety of formats, and depending on the format, they may be used in different ways.
If a product is listed as a "Plug-in" then it is ready to use within any major recording program on both Macs and PC's, such as Logic, Pro Tools, Digital Performer, Cubase, Nuendo, Ableton Live, GarageBand, Sonar, and more. Plug-in products typically contain a sample library and a sampler engine so that you can install the library and begin working immediately without purchasing anything else. Specific instructions are included within each instrument package.
Some instruments ship in various sampler formats, such as Giga, EXS, Kontakt, HALion, MachFive, Akai, Emu, and more. In order to use these instruments, you must own a copy of the respective sampler you wish to use.
If you own a different sampler that is not listed for the particular instrument you are interested in, it may still be possible to convert another sampler format to your desired destination sampler format. While Big Fish Audio cannot guarantee their accuracy with any specific library, many users have had success with Chicken Systems Translator or CDXtract.
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What do I do if I can't access the downloadable product I purchased? [back to top]
If you have trouble with the link not working, or that the file won't download to your computer, first check that you are not using a firewall on your server. If you are, make sure that the firewall settings allow you to download large files. Some firewall applications limit internet usage and downloads. If that doesn't resolve the problem, please try copying the link and pasting into your web browser. Also try the download using a different web browser. If both are not working, or if you get an error while trying to expand the compressed file, please give Customer Service a call and we will help you resolve this issue.
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How do I install a Kontakt Player 3 Instrument product like Mojo? [back to top]
Run the installer on Disc 1. When prompted, insert the remaining discs to complete the installation process. Once the installation is complete, run the Service Center application to register and activate your product.
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How do I install a Kontakt Player 2 Instrument product like VI.ONE, BASiS, etc.? [back to top]
Before Installing First Call Horns, VI.One, or syntAX on a Mac running system 10.5, please go to www.vir2.com and visit the support section of their web site.
For all other Kontakt Player 2 products: Follow the instructions in the user manual that come with your product, as well as the onscreen instructions during the installation process. You'll be instructed to run the installer on disc 1. If your product has more than one disc, the next step is to copy all of the .NKS or .NKX files from the remaining discs to the product library folder located at the destination you chose during the installation of disc 1. The Library can be installed in another location, such as an external hard drive, during the installation process by choosing the preferred destination when the installer application asks where you would like to have the library installed. By default, if another location is not chosen, the library will be installed in the Applications folder in Mac OS, or in the Programs folder in Windows. Once installation is complete use the Service Center to register and activate your product.
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How do I install my Ueberschall Liquid Series or Elastik Series product? [back to top]
There are three main steps to installing a Liquid or Elastik product: first install the software plugin, then register the software plugin, and then finally install and register the sound bank. Most problems result from not following these steps, or from doing them in the wrong order. Each Ueberschall product comes with a manual, which outlines the steps in detail. Please refer to your manual and follow those instructions when installing. If after completing those steps, you still have trouble with installation, contact Customer Service via phone call or email for assistance.
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