Can I use the music? Yes – under CC BY 4.0
All 86 Sinfonia Technica songs are free to use, including commercially. The only condition is attribution. Below you will find snippets to copy, examples for YouTube, podcasts and games, and a clear explanation of “royalty-free”.
Music: Wolfgang Ruthner – Sinfonia TechnicaThe key points
- Free: You pay no license fee – not once, nor per use or per view.
- Commercial use too: Monetised YouTube videos, advertising, client projects, games, apps, courses and podcasts are all allowed.
- Editing allowed: Shorten, loop, cut, remix, put voice-over on top.
- No sign-up: You don’t have to ask or report anything.
The one condition: attribution. Credit me as the author, refer to the CC BY 4.0 license and indicate any changes. Ready-made snippets are further down.
How to credit me correctly (attribution)
Pick the snippet that suits your project and use it wherever you would normally put credits: in your video description, end credits, podcast show notes, game credits or on your website.
Short form (end credits, when space is tight)
Music: Wolfgang Ruthner – Sinfonia TechnicaFull form (video description, show notes, website)
Music: “SONGTITLE” by Wolfgang Ruthner (Sinfonia Technica) – https://sinfonia.ruthner.at – License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en)If you have modified the music
Music: “SONGTITLE” by Wolfgang Ruthner (Sinfonia Technica) – https://sinfonia.ruthner.at – License: CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.en) – edited (e.g. shortened)Replace “SONGTITLE” with the name of the song. The note “edited” is enough if you have shortened, cut, mixed or otherwise changed the music.
Real-world examples
YouTube / video description
🎵 Music: “Ostwind” by Wolfgang Ruthner (Sinfonia Technica) https://sinfonia.ruthner.at License: CC BY 4.0 – https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/deed.enPodcast show notes
Intro music: “Overture Electronica” by Wolfgang Ruthner (Sinfonia Technica), CC BY 4.0, https://sinfonia.ruthner.atGame / app (credits)
Music: Wolfgang Ruthner – Sinfonia Technica (CC BY 4.0) – https://sinfonia.ruthner.atEnd credits in a video
Music: Wolfgang Ruthner – Sinfonia Technica · CC BY 4.0What you may and may not do
Allowed
- Use in videos, streams, podcasts, games, apps, courses, presentations and films
- Commercial use and monetisation
- Shortening, cutting, looping, remixing, mixing with other music
- Sharing the files with attribution and a license notice
Not allowed
- Using the music without attribution
- Passing the music off as your own
- Suggesting that I officially endorse you or your project
- Preventing others from using it through additional technical restrictions or conditions
“Royalty-free” – what exactly applies here?
Free of fees, yes – unconditional, no. The CC BY 4.0 license text expressly grants a “worldwide, royalty-free, non-sublicensable, non-exclusive, irrevocable license”. “Royalty-free” therefore means here: no license fees – not per use, not per view, not per year.
It does not mean “without conditions”: attribution is mandatory. Also, “license-free” is inaccurate, because a license does apply – namely CC BY 4.0. If you need music without any credit at all (for example in a commercial without credits), CC BY is the wrong license for your project.
Useful search terms for this kind of music are “CC BY music”, “free music for videos” or “royalty-free music with attribution”.
Frequently asked questions
Can I use the music in monetised YouTube videos?
Yes. CC BY 4.0 allows commercial use. You just have to credit me in the description (or another suitable place).
Do I have to ask first or report my use?
No. The license applies to everyone, without sign-up and without prior arrangement. I would still love to hear about your project, for example via the contact form.
Can I shorten or loop songs, or build them into my own music?
Yes, that is allowed. Mark the change with the note “edited” (see the snippet above) and keep naming the author.
Is the song name and “Sinfonia Technica” enough?
It is best to use the short or full form from above: name of the author, a reference to the CC BY 4.0 license and – where possible – a link to the source. If space is very tight (e.g. in end credits), the short form is enough.
May I offer the songs for download on my website or pass them on?
Sharing under the same conditions is allowed: with attribution, a license notice and without additional restrictions for others. You may not present them as your own music.
What if a platform (e.g. Content ID) wrongly files a claim against me?
In your dispute, refer to this page and the CC BY 4.0 license. If there are problems, write to me via the contact form.
Which songs are covered?
All six albums in the series, 86 songs in total. The license is also stated in the files themselves (MP3 tag “copyright”) and in the Lizenz.txt in each album’s ZIP.
Download songs
Every album is available as a ZIP with all songs and as individual MP3 files. All without sign-up.
Vol. 1Baroque hall → club night14 songs
Vol. 2From morning to homecoming14 songs
Vol. 3Synthesisers & Venetian baroque14 songs
Vol. 4Guitars, flutes, orchestra14 songs
Vol. 5Lullaby Edition14 songs
Vol. 6Halloween Edition16 songsNote: This page summarises the license in plain language and is not legal advice. The license text is what counts: Summary (deed.en) · Full text (legalcode).