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Here you will find many frequently asked questions pertaining to all aspects of RBN. These FAQs are meant to provide a helpful summary of important questions, but are not intended to completely summarize the Program Terms and are in no way legally binding.

Table of Contents

  1. Setup
  2. Authoring
  3. Playtesting/Audition Mode
  4. Tools
  5. Website
  6. Submission/Payment
  7. Authoring Companies
  8. General/Misc.

Contents

Setup

What is needed to create songs?
  • The short answer is Reaper (an audio workshop), Magma (a tool that creates Rock Band song packages), and an App Hub membership. Check out this section on creating songs for more details about the software.
What about the App Hub Membership?
  • All authors, playtesters, and third-party song submitters need to go to http://create.msdn.com and sign up for an App Hub Premium Membership. You will need an Xbox LIVE Gamertag and a Windows LIVE ID to do this. These memberships cost $99/year.
Can everybody join the Rock Band Network?

Per the program terms, you need to be at least 18 years old and a US resident.

Authoring

Where should I save my files?
  • Any local directory of your choice. It may be helpful to create separate folders for dry stems vs. wet stems and other suitable distinctions.
  • DO NOT save your files in the Reaper program directory. If you update your Reaper software, it may delete all files in the Reaper directory.
I want to start authoring music, but I'm not intimately familiar with Rock Band.
  • Playing the game is the best way to gain experience. You will need to own Rock Band 3 in order to use Audition Mode to test songs, and it contains a plethora of resources for new players. Give every instrument a try to get the most out of it!
  • Visit the Playtest Process page. This will give you the details of what to look out for and think about in every Rock Band song. Read through it and try playtesting some songs. After you've got the hang of playtesting, give authoring a try.
Can I add practice sections to my song?
Can RBN songs be authored to the music video venues?
  • No. RBN authors do not have access to the music video venues. Rock Band 3 uses the normal venue information to generate music videos, and the extra work involved in making music-video-specific venues was deemed unnecessary for RBN.
Can I author Pro Guitar or Pro Bass?
  • No. Due to the complexity of Pro Guitar authoring,the extensive work required to playtest a single Pro Guitar chart, and the lack of support for Pro Guitar within Magma and Audition Mode, we currently do not allow Pro Guitar or Bass authoring in RBN. We revisit this decision every 6-12 months; if we eventually deem the pipeline ready for Pro Guitar, this situation may change.
How do we check out our work in-game?
  • Audition Mode, available in-game in Rock Band 3 by going to (Start) -> Options -> Extras -> Audition Mode. Check out the Magma page for more details.
Does Breakneck Speed work in Audition Mode?
  • Yes.
I'm getting errors when compiling my song. What's wrong?
  • Many errors are self-explanatory or easy to identify with a little work. Visit Magma Compilation Errors and Common Authoring Mistakes for more information on errors and ways to reduce errors when authoring and compiling.
  • If you can't identify your error based on the message and our documentation, try [the Creators forums] for your error message. The solutions to many errors have already been posted somewhere on the forums.
  • If none of those avenues work, try posting your own forum thread or contacting the Creators team.
What's the 'Release Label' field in Magma mean? Do I need to put something there?

Playtesting/Audition Mode

What is the difference between playtesting and peer review?
  • Playtesting is where a song will endure the majority of testing by the community. During playtesting, all elements of a song are examined: every chart for every instrument, all camera and lighting work, all metadata, everything. Playtesters will point out any authoring rule violations or other concerns, including playtesters' personal opinions on the "feel" of a chart or the animations, for the author to address in a new version of the song. A song should stay in playtesting until the community feels that it has no major issues.
  • Peer Review starts when a song has been fully playtested. Peer Review is the final step before a song is published into the RBN store, and serves as a final checkpoint for content violations or severe authoring issues. In general, minor issues should not prevent a song from passing Peer Review, but it is a common practice to address them during a review so the author can create another version at their discretion.
Can I isolate instruments to hear them better while playtesting? -or- Why is the crowd so loud?
  • Within Audition Mode (or any other song in Rock Band 3), you can go to (Start) -> Options -> Audio Options to adjust various levels, including "Instrument" (all non-vocals instruments currently in the session), "Background Music" (all non-active instruments and TRKS files), and "Crowd" (the noise of the crowd). Remember, however, that it's important to listen to an instrument in the full mix at least once to get a feel for its audibility and the overall mix quality.
Can I Audition songs on my PS3 or Wii?
  • No. The Rock Band Network relies on Microsoft infrastructure, and there is currently no way to offer these services on other platforms.

Tools

I'm running Reaper x64. Why are some of the RBN Reaper add-on features missing?
Why aren't the right colors showing up in my Reaper MIDI Editor window?
  • Check out the Reaper doc to make sure your color maps are correctly configured.
I'm in Audition Mode, but my PC can't find my Xbox!
  • 1. You need to open port 3074 for UDP on your firewall. The installer should do that for you automatically.
  • 2. You need to be on the same subnet as your Xbox. This is unlikely to be an issue for most home users, unless you are connecting "accidentally" to your neighbor's WiFi hotspot, but we have found at least one case where setting a static IP address for the Xbox caused this problem.
  • 3. You need to be on the Primary Network Interface of your PC. This means that bridging your connection from your PC to your Xbox will not work. (This could also happen if you had two network cards in your PC.)
I can't get Magma to install correctly!
  • Are you seeing one of the following error messages when you try to install Magma? "MagmaCore.dll not found", "Xlive.dll not found", "Failed to initialize XboxLIVE network, authentication failed", etc.
  • In most cases, a Magma install problem is caused by an outdated (or duplicate) installation of your .NET framework, or your "Games for Windows LIVE" package. You can make sure everything is up-to-date and Magma-friendly by following these steps:
    • 1) Uninstall all of the .NET frameworks on your computer, via Add/Remove programs (you might have more than one, which could be the root of the problem)
    • 2) Uninstall "Games for Windows LIVE" via Add/Remove programs.
    • 3) Uninstall Magma
    • 4) Download and install the latest .NET framework from Microsoft's site here: http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/netframework/aa569263
    • 5) Download and install the latest "Games for Windows LIVE" package here: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=98609
    • 6) Download and re-install Magma. With the latest .NET framework and "Games for Windows LIVE" package, Magma should now install correctly.
What is the "Export (default lighting, animation, camera)" button in Magma and why do I get an error when I try exporting my MIDI file?
  • This button allows you to export your MIDI file with all optional auto-generated authoring baked in (lighting, animation, camera), usually to then make tweaks to it in Reaper. If your MIDI file has any errors that would otherwise cause your song to fail Magma's compile, your MIDI file will get an error when exporting.
Magma can see my Xbox 360, but when I hit "Transfer to Xbox", nothing happens. The button is grayed out and doesn't seem to be functioning. What gives?
  • You need to highlight the 360's name from the list before clicking the transfer button.
Something is going wrong when I preview my chart on the console! Gems are missing, lights and camera appear stuck, etc.
  • Check the Audition Mode page for known issues. The problems you see might only affect the audition preview, not the game play.

Website

When signing in, I'm brought to a password change screen. Why can't I get past this screen?
  • This issue might be that your password isn’t strong enough. We don't specify what the specs for the password should be anywhere (which is a bug), and there may also a bug with the password strength meter. Try a password with upper and lower case letters and at least one number that is at least 8 characters long.
How do I upload content?
I've uploaded my song but I get an email saying my song failed because it is not "a well-formed Rock Band song package." What do I do?
  • Verify that the "Author" field in Magma is exactly the same as your creators.rockband.com login and that said account is linked to an active App Hub membership.
Who else is going to be able to look at our work?
  • All registered users will be able to view your song pages created on the website. Only other Premium Users will be able to download, playtest, and Peer Review your songs; distribution of songs currently in the process is strictly forbidden.

Submission/Payment

What legal rights do I need to own in order to get my song into Rock Band Network?
  • You must own or control all rights for both the composition and the sound recording(s) embodied in any song that you submit.
Are those Sync Rights or Performance Rights or what?
  • You are granting multiple rights, including synchronization rights and public performance rights to your song. You should review the Program Terms, and if you are unclear about any of the rights you are granting, you should consult with an attorney who specializes in music rights issues.
If I wrote and recorded my own song, and own all the rights to it, and I've never published it before (except for putting it on my Facebook page), do I need to worry?
  • You are probably fine, assuming your work is totally original under copyright law. But this isn’t legal advice, so you still hold the responsibility to know how things work. Talk to an attorney if you’re unsure.
What if I am signed to a label?
  • Typically, labels make submissions directly; if you are making the submission we suggest you confirm your rights to do so. We may also require separate consent from the label in order to protect you and us because you will be receiving payments and standing behind the rights.
How much do we get from sales of our songs?
  • The current rate is 30% of net sales. The Program Terms describe the payment terms and the method by which we can change the rate.
How do we get paid?
  • All songs are sold on the Xbox 360 and are paid royalties by Microsoft's external payment company. You will enroll in the App Hub and set up payment information directly with them. You get paid quarterly, provided you are owed at least $150. Earnings below $150 roll over and accumulate between quarters, but will not be paid out until they exceed $150.
  • If your song is selected for sale on the PS3, you will be contacted by Harmonix and set up as a regular vendor. PS3 royalties are distributed as quarterly checks made out to you, though usually checks are delayed by a quarter due to processing (so a Q2 check would be delivered at the end of Q3).
How does Microsoft know who to pay?
  • The person who submits the song for Peer Review gets paid for the song. Each account on creators.rockband.com has a Gamertag and Windows LIVE ID attached to it. Payment details and reporting are managed through that account.
So if someone other than me submits my song to the website, they are going to get the money?
  • This is an important question. The answer is YES.
Forever and ever?
  • Yes, as long as your song remains available (see below about transferring and removing songs).
What if I signed up with an authoring company to create my song?
  • You have two choices:
    • They can create the song and test it, and then send you the final version for submission, in which case you will get paid directly, or
    • They can test and then submit the final version of the song, in which case they will get paid and you will have to get payments from them.
Do I need an Xbox or Rock Band?
  • Strictly speaking, you don't, if all you are ever going to do is submit a song. You can just log into the website and upload the file. It does mean that you will submit your song without ever playing it. Each time this happens, a baby kitten dies.
If my App Hub membership lapses, can I still get paid?
  • Yes, but you have to have a valid and paid App Hub membership to do things like change payment information, for example. In this case you would have to re-purchase a membership.
If I hire an authoring company, how do I know if they are paying me everything that they owe me?
  • Ultimately, this is between you and the authoring company. You should have a binding agreement with them that grants them all the rights needed to comply with participation in RBN, including the Program Terms and defines the way that they will do accounting for your songs. You should talk to a lawyer about the agreement. Microsoft provides the submitter with some good reporting of sales on a per song basis, so it should be easy for the authoring company to provide you with information.
Can I look directly at the sales data for my song in this case?
  • No, because only the person who submitted the song has access to that information.
Can they transfer rights in the song or the right to receive payment to me at a later time?
  • No, there is no way to do this. With respect to participation in RBN, the song (and payment) is forever linked with the account that submitted it for approval.
What if we delete the song and upload a new version?
  • We don’t allow duplicate songs (i.e. same song name/band name)to be submitted through our pipeline because:
    • If it did get approved, there would be two versions of the song on Xbox LIVE Marketplace. Even though only one was for sale, old ones would still be on people’s consoles. So when you try to play Multiplayer there will be problems.
    • Someone looking at their memory management on the Xbox would see two identical songs and not know which one to delete.
What happens if the authoring group I hire goes out of business?
  • We don’t know, but it sure seems like it would be pretty bad. This is a business risk that you are taking on independent of Harmonix (we are not involved in the process of matching bands and authoring companies at all), so make sure you trust the folks you’re working with. A safer option is for you to submit the song directly in your name.
  • We advise you to fully understand how the process works, and have a legal and binding contract with anyone who is going to handle your songs or your money. You could always hire an authoring company to create the RBN version of the song, and then have them deliver it to you for your direct submission to RBN.
Can I remove my songs from the store?
  • The submitter can remove the songs from sale at any time. The same caveats about payment apply here. Make sure you have the right to remove your songs from sale if you want to.
What rights does Harmonix ask for?

Authoring Companies

What rights do I need in order to submit a song to Rock Band Network?
  • Read the entirety of Submission/Payment. You need to make sure that the artist you're submitting for
    • has the publishing and master recording rights and
    • has assigned or licensed them to you.
  • Remember, as the submitter, you're representing that you have all of the rights necessary to submit the song in order to comply with the RBN Program Terms, and in the event of any problems or copyright claims on the song, you're liable.
Are there any additional rights I need to ask for when authoring a song for someone else?
  • You need to be able to submit the song for playtesting. Since officially the "submitter" needs to have all the rights to the song, make sure your contract or service agreement allows you to submit the songs for playtesting.
The band told me they have the rights. How do I know for sure?
  • This isn't something we can advise you on. You should have a contract, a real one written by a lawyer, that addresses this issue, and you should do your own due diligence on the band or artist.
What kind of contract should I create to work with bands?
  • We can't give you legal advice, but you should probably have a written agreement from the artist/band where they grant you all rights required by the Program Terms. Additionally, consider the following issues:
    • You will need the rights to playtest the song.
    • The artist might want to remove their song from sale in the future.
    • There might be a dispute about whether the Artist owns the rights to the songs.
    • The artist will probably want clearly delineated rules for how they will be paid.
Will additional consents be required?
  • Generally yes; if you are submitting as an authoring company we will typically require confirmation and consent directly from the artist/band and/or label. We do this to protect both us and you, since you will be getting payment directly and standing behind all rights. We may do this via an online form or written means.

General/Misc.

What are the minimum and maximum lengths for a song?
  • The minimum song length is 30 seconds. The maximum song length is 10 minutes.
Can we sell songs on the PS3 Network Store and Wii?
  • Select RBN songs (about 5/week) are transferred to the PS3. We added RBN songs to Rock Band 2 and 3 on the Wii for about 5 months, but at this time we are no longer adding any RBN songs to the Wii. There are no current plans to add more songs per week to PS3 or to resume service to the Wii.
How much do songs cost?
  • Authors get to suggest one of three price points: 80, 160 or 240 Microsoft Points ($1, $2 or $3). Authors can change the suggested price once every three months. The Program Terms provide that we can determine the price at our sole discretion, but this is not frequently exercised.
Can I submit a cover song?
  • No. The RBN Program Terms clearly define the rights you need. Basically, you must own or control all rights for both the composition and the sound recording(s) embodied in any song that you submit; this includes the right to receive all payments. Because of the complexity surrounding rights for cover songs, we cannot allow them to be submitted.
Can I submit a composition from the public domain?
  • Yes, you can, with a couple restrictions. As with any other submission to RBN, you must control all the necessary rights for any song that you submit to the extent that such a submission is protected by copyright or other applicable law. In addition, for public domain songs:
    • You must document that the composition is in fact in the public domain (and we will ask you to submit such information for review and verification in our sole discretion).
    • You must ensure that all other non-public domain elements are owned and controlled by you. Be aware that even if a composition of a song is in the public domain, arrangements and recordings of that composition most often are not.
Can I use samples in the song I submit?
  • We strongly discourage using samples in any songs you submit. Using a sample will make it far more likely that your song will not be accepted for sale on RBN. Legal rights around samples are complicated and unless you are confident of your rights to use the samples and receive payment directly you should not include them. If you do use samples, you will be required to identify the sample and provide additional documentation showing that you have the rights to use the sample and receive payments directly for such use. Even then, your song may not be approved for sale on RBN.
Can I submit a song using only MIDI instrumentation?
  • Yes, you can. You must author and own the instrumentation in the song you submit. Because some MIDI information is copyrighted, you may be required to provide additional documentation or assurances that you own all the necessary rights to submit the song to RBN. Additionally, because MIDI playback is sample based, the audio portion must adhere to the sample policy as written above in this FAQ. You must make certain that you have all the rights to commercially exploit the song you submit. We may ask for additional information about the sample library that you used to create the audio for the song, to ensure that you have obtained all the rights necessary to release the song to RBN.
Can I play a snippet of another song in my song?
  • Since this is using someone else’s musical composition, it is more or less equivalent to using a sample from a music rights perspective. All the same restrictions that apply to samples apply to compositions and we strongly discourage such use.
What can you tell me about music publishing rights, royalties, synchronization rights, copyrights, and master recordings?
  • That information is outside the scope of this FAQ. Music rights are complicated and you should consult a music attorney with any questions. It is your responsibility to fully comply with the Rock Band Network Program Terms. Any guidance you may receive from us is not legal advice and will in no way alter your obligations under the Program Terms.
Can RBN songs contain expletives?
  • RBN songs will be played in Rock Band 3, which has an ESRB rating of "T". A good guideline is that you need to create a "radio friendly" edit of your song if it has naughty bits in it. You can use the library of DLC content for Rock Band as a guideline to what's acceptable, or review the Offensive Content page for specifics.
I think that <My Favorite Band> should be in RBN!
  • Why don't you ask them about it, politely? There's a thread on our RockBand.com forums here: http://www.rockband.com/forums/showthread.php?t=153483 with suggested etiquette. Remember that bands may not own the publishing rights or master recordings of their songs, which might make it hard for them to participate.
I'm in a band. Can I get someone else to put my music into RBN?
  • Yes, you can. A number of authoring companies have been created for the sole purpose of getting songs into RBN. We aren't officially endorsing or connected to any of them, but there is a list of active Authoring Groups on the wiki.
  • If the authoring company submits the song for you, they will receive all payments, and you will need to provide additional consent to us before your submission can be considered; see additional information below under "Bands/Artists".
I'm authoring a song for someone else. Are there any special restrictions?
  • Yes. See Authoring Companies. We may require that you, or the artist, and/or record label (if the artist is signed to a record label) submit proof that you have all the necessary rights and comply with all obligations relating to participation in the Rock band Network, including the Program Terms.
  • Harmonix has obligations only to the person/company that submits the song. Accordingly, it is important for you to have a complete and clear contract with the artist or label -- and we suggest one written by an attorney that understands music rights law.
Can I use the words "Rock Band", "Rock Band Network", "RBN" or related terms in my promotional efforts?
  • Generally you can only use our trademarks (word marks, not logos) in a descriptive manner such as to describe participation in RBN, and not to in any way suggest endorsement, affiliation, etc. As a general rule we would not allow use of our trademarks in song titles, or the name of a CD, absent some sort of license agreement.
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