Nine Inch Nails releases new single as GarageBand file

Earlier tonight I downloaded the latest Nine Inch Nails single as a GarageBand file after reading a short post from Trent Reznor on the Nine Inch Nails news section (weblog?).

What I’m giving you in this file is the actual multi-track audio session for “the hand that feeds” in GarageBand format. This is the entire thing bounced over from the actual Pro Tools session we recorded it into. I imported and converted the tracks into AppleLoop format so the size would be reasonable and the tempo flexible.

It is interesting to listen to the different components of the track individually. Ambience fills the entire track giving it a bit of a scratchy sound.

I had some fun and created some remixes. Trent has talked about wanting to tour with a string quartet in the past, so I went isolated lead vocals and added a small string section.

The included license from Interscope Records references compact discs and is definitely confusing to a fan like me who just wants to play around and share a derivative work with the world. Statement 4 of the license seems to prohibit sharing the work I created with all of you, so it will just stay on my personal devices for now.

This license expressly forbids resale, relicensing or other distribution of any of these sounds, either as they exist upon downloading, or any modification thereof.

The above legal statement seems in stark contrast to Trent wanting to “see what comes of it” and have his fans create remixes and experiment.

Trent worked for id Software and created the sound effects for Quake. The NIИ logo even appeared on the nailgun ammo boxes. Trent also worked as sound engineer on Doom 3 for a while but took off early and his work was never released in the final product. The license accompanying the GarageBand file expressly prohibits remixing the track into video games, a bit odd given the history.

I am really excited I get to play around with a Nine Inch Nails track at such a detailed level. It would be good if the legal text allowed fans to feel comfortable swapping remixes with each other with no commercial intent.