Legal

When you break the licensing seal on the packet of discs, you have agreed to the terms of our license agreement.

Please read these Frequently Asked Questions and the License Agreement carefully before agreeing to install the software.

What’s the principle of the standard license agreement?
Single-user music production/performance: Allowed.
Multiple users: Not Allowed.
Non-music use: Not Allowed.

Any uses that are not allowed need additional permission or a special license from Spectrasonics.

What is meant by “Single-User”?
A single-user is defined as one person. The license cannot be owned by a company, corporation, organization, band, partnership, studio, etc.

Are there any legal limitations to how I can use Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments?
The main limitation is that you are not allowed to use them to make a sample library or another kind of sample-based product. You are also restricted from giving away or posting online any loops or samples created using Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments. However, you are able to use them in all your musical recording applications without paying for any additional licenses.

Is there a educational license price for Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments?
Spectrasonics doesn’t offer student discounts, however qualifying schools and institutions can participate in our EDU program.

On how many computers may I install it?
Since all Spectrasonics instruments have a single-user/ multiple-computer license, this means you can install and use Trilian on as many computers that you own and will be using yourself.

What if I need more than one install for laptop use, if my hard drive crashes or if I get a new computer?
Not a problem. Our web site is available around the clock to handle these situations immediately. It’s very easy to do it online and you’ll always be able to get the authorizations that you need for your computers from Spectrasonics.

Can I use my Spectrasonics Instruments on more than one computer at a time?
Yes. This is no problem as long as it’s for a single user.

I’m concerned about what would happen to my Spectrasonics instruments if the company were to go out of business—would I be still be able to authorize them?
Absolutely! At Spectrasonics, we believe it is essential to guarantee to our users the ability to get lifetime authorizations for the Spectrasonics instruments they purchased. In the unlikely event that the company were to go out of business, we would provide the ability for all registered users to get continued authorizations. In fact, we already have a system in place for this contingency. However, the good news is that this event is highly unlikely—we plan to be around for many years!

Do I have to credit Spectrasonics if I use Trilian on a project?
No, it isn’t mandatory for our instruments, but we would certainly appreciate it!

Do I need to obtain a special license to use Trilian on a commercial project?
No. The Lifetime License Fee to use the samples is covered in the purchase price of the instrument. You can use it on as many of your own projects as you like and we hope that you make some hits with it!

Can I use Trilian in music for Music Libraries?
Yes, this is fine. Some companies completely restrict this kind of use altogether, since music libraries can sometimes cross over into the soundware business, but Spectrasonics allows music library use. In fact, we have many customers that use our products in standard music libraries. Specific limitations about music library collection usage of include the following:

• The music in the library must be in a mixed format. You cannot provide separate tracks in your music library if you want to use our products with our standard license.
• The intended audience for your music library collection must be non-musicians.

Can I use Trilian in Film Trailers?
Yes, this type of use is fine. Some companies restrict this kind of use, but Spectrasonics allows it.

Can I use Trilian in multimedia/game music projects?
Yes, this is OK unless you want to put samples created with Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments directly encoded into the game. That requires a special license. Remember, music use is allowed, but non-music use (example: SFX) is not permitted without a special license for this type of use. Please contact Spectrasonics if you wish to encode the samples into a game system.

Can I distribute the music I’ve created with Spectrasonics products in a “multi-track” format?
One of the only things that is NOT allowed is distributing your music in a multi-track format that completely exposes tracks created using our samples.

The problem in this case is that the separate tracks can then easily be reused in new works by the end user of the music who is not a licensed Spectrasonics user. This use then turns into a type of redistribution of our copyrighted samples as a “derivative work,” which is not allowed without special permission or a special license from Spectrasonics.

NOTE: “Multi-channel” mixed music is not a problem (5.1, 7.1 mixes, etc.).

What if the Spectrasonics elements in my music are exposed for a period of time?
We aren’t concerned about normal music use, where the music is presented in the standard “mixed” format. Of course our sounds may sometimes appear in exposed passages like intros and breaks within a song’s mix and this is considered normal usage.

Can I use Spectrasonics Instruments or libraries to create loops or samples for distribution if I’m layering them with other sounds or doing a lot of creative processing?
No—at least not without attaining special permission or an additional license from Spectrasonics. Legally, this is considered a “derivative work” when our copyrighted sound recordings are involved in the creation of new samples or loops.

What if it’s just for my own use and I don’t distribute the samples I’ve created?
If you’re a licensed user, you are welcome to use your Spectrasonics instruments and libraries to create new audio samples and loops for your own use. The important thing is not to distribute them.

What if it’s just for my own use and I don’t distribute the samples I’ve created?
If you’re a licensed user, you are welcome to use your Spectrasonics instruments and libraries to create new audio samples and loops for your own use. The important thing is not to distribute them.

Can I use the sounds from my Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments outside of music production?
If you are considering any non-musical use of the sounds from your Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments, it’s very important that you contact us directly in advance to clear any special, non-musical usage: info@spectrasonics.net

Can I use the demo songs?
No. They are presented to give you an idea of what Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments can do. Demo songs cannot be sampled, remixed, or used in any other application without special permission from Spectrasonics. If you are interested in using any of the demo songs in some other application, please contact us and we’ll connect you with the composer/publisher.

Can my writing partner use my Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments on their computer?
No. The license to use Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments is on a per-person (single-user) basis. They would need their own licenses for the Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments to use them legally on their computer.

I work at a production music studio with several other composers/producers. Can we all use Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments from our main server?
No. It’s very important to know that each composer must have his own copy and license for Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments. We make regular checks to verify that large production studios have obtained the proper licenses for our instruments and sample libraries.

As a studio owner, am I allowed to include Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments on a rental or studio computer for studio clients to use on their projects?
No. The standard license to use Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments is only granted to the buyer. We have a “single-user/multiple-computer” lifetime license policy. If it is a recording project that you are musically involved in producing, engineering or arranging of course that isn’t a problem. However, your studio clients aren’t licensed to use them for their own projects and the use of Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments cannot be “rented.” In the case where a client has his own license for a Spectrasonics Virtual Instrument, that client is welcome to use the studio’s installed copy of the instrument. The main point of our license agreement is the concept of a single, licensed user. A licensed Spectrasonics user must be musically involved in a project that is utilizing Spectrasonics Virtual Instruments – hence the restriction against simply renting the instruments or renting “time” to use the instruments as part of a studio’s services.
If you have questions regarding multi-license packages contact info@spectrasonics.net

Does this mean that I can’t use Trilian when working on someone else’s project?
This type of use is very standard and not a problem at all. The “Single-User” is defined as the person who is licensed to use the software instrument. This means that the licensed user can use it on an unlimited number of musical projects in which they are involved. This can be a person’s own project, a project where they are acting as a producer or engineer for another artist, as a session musician performing on someone else’s project live or in the studio, etc. The main point of our license agreement is the concept of a single-licensed user. If a licensed Trilian user is not musically involved in a project, that is where there is a restriction—hence the inability to simply rent the instrument or rent “time” to use the instrument as part of a studio’s services. Most of our customers use their Spectrasonics instruments on many different kinds of musical projects for different artists and collaborations.

Can I install my Trilian on a client’s computer for their use?
Not unless they are a licensed user. They will need their own serial number and registration to be licensed to use the instrument.

I’ve never heard of these kinds of licensing restrictions before. This seems unusual and totally different from using hardware sound modules. Why does Spectrasonics have such an unusual policy?
It’s not actually unusual at all or even unique to Spectrasonics. In fact, this is the identical type of license agreement used by thousands of media libraries, virtually all sample-based virtual instruments and the vast majority of music software. Single-user license agreements do have different restrictions compared to using hardware devices, and many people are not aware of these types of differences and restrictions. Part of the purpose of this FAQ section is to serve as a clear explanation of our policies. In this case, these types of “single-user” license restrictions are standard for nearly all software/soundware companies, not only Spectrasonics.

Can I resell Trilian used to someone else?
Not without obtaining a license transfer from Spectrasonics. The sounds and software are licensed and registered ONLY to you. You cannot automatically transfer the license to someone else, and therefore you cannot simply sell it used. If you do attempt to sell it used without obtaining a license transfer, the buyer will not be able to use the product because it is registered and licensed to you. The Trilian license is the right given to a single person to use the instrument. When you purchase the product, you are primarily purchasing the lifetime right to use the product and the sounds it contains in your own music projects. Also, if you sell any of your computers that have a Spectrasonics instruments installed on them, you are required to delete them first from the hard drive.

How would I obtain a license transfer and how much does it cost?
The vast majority of sample libraries and sample-based virtual instruments on the market do not allow license transfers of any kind. However, at Spectrasonics we realize that there are certain circumstances where it can be a legitimate transaction. Because circumstances can vary so much, we only grant license transfers on a case-by-case basis.

Depending on the circumstances, when a license transfer is granted, there is often an additional fee involved that covers the transfer of all the rights to the new user to use the Core Library sounds, to receive full tech support and continuing support update rights, issuing a new serial number and account, etc. License-transferred versions of this software do not have the same upgrade “special-pricing” privileges as standard new units purchased at an authorized Spectrasonics dealer. If you have more questions about obtaining license transfers, how much it costs and what the limitations are of license transferred versions, please contact us directly at info@spectrasonics.net

Do license transferred (used) versions get access to software updates and upgrades?
Yes, but not necessarily the same special “upgrade” pricing offers.

Can a license transferred (used) version be resold and transferred again?
No. This can only be done once by the original purchaser.

NOTE: Please note that purchasing an instrument new from an authorized Spectrasonics dealer is the only way to retain the complete rights for our special “Upgrade” offers. Although the used buyer does retain full access to all future free maintenance updates and tech support, license transferees do not retain the same rights for special upgrade offers.

What are the privileges of a Licensed User that purchased Trilian from an authorized Spectrasonics dealer?

• Lifetime, unlimited use of the purchased version of the instrument and the sounds it contains to use for music projects.
• Free phone, email and online Technical Support.
• Free software maintenance updates.
• Special upgrade pricing on major new versions.
  

Who can I talk to if I have more questions?
We’re happy to talk to you! You can send us an email at info@spectrasonics.net or call us at 818-955-8481 (US).