Archive notice: This article was originally published on February 18, 2009. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
iStockphoto, inventor of the microstock business model, online provider of royalty-free image and video material, and the leading seller of royalty-free images by revenue, is now also offering audio tracks on its website.
From simple sound effects, voice-overs and instrument samples to straightforward and complex compositions, the audio tracks cover every type of multimedia production. They can be used for Flash and web projects, film, television and music productions, presentations, events, toys and games, commercials or podcasts.
iStockaudio is therefore the only provider worldwide to offer completely royalty-free audio tracks, including performance and reproduction rights. Members of collecting societies may therefore not offer tracks.
“Until now, royalty-free audio files were generally sold as sound libraries, for example on CDs. Much of that material was unusable for customers. At iStockphoto, by contrast, they buy only the tracks they actually need—either as individual downloads or through a subscription,” said Dittmar Frohmann, Senior Director at iStockphoto Europe GmbH.
The collection is updated continuously, with audio tracks from hundreds of sound artists around the world added every day. “Strict quality standards and detailed review processes ensure the high quality of the audio tracks,” Frohmann continued. “Thanks to the proven microstock payment model, we can also offer them at very low cost.”
iStockphoto is thus the only company in the industry to enable the purchase and sale of every kind of multimedia file—photos, video footage, audio tracks, vector illustrations and Flash files—through a single website.
Technical Details:
- Approximately 10,000 audio tracks currently online, from around 400 artists
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16-bit WAV files, 44.1 kHz and 48 kHz
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Extensive metadata enabling searches by key, tempo, time signature, musical style, category and mood tags
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Artists’ earnings: 20–40% depending on ranking
Prices: Basic (short, isolated sound effects or tones, such as individual instruments) — 2 credits; Detailed (short audio phrase with various elements) — 5 credits; Complex (short or simple composition) — 15 credits
