How to “Un-infringe” copyright issues with Youtube video background music by removing the background audio.

First the preamble.

The client request was simple. “Can you embed a video on the web site if we give you the video on a cd – and we want it on YouTube too”.

“No trouble” we said.

Next day the cd arrives with the video on. We play the .avi file, 6 minutes of film with an audio music track playing in the background. (Completely unsuitable with the product BTW). But it’s client supplied so we move ahead and upload to YouTube, grab the embed code, pop it in and we’re away. Well nearly.

Next day, a nice email drops in from YouTube “Your video Life_After_Dark_In_The_Engine_Shed.avi may have content that is owned or licensed by Name_of_Band_That_Has_Seen_Better_Days” blah, blah, blah.

We inform the client who helpfully says “Oh didn’t know that. Can you take the music off and put something else on that is copyright free?” “No trouble” we said.

But it was – a bit. After Googling and finding all sorts of convoluted so called solutions, we worked out a nice elegant one (but it is a Mac one, no idea if it will work on Windows). And here it is…

1. You need to convert the .avi file (or.wmv) to a .mov file.
2. You can do this at the click of a button by downloading the free “Perian” plugin for Quicktime.
3. Install Perian then open Quicktime and open the .avi file.
4. Save as a .mov file.
5. Download the free “MPEG Streamclip”
6. Install and open the .mov file you have just saved.
7. File> Export to Quicktime.
8. Choose “Apple Intermediate Codec” THEN here’s the magic bit…
9. Choose “Sound: No Sound” from the drop down menu and click “Make Movie”

You now have a video ready to upload to YouTube with no background audio. If you want to add your own soundtrack you can download some copyright free music (or create your own of course), crack open iMovie, bring in the soundless vid and add the sound track. Export, upload to YouTube and everybody is happy.