FAQ
While I’m always committed to answering every single email I get (benprunty at gmail), I often get a lot of similar questions, so I thought I would put them all here for reference. I’ll update this whenever necessary. Also check out my interviews.
What equipment/software do you use to make music?
Here’s what I used over a decade ago to make the FTL soundtrack, and here’s my current setup.
Where’s the best place to buy your music?
Right here: benprunty.bandcamp.com.
What the heck is Bandcamp?
Bandcamp is a music store, kind of like iTunes, but for cool, hip indies. It allows you to buy music directly from me, downloadable in any file format you want (yes, even FLAC), with no DRM, ever. You can also stream the entire album, for free, as much as you want, before you decide to purchase it. Once you do purchase an album through the service, you can also stream it from the Bandcamp mobile app. Mp3s you buy from Bandcamp can be easily imported into iTunes.
Do I need a Paypal account to buy your albums on Bandcamp?
Nope! You can purchase any of my albums with a credit card.
Why isn’t (insert album name here) on Spotify?
Sometimes it takes me longer to release an album on Spotify, but the plan is to get everything there eventually! In the meantime, you can stream all my albums as much as you want, for free, on Bandcamp.
Is the FTL soundtrack available on vinyl?
Yes! You can get it in the USA from this site, or in Europe from here. You can also get the FTL Advanced Edition on vinyl as well: USA, Europe.
Why isn’t Color Sky/Cipher/Fragments/etc available on vinyl?
Producing a physical release of any kind is expensive, and I am a one-man operation. To make a vinyl release happen, I would have to partner with a company that produces vinyl, like I did with iam8bit for the FTL soundtrack.
Do you use authentic hardware for your chip sounds? (i.e. Game Boy hardware or an NES chip)
Nope! Everything is done with software synths and effects.
Why did you go with Cubase instead of (insert name of DAW here)?
Back in 2001 or 2002, when I was in college, I asked famous game composer Jesper Kyd what he used, and he said Cubase. That was why I started. Now I continue to use it because I’m really, really good at it.
Can I license your music to use in my game/YouTube video/livestream/school project/whatever?
There’s a lot to cover here, so I’ll split it into general rules and follow up with exceptions to those rules. If you think your question falls outside the scope of this guide, feel free to email me.
General Rules
1. First of all, I cannot license any of my game or film soundtracks for any other project, ever. This means you can’t license my FTL or Subnautica music for any project.
2. I can’t license music out for free. If you want to use one of my tracks for your podcast intro or your YouTube show or your short film or game or whatever, you need to pay me. Sorry! If you are willing to pay, email me and we’ll talk about it.
Exceptions
A. Chromatic T-Rex is the ONLY exception to #2. You can license anything you want from that album for free, as long as you tell me about it first and credit me somewhere.
B. If you are a student making a project or thesis for school, feel free to use any of my music, including soundtracks, for your project. As usual, please let me know first and put proper credits where appropriate. If your project becomes commercial later on, you need to either remove the music, in the case of my soundtracks, or contact me to negotiate a license.
C. If you want to use my music as part of your video demo reel that you use to sell your services as an animator/videographer/editor/whatever to potential clients or employers, you may license any of my non-soundtrack music for free. This is assuming your video is only used to as a method to sell your services and is not a standalone project of its own.
D. If you are a livestreamer and you want to play my music during your livestreams, that is fine. I see this as promotion. No licensing or permission is necessary. Just please credit me somewhere and include a link to my bandcamp page. However, if you want my music as, say, the theme music of your livestream, then see #2. If you receive a copyright takedown on your video or livestream, it wasn’t from me.
Can I have sheet music for FTL?
It doesn’t exist! I compose almost everything directly into my workstation, so sheet music is irrelevant. I agree that an FTL piano book would be awesome, but I just don’t have the time to do it. The closest thing I have is this rather flawed article. UPDATE: The unofficial Ben Prunty wiki has collected a ton of Ben Prunty sheet music from around the internet, much of it by Sphax137.
Do you have any advice for an aspiring game composer?
YES! Here’s my most important advice. I also recommend reading my blog and checking out all my interviews. Also be sure to read my ask.fm page!
I heard you went to school for Audio Engineering. Does this mean I should too?
Not necessarily. I actually ended up with a two-year degree in audio engineering mostly because I couldn’t afford to go to Berklee for music or Full Sail for game development. The audio engineering classes themselves were mostly recording local rock bands, mixing, mastering, and occasionally doing sound effects. The mixing skills alone were incredibly valuable. This doesn’t mean that this is the only path to a career in game audio.
UPDATE: I wrote a whole article about this: How Useful is My Degree? Should You Go to College?