Custom vs. Stock Music for Videos: Pros & Cons

Choosing between custom and stock music for your video? Here's a quick guide:

Feature	Custom Music	Stock Music
Cost	More expensive	Cheaper
Uniqueness	Made just for you	May be used in other videos
Time to get	Takes longer	Ready immediately
Flexibility	Can be changed	Hard to modify
Brand fit	Matches your brand	May not fit perfectly
Choices	Limited	Many options

Key points:

Custom music is unique but costs more and takes longer
Stock music is quick and cheap but less distinctive
Consider your budget, timeline, and brand needs
Legal issues matter for both types
You can mix custom and stock music in one video

Choose custom music for big projects or special stories. Pick stock music for small budgets or tight deadlines. Always check licensing rules before using any music in your videos.

What is Custom Music for Videos?

Custom music for videos is a soundtrack made just for your project. Unlike stock music, which is pre-made, custom music is created to fit your video perfectly.

Key Features of Custom Music

Here's what makes custom music stand out:

Feature	Description
Made for you	Fits your video's length, pace, and feel
One-of-a-kind	No one else will have the same music
Can be changed	You can ask for changes to make it just right

How Custom Music is Made

Making custom music involves these steps:

1. Talk about what you need

You tell the composer what kind of music you want
Discuss the style, speed, and mood

2. Write the music

The composer creates a new soundtrack based on your ideas
They use different instruments and melodies

3. Make it perfect

You listen and give feedback
The composer makes changes until you're happy with it

Custom music takes more time and often costs more than stock music. But it gives you a unique sound that fits your video perfectly.

What is Stock Music for Videos?

Stock music for videos is ready-made music you can buy and use in your videos. It's a popular choice for many video makers who need good music without spending too much time or money.

Key Features of Stock Music

Here's what makes stock music stand out:

Feature	Description
Already made	The music is ready to use right away
Legal to use	You can use it in your videos after buying it
Lots of choices	Many different types of music to pick from
Costs less	Often cheaper than getting music made just for you

Where to Find Stock Music

You can find stock music on many websites. Here are some popular ones:

Website	What it offers
Epidemic Sound	Lots of music tracks for different video types
AudioJungle	Many music choices at different prices
Artlist	Music you can use as much as you want after paying

These websites have many music tracks. You can look for music by type, mood, or the instruments used to find what fits your video best.

Benefits of Custom Music

One-of-a-Kind Sound

Custom music is made just for your video. This means:

Your video sounds different from others
You avoid using music that many other videos have
Viewers are more likely to remember your video

Custom music fits your video perfectly. It matches the feeling and style of what you're showing. This works well for videos that need to make people feel something or explain complex ideas.

Matches Video Mood

Custom music can follow your video's pace and feeling. This helps keep viewers interested. The music can:

Go along with the story in your video
Make important parts stand out
Help viewers feel what you want them to feel

For example:

Video Type	How Custom Music Helps
Product Ad	Makes the video exciting and energetic
Serious Documentary	Creates a thoughtful, calm feeling

Full Control Over the Music

When you use custom music, you can:

Tell the music maker what you want
Ask for changes until it's just right
Make sure the music fits your video perfectly

This control is good for videos that need to be very precise.

Helps People Remember Your Brand

Custom music can make your brand stand out. It can:

Include sounds that people connect with your brand
Make your videos easy to recognize
Help people remember your brand better

For instance, when you hear Coca-Cola's music, you know it's them right away. This helps make their brand stick in people's minds.

Drawbacks of Custom Music

Custom music has some downsides to think about before choosing it for your video.

Costs More

Custom music is often more expensive than stock music. Here's a rough idea of the costs:

Item	Price Range
Composer	$1,000 - $10,000
Orchestra	$5,000 - $50,000
Studio	$1,000 - $5,000
Total	$7,000 - $65,000

Takes More Time

Making custom music can slow down your project:

Composers need days or weeks to write music
This can push back your video's finish date

Might Need Changes

Custom music often needs tweaks:

You might ask for changes after hearing the first version
Each change takes more time and might cost extra
There's a chance you won't like the final music

Can't Use It Everywhere

Custom music usually has limits:

You might only be able to use it in one project
Using it again might mean paying more

When thinking about custom music, keep these points in mind:

Pro	Con
Fits your video perfectly	Costs more
Unique sound	Takes longer to make
You have control	Might need changes
	Limited use

Benefits of Stock Music

Stock music has many good points that make it a popular choice for video makers. Here are some reasons why people like using stock music:

Costs Less

Stock music is usually cheaper than custom music. Here's a quick look at the costs:

Music Type	Price Range
Stock Music	$5 - $500 (one-time fee)
Custom Music	$7,000 - $65,000 (total cost)

Fast to Use

You can get stock music right away. This means:

No waiting for someone to make music for you
You can add music to your video quickly
It's easy to find music that fits your video's mood

Lots of Choices

Stock music websites have many different songs. You can find music for:

Business videos
Fun videos for social media
Any kind of video you're making

Ready to Go

Stock music is already made and ready to use. This means:

You don't need to make or change the music
You can focus on other parts of your video
It saves you time and work

Stock Music Benefit	What It Means for You
Costs less	You save money
Fast to use	You finish your video sooner
Lots of choices	You find the right music easily
Ready to go	You don't need to change the music

Overall, stock music is a good choice if you want to save money and time when making videos. It's easy to use and gives you many options to pick from.

Drawbacks of Stock Music

Stock music has some downsides to think about before using it in your video.

Not One-of-a-Kind

Stock music isn't made just for you. This means:

Other videos might use the same music
Your video might not sound special
It might not fit your brand well

Hard to Change

You can't easily change stock music to fit your needs:

You can only make small changes, like making it shorter
You can't add or remove parts of the song
It might not match your video perfectly

Used Too Much

Some stock music tracks get used a lot:

Popular tracks might be in many videos
Your video could sound like others
People might get tired of hearing the same music

Tricky Rules

Using stock music comes with rules that can be hard to understand:

Rule Type	What It Means
Personal Use	You can only use it for fun, not for work
Commercial Use	You can use it for business videos
Time Limit	You might only be able to use it for a certain time
Where You Can Use It	Some music can only be used in certain places

It's important to read these rules carefully before using stock music.

Drawback	What It Means for Your Video
Not one-of-a-kind	Might sound like other videos
Hard to change	Might not fit your video perfectly
Used too much	People might get bored of the music
Tricky rules	You need to be careful about how you use it

Think about these points when deciding if stock music is right for your video.

Comparison Table

When picking between custom and stock music for your video, it's important to look at what each offers. This table shows the main differences between custom and stock music:

What to Compare	Custom Music	Stock Music
Cost	More expensive	Cheaper
Sounds Like	Only for your video	Might be in other videos
When You Can Use It	Made for you, takes time	Ready to use right away
Can You Change It	You can ask for changes	Hard to change
Rules for Using	No tricky rules	May have complex rules
Fits Your Brand	Helps make your brand stand out	Might not fit your brand well
How Long It Takes	Takes longer to make	Quick to use
How Many Choices	Few choices	Many choices

This table helps you see the good and bad points of custom and stock music. Think about how much money you can spend, how much time you have, what your video is for, and what you want people to think about your brand when you choose between custom and stock music.

How to Choose Between Custom and Stock Music

Picking between custom and stock music for your video depends on a few key things. Here's what to think about:

Money

Look at how much you can spend on music:

Music Type	Cost
Stock Music	Cheaper
Custom Music	More expensive

If you don't have much money, stock music might be better. But if you can spend more, custom music could be worth it.

Time

Think about when you need the music:

Music Type	Time to Get
Stock Music	Right away
Custom Music	Takes longer

If you need music fast, stock music is quicker. Custom music takes more time to make.

What Your Video is For

Match your music to what your video does:

Video Type	Best Music Choice
To make people feel something	Custom music
To teach or explain	Stock music can work well

Your Brand

Think about how the music fits your brand:

Music Type	Brand Fit
Custom Music	Can match your brand better
Stock Music	Might not fit your brand as well

If you want music that really fits your brand, custom might be better.

Legal Issues to Consider

When using custom or stock music in your videos, you need to think about some legal matters. Knowing these can help you avoid problems and use music the right way.

Custom Music Rights

When you pay someone to make music for your video:

The person who made the music usually owns it
You might be able to buy the rights or agree on how to use it
Make sure you both agree on:
- How you can use the music
- Where you can use it
- How long you can use it

Stock Music Licenses

Stock music licenses can be tricky. Here are the main types:

License Type	What It Means
Royalty-Free	Pay once, use many times
Creative Commons	Free to use, but with some rules
Public Domain	Anyone can use it for free

When you use stock music:

Read the license carefully
Follow the rules it gives you

Giving Credit

Saying who made the music is important:

It shows respect for the music maker
It helps you avoid getting in trouble for using someone else's work

Music Type	Giving Credit
Stock Music	Check if you need to say who made it
Custom Music	Talk about how to give credit when you agree to use the music

When to Use Custom Music

Custom music works best for certain types of videos. Here's when you might want to use it:

Big Projects

For big video projects, custom music can be a good choice. These projects might be:

TV ads
Movies
Big company videos

Custom music helps these projects by:

Making a sound that fits the video well
Helping people remember the brand
Making viewers feel more

Special Visual Stories

Some videos tell stories in a special way. They might have:

Lots of action
Strong feelings
Unusual looks

For these videos, custom music can:

Match the video's style
Make the story clearer
Help viewers understand the video better

When to Use Custom Music	Why It's Good
Big Projects	- Fits the video well - Helps brand memory - Makes viewers feel more
Special Visual Stories	- Matches video style - Makes story clearer - Helps viewers understand

Custom music takes more time and money, but it can make your video stand out. Think about what your video needs before you choose between custom and stock music.

When to Use Stock Music

Stock music works well for many video projects, especially in these cases:

Small Budgets

When you don't have much money, stock music is a good choice. It's cheaper than custom music and still sounds good. Stock music is great for:

Small films
School projects
Small business videos
Personal vlogs

It helps you add music without spending too much.

Short Time Frames

If you need music fast, stock music is best. You can find and use it right away. This is good for:

Quick video changes
Social media posts
Fast marketing videos
Event videos

Stock music lets you find good music quickly to finish your video on time.

When to Use Stock Music	Why It's Good
Small Budgets	Costs less than custom music
Short Time Frames	Ready to use right away

Stock music is easy to use and doesn't cost much. It's perfect when you need music fast and don't want to spend a lot. By using stock music, you can focus on making your video look good, knowing you have music that fits.

Mixing Custom and Stock Music

Using Both Types

You can use both custom and stock music in your video. This can help you:

Save money
Make your video sound special
Get music quickly

Here's how to mix them:

1. Use custom music for important parts 2. Use stock music for the rest 3. Change stock music to fit your needs

Changing Stock Tracks

You can make stock music sound different. This helps your video stand out. Here are some ways to change stock tracks:

Way to Change	What It Does
Add your own sounds	Makes the music more personal
Change how fast it plays	Changes how the music feels
Add extra noises	Makes the music more interesting

Remember to check if you're allowed to change the music before you do it.

Mixing Custom and Stock Music	What It Does
Custom music for key parts	Makes your video sound special
Stock music for other parts	Saves money
Changing stock music	Makes it fit your video better

Conclusion

Picking between custom and stock music for your video depends on what you need, how much money you have, and what you want to achieve. Here's a quick look at both:

Music Type	Good Points	Not So Good Points
Custom Music	- Made just for you - You can change it - Helps people remember your brand	- Costs more - Takes longer to make
Stock Music	- Cheaper - Ready to use right away - Lots to choose from	- Might be in other videos - Hard to change

Think about these things when choosing:

1. Money: How much can you spend?

2. Time: How soon do you need the music?

3. Video Purpose: What is your video for?

4. Brand: Does the music need to match your brand?

Remember, music is important in videos. It can:

Set the mood
Make people feel certain ways
Help people connect with your video

To pick the right music:

Know what your video needs
Think about the good and bad points of each music type

FAQs

Should I hire a film composer or use free public domain music?

Hiring a composer might be better if you need music that fits your video perfectly. They can make music that:

Matches your video's mood
Follows the video's pace
Fits your exact needs

Public domain music is free but might not fit as well.

What is stock music licensing?

Stock music is background music you can buy to use in videos. There are two main types:

Type	Description
Licensed stock music	- Limited use - May not work for all projects - Pay for each use
Royalty-free stock music	- Pay once, use many times - Can use for a long time - More flexible

When you buy stock music:

Check what you can do with it
Make sure it fits your needs
Understand the rules for using it