How to get a song into a Reference Track? HELP, please!

Recording, Mixing and Producing
#1

Hi All,
I need a how-to on how to use a commercial song as a reference track in Logic Pro.
Please help this old-timer accomplish this legally (no piracy, please).
I don’t mind if I have to pay for a song from iTunes to use it.
Fair enough. Musicians need to earn a living, too.

I’m using Logic Pro (on a Mac, of course).

  1. I presume I have to pay for a license for each song that I want to use as a Reference track. If that’s correct, then I also presume that I do that in iTunes. How am I doing so far?

  2. How do I get the audio from a commercial song in iTunes or Apple Music out as a wav file, or some form, I can drop into a track? No, I don’t use Spotify or any other music streaming services. Well, I use SoundCloud, but it won’t have the songs I want to use as Reference tracks.

If you help me learn how to get the audio (.wav file), then I should be able to drag and drop it into Logic or I’ll read up on how to Import it.

Of all the times I’ve read or seen videos telling me to use Reference tracks, I’m surprised that not a one of them tells you how to get those songs legit into your DAW. I guess they assume that we all know how to do that, already. I need the Reference Tracks for Dummies version. Lol

And, FYI, when we get older, we don’t get senile. That’s all wrong. We get Memory Full !! :joy:

If you’re going to laugh at my ignorance, at least I’ll help you with some humor. :wink:

Thanks in advance for any help!

John

#2

How would you normally buy your music? Download, CD? Just buy it via your normal means and import it.

You don’t need a licence of any kind.

#3

Some music you can purchase from iTunes and download, but will need to convert it to a usable format. Some ITunes music require you to have a subscription, as in you can download music to your computer, but can only play it if you have a subscription. As in, if your music file still sits in your DAW and your subscription has expired, you are technically not allowed to play it anymore. Circumventing this will be a breach of the license agreement between you and itunes. I am no legal expert but you may not be able to put an itunes track in your DAW without a soft breach of the contract between you and iTunes, depending on how you acquired it.

More info on it here >> Add and download music in iTunes on PC - Apple Support

If you have another way to buy the album in digital format which allows you to keep the mp3 files might be a better option

#4

Thank you, AJ and FluteCafe, for your responses,

Hi AJ,
I used to buy CDs, but now I just listen on Apple Music. For the last couple of years I’ve had an Apple One Premier subscription, which gives me access to all of their services (Apple Music included) + 2 TB of iCloud space, which I share with my adult children.

I haven’t used any software in years to rip a CD, but is that the method you recommend?

Thanks again.

John