As someone who is frequently reviewing the best music libraries for music supervisors, I’ve gotten the opportunity to dive deep into what makes a great music library.
For music libraries, it’s more than just amassing a large catalog of music.
It’s about delivering quality – not just in the music itself, but in the way you can find the music you need for your project.
It’s about offering exceptional value – unique features and functionality that make your life easier and your discovery process more efficient.
And an amazing user experience – a music library that understands your needs, desires, and preferences and then packages them together in an intuitive interface that is seamless to use and aesthetically appealing.
In this article, I won’t just be reviewing ALIBI Music – I will attempt to articulate what sets them apart. What are the key differentiators that drove me to rank them as the best music library for music supervisors? Let’s dive in.
A Closer Look: The Highlights of ALIBI Music
When you’re searching for the perfect music library, what’s inside really counts. Let’s break down the essentials of what ALIBI Music brings to the table:
15,000+ Unique Music Tracks – ALIBI has an impressive lineup. What’s neat is how they’ve organized it: about a third is trailer music, another third consists of songs, and the final third is dedicated to scores. This spread caters to a wide range of needs.
400,000+ Music Audio Files – It doesn’t just stop at tracks. ALIBI goes the extra mile with stems, cutdowns, and alternate versions. This is super handy, giving you the flexibility to tweak and customize the music to fit your project like a glove.
9,000+ Trailer Effects – Here’s a cool fact: ALIBI’s sound effects have made their way into every big movie campaign over the past ten years. That’s a solid track record that speaks for itself.
150+ New Albums Every Year – Freshness matters, and ALIBI delivers. They roll out over 150 new albums annually. What’s great is that these albums are shaped by what editors, music supervisors, and producers are looking for, and also by what’s trending. They listen, and it shows.
Emotionally Charged Music – The tracks in ALIBI are designed to pack an emotional punch. They come with the highs and lows, edit points, and alternate endings, and are produced by some seriously talented composers and artists from around the world.
Music That Connects – All the albums in ALIBI are not just for show; they’re released for the world to hear on various digital platforms. This means the music is out there, connecting with people beyond the industry.
ALIBI Music’s attention to detail and understanding of your needs is truly apparent in their offering. And this is constantly evolving, as they have proven to take pride in shaping themselves via customer feedback and their “Always Be Listening” credo.
But beyond the essentials of the platform, for me, the key differentiator that separates them from others in the music library space is the search functionality. I’ll explore this in-depth in the next section and explain how these search tools can supercharge your discovery process.
Finding Your Tune: ALIBI’s Smart Search Tools
We’ve established that ALIBI Music has a curated collection of music that can fit any need. Now let’s talk about finding the perfect track that fits the context of your specific project. ALIBI’s intuitive and innovative search tools are what amazed me about this platform.
I’ve utilized platforms where you can get stuck in what I like to call wasteful search. This means you spend your valuable time looking for something all just to come up empty-handed.
This was the exact opposite of my experience with ALIBI Music and their tools that don’t just aide in this process, but they can do so in a variety of different ways that were developed with you, the music supervisor, in mind. Let’s explore.
Tap Tempo BPM Filter – Ever tried matching a track’s tempo with your video by guesswork? With ALIBI’s Tap Tempo, you can tap along to the rhythm of your cut or a reference track to set the BPM filter. This clever feature means you can find the right tempo without breaking a sweat.
Positive Search Keywords – Say you have a specific mood, instrument, or genre in mind. With ALIBI, you can search using pretty much any descriptive keyword you can think of. What’s impressive is how spot-on the tags are, thanks to the professionals who hand-tag them. Finding the ‘happy acoustic guitar’ track you need just got easier.
Negative Search Keywords – On the flip side, sometimes you know exactly what you don’t want. ALIBI lets you filter out search results with specific keywords. It’s a powerful way to cut the clutter and zero in on what works for your project. Something that is so often missed by other music libraries.
Search by Track Version – Need a specific version of a track? No problem. ALIBI allows you to search only for the version you need, or you can include or exclude stems.
Length Searching – Working on a 30-second ad spot? You can search for full tracks or narrow it down to 30, 15, or even 5-second versions. Handy, right?
Extensive Search Filters – Vocals, lyrics, genres, moods, eras, instruments – you name it, ALIBI has a filter for it. This makes it easy to find the exact type of track you’re looking for.
Album Search – Want to explore what’s on offer within a particular album? You can search through all of ALIBI’s albums in one go.
Playlist Search – Not in the mood to search? ALIBI has over 2,000 pre-made playlists to explore. What’s cool is they keep adding new playlists based on current trends and client requests every week. Always be listening, right?
To sum it up, ALIBI’s search tools are all about making your life easier. Whether you know exactly what you’re looking for or need a little inspiration, ALIBI helps you find your tune swiftly and efficiently.
ALIBI + Adobe Premiere Pro: Seamless Music Integration
Picture this: you’re editing in Adobe Premiere Pro, and you need the perfect track. But, who wants to switch between tabs and lose that creative flow? Enter ALIBI’s Adobe Premiere Pro Extension.
Get all of ALIBI’s feature-rich platform and search tools right inside Premiere Pro.
And because no one likes buyer’s remorse. ALIBI allows you to sample tracks right in your project before licensing them.
It’s these details that really make it easy to understand how they’ve become the best music library for music supervisors.
Licensing Uncomplicated: ALIBI’s Array of Options
ALIBI Music prides itself on absolute clarity and peace of mind when it comes to ownership and quality. The entire catalog is exclusively produced, owned, and managed by ALIBI Music LP, which means they’ve collaborated with composers and artists to craft tunes specifically for ALIBI.
Not only is every audio file in tip-top shape with copyrights and proper registrations, but you won’t find any murky samples, as ALIBI ensures no uncleared samples sneak into their production.
Plus, they’ve got their bases covered with E&O insurance, boasting a per-claim liability of a cool million and double that in aggregate.
In short, with ALIBI, you’re in solid, trustworthy hands – so let’s explore their licensing options.
Standard Licenses – Got a single project that needs a tune or two? Standard Licenses, also known as Needle-Drop Licenses, are just the ticket. Simple and to the point, you can grab these licenses right off the ALIBI website. This is all about speed and ease for those moments when you just want to get on with it.
Subscription Licenses – For the regular content creators out there, ALIBI offers Subscription Licenses. This is ideal if you’re frequently making content for the web or social media. Pay a fixed monthly or yearly fee, and you get to dive into a deep pool of tracks. Think of it as a membership to a club of great music.
Blanket Licenses – Sometimes, you need the full spread. That’s where Blanket Licenses come in. Perfect for networks, companies with big advertising plans, or content production houses. Pay a flat fee and get the keys to the entire ALIBI library. No limits, just unlimited options.
Customized Licenses – ALIBI knows that sometimes; you need something that doesn’t fit into neat categories. That’s why they offer Customized Licenses. This is your tailor-made option; built to fit whatever unique needs you have.
In a nutshell, ALIBI Music makes licensing a breeze. They’ve got something for everyone, whether you’re a freelancer, a small business, or taking on a project for a featured film or television network. It’s all about options, and ALIBI delivers them on a silver platter.
ALIBI Music – Always Listening
ALIBI Music emerged for me as the crown jewel and the best music library for music supervisors.
They’ve been able to translate your perspective and job into a platform that just feels so natural.
They’ve cracked the code in delivering an exquisite user experience through an intuitive interface complete with search tools that hit the bullseye.
Not to mention, their impressive repertoire of over 15,000 tracks and 400,000 audio files, can be fused right into Adobe Premiere Pro through their extension.
This is not just another library of music. It’s an extension of your discovery that will empower your project and creativity.
