Have you ever seen an artist be successful by just singing over a construction kit?

[igorius]

Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell (Universal Music) was a big hit in Europe 2012 and used the sample-construction-kit „Nu Jazz City“ Big Fish Audio. If I remember correctly, there was a lawsuit against this procedure. However, the court ruled in favor of Klangkarusell.

But did they use the construction kit's demo track as is?

They have used the music within the meaning of copyright law out of the construction kit (drums also). Is that what you mean? It was heavily discussed these times.

Yes, that's what I mean. As long as they use it within the copyright law and also within the license agreement, everything is fine. Making a track that consists only of samples from a construction kit is okay, as long as you arrange them yourself. That's what construction kits are made for, after all.

But in the case of Tory Lanez' "Hurt me", they simply used the demo track that's provided with the construction kit. And that's a whole different thing, in my opinion. Because the licence agreement clearly says that you may not use the demo track.

[Uncle E]

Also, I wonder if they even bought the sample pack.

[Benedict]

80s hits were covered in presets. Michael Jackson's "Beat It" starts with a preset from the Synclavier and then proceeds to lift a whole bit from the demo record. Led Zeppelin was renown for taking other people's songs and acting like they done summit new.

The thing here (totally putting aside copyright technicalities) is what is done. In both the cases above (and with almost every use of DX-7 presets) something new and special was created.

I have not heard what is mentioned as to me all the post 90's Rap/Trap/FapFlap sounds like it is made from construction kits anyway. This is kinda what they are there for. Seeing audiences mostly only want formulaic, thoughtless dross, it seems only the fool will do otherwise. Some of those fools are like me and simply have something else to say, in hope for those who want to hear something that is not construction kit.

As for Uncle E suggesting that use of these things is good if it gets people completing and publishing, I think there is a strong argument in this seeing so may talk about how dey iz da musik man but never show any work. This comes from not working with others. Construction kits are a lame form of working with professionals, but again if they get a result that has something unique (see above) then better to do that than have a room full of gear (and that ever-pointless wall padding) but nothing to show for it.

[Uncle E]

My best solo (IMO) was recorded over a pre-made backing track. Totally unplanned, did it in one take with zero preparation, and yet the drum fills and bass make it sound like it's a band working together, playing off one another:

[Benedict]

My best solo (IMO) was recorded over a pre-made backing track. Totally unplanned, did it in one take with zero preparation, and yet the drum fills and bass make it sound like it's a band working together, playing off one another:

This is exactly the situation in which using construction kits is fine: The backing is a pretty standard progression but the solo makes it unique. Working with a better band who are sparking from the Scene & Story of the Song itself will always outperform this Band In The Box type approach but this lets the solo exist where there is no band.

[freshalex]

Sonnentanz by Klangkarussell (Universal Music) was a big hit in Europe 2012 and used the sample-construction-kit „Nu Jazz City“ Big Fish Audio. If I remember correctly, there was a lawsuit against this procedure. However, the court ruled in favor of Klangkarusell.

But did they use the construction kit's demo track as is?

They have used the music within the meaning of copyright law out of the construction kit (drums also). Is that what you mean? It was heavily discussed these times.

Yes, that's what I mean. As long as they use it within the copyright law and also within the license agreement, everything is fine. Making a track that consists only of samples from a construction kit is okay, as long as you arrange them yourself. That's what construction kits are made for, after all.

But in the case of Tory Lanez' "Hurt me", they simply used the demo track that's provided with the construction kit. And that's a whole different thing, in my opinion. Because the licence agreement clearly says that you may not use the demo track.

I think Big Fish saw it differently. There was a lawsuit that Klangkarusell won. Big Fish's argument was that there should have been an own contribution. Essentially you're right, the kits are sold to be used.

[eLawnMust]

Late 80's... Milli Vanilli singing over Frank Farian's 'construction kit', funny how they got away with that so long as they sang perfect english but talked with accents>>>