One of my favourite non-gaming corners of Twitch to visit is the music section. From musicians showcasing their talents, to producers talking shop about the creative process, to DJ sets that give me something to listen to for extended sessions, there’s a lot of entertainment to be had here.
I also think there’s a lot that we as game streamers can learn from music streamers, even if we don’t have a musical bone in our bodies.
Sayonara Wild Hearts is a stylish rhythm action game in the same vein as Rez and Child of Eden. With so few games of this ilk in existence, it’s good to see others exploring what’s possible within this space. But is this latest take on the genre a bop or a flop? Continue reading
For the past two years, I have put video games, board games, and other nerdy pursuits aside on this day to share some of my favourite love songs with you. Why stop now when there’s so many more love songs to cover?
In case you’re interested, here are the songs from years one and two. Let’s add a few more love songs to the In Third Person Valentine’s Day playlist!
Sayonara Wild Hearts is self-described as a “pop album video game“. As you race down windy streets in your motorcycle and fly through an assortment of ethereal spaces, all of the action is driven by an awesome electro pop soundtrack.
When I go back and listen to the soundtrack, I generally just let it run from beginning-to-end and vibe to the album as a whole. Even so, I can’t help but groove to these standout tracks and levels from the game.
Do you happen to have a streamer on your Christmas shopping list? While you might want to support them in their hobby, it can be difficult to know what to get them, especially if you’re not a streamer yourself.
If you’re in this predicament, here are a few things that the streamer in your life will truly appreciate!
I try to protect my video and streaming output from copyright violations. Under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, multiple copyright violations – such as the unauthorized use of licensed music – can get your account permanently banned. As much as I love Ariana Grande, I know that major record labels that house top artists like her are scanning the internet non-stop and issuing DMCA strikes to everyone who dares to broadcast their music. Because of this, I use DMCA-safe music such as StreamBeats to help set the mood for my streams without putting my accounts at risk.
However, you can be subject to copyright claims, audio muting, and DMCA strikes for more than just the music you play outside of the game. In-game music can get you in trouble too. Was most recently reminded of this thanks to Rogue Company.
Eddie Van Halen redefined what it meant to play the guitar. He cranked out a slew of hits with his band Van Halen while bewildering everyone with his unreal finger gymnastics. Bringing this into the world of video games for a moment, almost every Rock Band or Guitar Hero song that would be classified as Expert difficulty most likely is played in the style that Eddie Van Halen created. There is no “Through the Fire and Flames” without Eddie blazing fretboards decades prior.
His passing on October 6th really hit home for me. I talked about in great detail on stream and I don’t feel comfortable trying to write that out right now. Feel free to watch that segment, which includes baby Jett in diapers, rocking out to the work of Eddie Van Halen. Instead, I just wanted to take a moment to highlight a few of his works that I really enjoy. Whether you’re a bigger fan than I or are completely unfamiliar with his work, I hope you enjoy this collection of music!
The subject of using licensed music on Twitch has been a messy one since the platform’s inception. Some streamers have been hit with DMCA strikes, countless videos have been muted for containing licensed music, and many other streamers seem to use licensed music with no punishment whatsoever.
In hopes of clearing the air for what’s allowed on their platform, Soundtrack by Twitch provides streamers with a curated library of Twitch-safe music.
While I applaud Twitch for attempting to address the confusing subject of music use, Soundtrack by Twitch is not a silver bullet solution for everyone. Here are some tidbits you should know before committing to this music platform.
As of January 1st, 2021, Twitch Sings is no more. Twitch announced on September 4th that they would be shutting the game down in the new year. At the very least, they did one more major drop of 400 new songs for players to keep singers engaged between now and its eventual demise.
Though I haven’t been using Twitch Sings for long, its closure really stings.
Everyone would love to use licensed music if it weren’t for the whole copyright thing. Over the years, online platforms have gotten increasingly harsh on creators who play licensed music in full, leverage snippets, have it play in the background because a car across the street was blasting it, or even poorly singing a few bars of a licensed song in jest.
Getting caught can subject your videos to getting partially muted, having any ad revenue that it would have made go to the music license holder, getting hit with a permanent copyright strike that will push your channel closer to deletion, or even lose your account outright. YouTube is far stricter than Twitch in this regard, but some of the platform’s largest streamers have been suspended for using licensed music in the past. It’s inevitable that Twitch will increase its efforts to shut down the illegal use of license music in order to protect itself from liability.
If you want maximum control and minimal liability, your best bet is to steer clear of licensed music. But where do you turn to when you need background music for your just chatting sessions or want music to fill the empty soundscapes of the battle royale games you play? Try these options!
(and avoid the last one)
In Third Person 