Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Welcome to the service desert... just kidding. Here you'll find answers to everything that regularly lands in my inbox. Short version: I'm just a guy, this is my hobby, and the music is for you.
Why do you put yourself through this stress? (Motivation)
The real starting point for this project, as it exists today, was honestly a life crisis. In 2011, after separating from my first wife, music became my most important therapy. I literally spent days and nights in front of the keyboard to clear my head and hammer emotions into the keys that had nowhere else to go. Looking back, I often wonder why I didn't do it much sooner – after all, I learned to play keyboard at age 7. But sometimes it takes hitting rock bottom to rediscover an old passion as a lifeline.
Today the pain has faded, but the passion has remained – and it has joined forces with my profession. As a full-time programmer, this website is my ultimate technical playground. I love experimenting with the latest technologies here at night, before they go mainstream: whether it's an AI-powered similarity search, fully automated music analysis, or complex UI optimizations. These are often features that large commercial services charge a lot of money for (or don't even offer), and I build them here in my spare time – simply out of curiosity to see if I can.
I'm often asked: "Sascha, why don't you sell this technology? You could get rich!" The answer is simple: I no longer want the stress of self-employment and business plans (you can read about why below in the website's "Story"). I want to program and make music, not have sales conversations.
The real "payoff" for me today is the result of this work: when I see that a song that once came from a crisis is now bringing joy to your funny vacation video, an important school project, or a creative indie game – then the circle is complete. That's better than any payment. That's my fuel. And one more thing makes me proud: my work has now even inspired my daughter to learn piano, sing, and compose her own songs. She is my biggest fan and my best critic at the same time.
Today the pain has faded, but the passion has remained – and it has joined forces with my profession. As a full-time programmer, this website is my ultimate technical playground. I love experimenting with the latest technologies here at night, before they go mainstream: whether it's an AI-powered similarity search, fully automated music analysis, or complex UI optimizations. These are often features that large commercial services charge a lot of money for (or don't even offer), and I build them here in my spare time – simply out of curiosity to see if I can.
I'm often asked: "Sascha, why don't you sell this technology? You could get rich!" The answer is simple: I no longer want the stress of self-employment and business plans (you can read about why below in the website's "Story"). I want to program and make music, not have sales conversations.
The real "payoff" for me today is the result of this work: when I see that a song that once came from a crisis is now bringing joy to your funny vacation video, an important school project, or a creative indie game – then the circle is complete. That's better than any payment. That's my fuel. And one more thing makes me proud: my work has now even inspired my daughter to learn piano, sing, and compose her own songs. She is my biggest fan and my best critic at the same time.
Can I really use the music for free? (License)
Short answer: Yes.
Long answer: All tracks here are licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 License. In plain English: you may copy, use in videos, remix, and share the music. The only "catch" of the license is actually the attribution requirement – but please read the next point for details. Legal details are available here.
Long answer: All tracks here are licensed under the Creative Commons CC BY 4.0 License. In plain English: you may copy, use in videos, remix, and share the music. The only "catch" of the license is actually the attribution requirement – but please read the next point for details. Legal details are available here.
Do I have to credit you as the author?
Officially according to the license: Yes.
In my specific case: No, you don't have to.
I have chosen to make attribution voluntary. If you mention me in the credits, video description, or end screen, I'll be thrilled (that's my only reward). But if it ruins the design or you simply forget: no stress, I won't sue anyone.
In my specific case: No, you don't have to.
I have chosen to make attribution voluntary. If you mention me in the credits, video description, or end screen, I'll be thrilled (that's my only reward). But if it ruins the design or you simply forget: no stress, I won't sue anyone.
If I want to credit you: how do I do it correctly?
That's music to my ears! If you want to mention me, something like this is perfectly sufficient:
That's all it takes. Thank you for it!
Music: "Battlefield Heroes" by Sascha Ende\nWebsite: ende.appThat's all it takes. Thank you for it!
I bought a license in the past. Do I still need it?
No. You can hang the document on the wall as a souvenir or digitally shred it. Since I now offer all music under the very permissive CC BY 4.0 (with the addition "attribution voluntary"), old licenses are obsolete. You now essentially have "free-user premium rights" – and that's forever.
Where did filmmusic.io go and why doesn't my login work anymore?
Okay, real talk: the old platform was a huge monster. 250,000 users, server costs, email delivery, support requests... and at the end of the month I was paying out of pocket.
I had to pull the plug to avoid going broke (or crazy). That's why all data was deleted. But: if you were a user before, just create a new account – it's free.
I had to pull the plug to avoid going broke (or crazy). That's why all data was deleted. But: if you were a user before, just create a new account – it's free.
User accounts, privacy
- Delete account: Happens automatically. Don't log in for 3 months, and you're history (in the data protection sense).
- Privacy: Your account is just an anonymous number (UUID). I don't store names, shoe sizes, or anything like that.
I need help / support. Can I contact you?
Please don't take it personally, but: No. This website is a pure hobby project alongside my full-time job. If I start providing individual support, I won't get around to making music (or sleeping). The website and music come "as is" – without warranty, but made with a lot of love.
Can I hire you for custom music commissions?
That's flattering, but I've deregistered my business. I no longer take commissions, accept money, or write invoices. I only do what I feel like doing – and then upload it here.
Can you link to my website (SEO)?
No. (Long version: No, really not. Not for money, cookies, or kind words either. I only link to projects that directly keep this site alive.)
I want to give you money! (Donations)
You're awesome! But since I no longer have a registered business, I'm legally not allowed to accept donations for my "work" (Germany and its bureaucracy, sigh).
My suggestion: Donate the money to a non-profit of your choice (animal shelter, cancer research, education). If you send me a screenshot of it, I'll be happier than if you sent me any amount of money.
My suggestion: Donate the money to a non-profit of your choice (animal shelter, cancer research, education). If you send me a screenshot of it, I'll be happier than if you sent me any amount of money.
Help, YouTube Content ID is annoying me!
As much as I'd love to argue with the YouTube legal robot: I have to pass on this one. Content ID and I are not friends. Since you have the license (see above), you're in the right. File a dispute, reference the license. You've got this! Google is your friend when searching for "how to dispute a Content ID claim".
Nerd talk: what equipment do you use?
In case anyone is curious what I use to make noise here at night:
Hardware
Software (DAW)
Favorite libraries:
Hardware
- Keys: M-AUDIO Oxygen Pro61
- Interface: Focusrite Scarlett 8i6
- Mics: Røde PodMic, NT1-A, NT-5
Software (DAW)
- Cubase: For all things orchestral (Hans Zimmer mode)
- FL Studio: For beats & electronic (party mode)
Favorite libraries:
- 8dio (Unbeatable choirs & solo strings)
- Spitfire Audio (BBC Symphony Orchestra – a dream)
- Native Instruments (The standard, basically)
The music is annoying. Now what?
Harsh words, but fair. Hans Zimmer was unfortunately unavailable and my budget for the London Symphony Orchestra only stretched to a cheese sandwich.
The good news: you're the DJ here. In the app you can switch tracks or – if you prefer complete acoustic emptiness – just mute everything. The mute button is basically my "John Cage 4′33″ remix" for you.
I'm constantly tinkering alone with new sounds (no elves, just lots of coffee). So if nothing suits you: hit mute, breathe deeply, and enjoy the silence. I'll just cry quietly in the server room for a moment.
The good news: you're the DJ here. In the app you can switch tracks or – if you prefer complete acoustic emptiness – just mute everything. The mute button is basically my "John Cage 4′33″ remix" for you.
I'm constantly tinkering alone with new sounds (no elves, just lots of coffee). So if nothing suits you: hit mute, breathe deeply, and enjoy the silence. I'll just cry quietly in the server room for a moment.
The story behind this website (History)
For context: I have a normal full-time job (and always have). This website is my "after-hours madness" – a one-man show that mostly happens at night.
2010 - The Beginning
My first small music portfolio goes live on ende.us. Still very basic.
2011 - Moving
We move to the domain ende.tv. Sounds more important, feels good.
2012 - 100,000 visitors
Suddenly things are really happening here. I notice: wow, people actually care about this.
2013 - The first mistake
Partnership with a media company. I thought "synergies", the reality was more like "headaches". In retrospect, not a good idea.
2016 - Solo again
Left the company. I move my music to sascha-ende.de. Back to the roots.
2017 - Birth of Filmmusic.io
A new platform emerges. Sascha-ende.de becomes a business card, the music moves.
2019 - Megalomania (almost)
Opening up to other artists & founding the "UG". Sounds like business, but it was the start of bureaucracy hell.
2022 - The crash
The UG is liquidated. I continue alone. Donation model introduced. Financially a flop.
2023 - The dark year
Ads gone, revenue in the basement (€150/month), depression. Guest artists cause Content ID strikes for my users. Loss of trust.
January 2024 - The liberation
All guest artists are out. Platform belongs exclusively to my compositions again.
August 2024 - Tech restart
The old site is history. New site, anonymous accounts, no more data protection stress.
September 2024 - Hobby status: activated
Business deregistered. License relaxed (attribution optional). Finally having fun again without business pressure.
July 2025 - Rebranding
filmmusic.io becomes ende.app. To make it clear: this is me, personally.
January 2026 - ENDE.APP 2.0
Modernization complete. Playlists, faceted search, turbo accounts. We have arrived.
2010 - The Beginning
My first small music portfolio goes live on ende.us. Still very basic.
2011 - Moving
We move to the domain ende.tv. Sounds more important, feels good.
2012 - 100,000 visitors
Suddenly things are really happening here. I notice: wow, people actually care about this.
2013 - The first mistake
Partnership with a media company. I thought "synergies", the reality was more like "headaches". In retrospect, not a good idea.
2016 - Solo again
Left the company. I move my music to sascha-ende.de. Back to the roots.
2017 - Birth of Filmmusic.io
A new platform emerges. Sascha-ende.de becomes a business card, the music moves.
2019 - Megalomania (almost)
Opening up to other artists & founding the "UG". Sounds like business, but it was the start of bureaucracy hell.
2022 - The crash
The UG is liquidated. I continue alone. Donation model introduced. Financially a flop.
2023 - The dark year
Ads gone, revenue in the basement (€150/month), depression. Guest artists cause Content ID strikes for my users. Loss of trust.
January 2024 - The liberation
All guest artists are out. Platform belongs exclusively to my compositions again.
August 2024 - Tech restart
The old site is history. New site, anonymous accounts, no more data protection stress.
September 2024 - Hobby status: activated
Business deregistered. License relaxed (attribution optional). Finally having fun again without business pressure.
July 2025 - Rebranding
filmmusic.io becomes ende.app. To make it clear: this is me, personally.
January 2026 - ENDE.APP 2.0
Modernization complete. Playlists, faceted search, turbo accounts. We have arrived.
Is this all AI or do you do it yourself? (AI Policy)
Until early 2024, all my songs (approx. 1,000 tracks) were produced completely without AI. Pure craftsmanship.
Since 2024, AI has become part of my toolbox. It's now a colorful mix: I use AI to create my music. In fact, if AI weren't an option, I likely would have stopped making music entirely by now.
I know that sounds like a contradiction to some. People often assume that AI and creativity are completely incompatible. But let me explain it like this:
Think of an architect who designs a stunning house. They meticulously plan every detail, from the structural layout down to the interior design. But that same architect doesn't want to spend months standing in the rain or sweltering heat, laying bricks one by one. They could do the manual labor, but why should they when there are construction crews built for that exact job? The architect hands over the blueprints, the crew builds it, and the architect gets to spend their time doing what they actually love: designing.
That's exactly my relationship with music. I am the architect.
I thrive on creating the vision and the blueprint for a track, but the tedious process of traditional music production has never been the fun part for me. I love being the songwriter and the visionary; I just don't want to lay the bricks.
So, I use my keyboard, Cubase, or FL Studio – along with my own creativity – to develop fully fleshed-out song ideas. I map out all the details and even feed the AI a short audio sample of my concept. Then, I step back and let the AI act as my construction company, taking my exact blueprints and finally building the house.
For decades, the music industry has relied heavily on pre-made sample packs and loops. A producer might buy a vocal loop from sites like Loopmasters, drop it onto a drum loop they didn't play, and release it as their own track. That process has become completely normalized. Take the massive hit song "Sonnentanz" by Klangkarussell as a perfect example. It stayed at number one in the charts for months and went platinum, yet the core elements were essentially dragged and dropped straight from a commercially available "NuJazz" loop compilation.
Nobody questioned their artistry. Nobody canceled them. The song was celebrated worldwide.
Building a track from pre-made, static loops requires far less original composition than my current workflow. I don't use ready-made puzzles. I write the actual musical DNA. I develop the chord progressions, the structure, and the melodies from scratch. When I pass my highly detailed sketch to the AI to flesh out the final sound, I am providing the soul of the track.
If assembling a hit song from downloaded loops isn't considered "cheating", then neither is using AI to perform a melody I personally wrote. Both are tools. The difference is that my tool allows me to build a custom house from the ground up, rather than assembling a prefabricated one from a catalog.
Ultimately, my goal has always been to provide high-quality music for your projects. Whether a track was meticulously crafted over weeks in a traditional studio or brought to life with the help of modern AI tools, the final result is what truly matters. It is all about the emotion, the rhythm, and the atmosphere a track brings to your content.
I invest my time, my heart, and my own funds to provide a reliable, high-quality resource for creators. If my use of AI to bring my musical ideas to life still bothers someone, that is perfectly fine. The internet is vast, and nobody is forced to use my catalog.
But for everyone else who simply wants great, hassle-free music for their videos and projects without worrying about budget: welcome, and enjoy the tracks.
Since 2024, AI has become part of my toolbox. It's now a colorful mix: I use AI to create my music. In fact, if AI weren't an option, I likely would have stopped making music entirely by now.
I know that sounds like a contradiction to some. People often assume that AI and creativity are completely incompatible. But let me explain it like this:
Think of an architect who designs a stunning house. They meticulously plan every detail, from the structural layout down to the interior design. But that same architect doesn't want to spend months standing in the rain or sweltering heat, laying bricks one by one. They could do the manual labor, but why should they when there are construction crews built for that exact job? The architect hands over the blueprints, the crew builds it, and the architect gets to spend their time doing what they actually love: designing.
That's exactly my relationship with music. I am the architect.
I thrive on creating the vision and the blueprint for a track, but the tedious process of traditional music production has never been the fun part for me. I love being the songwriter and the visionary; I just don't want to lay the bricks.
So, I use my keyboard, Cubase, or FL Studio – along with my own creativity – to develop fully fleshed-out song ideas. I map out all the details and even feed the AI a short audio sample of my concept. Then, I step back and let the AI act as my construction company, taking my exact blueprints and finally building the house.
The Illusion of "Traditional" Production
Let's talk about the elephant in the room: What does "producing" even mean today?For decades, the music industry has relied heavily on pre-made sample packs and loops. A producer might buy a vocal loop from sites like Loopmasters, drop it onto a drum loop they didn't play, and release it as their own track. That process has become completely normalized. Take the massive hit song "Sonnentanz" by Klangkarussell as a perfect example. It stayed at number one in the charts for months and went platinum, yet the core elements were essentially dragged and dropped straight from a commercially available "NuJazz" loop compilation.
Nobody questioned their artistry. Nobody canceled them. The song was celebrated worldwide.
Building a track from pre-made, static loops requires far less original composition than my current workflow. I don't use ready-made puzzles. I write the actual musical DNA. I develop the chord progressions, the structure, and the melodies from scratch. When I pass my highly detailed sketch to the AI to flesh out the final sound, I am providing the soul of the track.
If assembling a hit song from downloaded loops isn't considered "cheating", then neither is using AI to perform a melody I personally wrote. Both are tools. The difference is that my tool allows me to build a custom house from the ground up, rather than assembling a prefabricated one from a catalog.
Ultimately, my goal has always been to provide high-quality music for your projects. Whether a track was meticulously crafted over weeks in a traditional studio or brought to life with the help of modern AI tools, the final result is what truly matters. It is all about the emotion, the rhythm, and the atmosphere a track brings to your content.
The Bottom Line: A Passion Project
Let me add one final thought about the reality of this platform. This entire music library is a pure passion project. I offer all these tracks completely for free. I pay for the website hosting and server costs out of my own pocket. I do not even ask for money. Instead, I encourage anyone who wants to support my work to donate to a charity.I invest my time, my heart, and my own funds to provide a reliable, high-quality resource for creators. If my use of AI to bring my musical ideas to life still bothers someone, that is perfectly fine. The internet is vast, and nobody is forced to use my catalog.
But for everyone else who simply wants great, hassle-free music for their videos and projects without worrying about budget: welcome, and enjoy the tracks.
You're a programmer – do you also use A.I. for the website?
Of course! Since I've specialized in this professionally, this is my playground. It's just a lot of fun to build these technologies yourself instead of buying them in.
In the past, audio analysis ran through external service providers; today my own code handles it "in-house". My A.I. now handles almost everything fully automatically:
The similarity search is also based on A.I.: I calculate vectors for each song and compare them in high-dimensional space (taking genres into account) to suggest the perfect next track.
When programming itself (and often in music too), A.I. is my constant co-pilot. It makes me effectively 10 to 20 times faster. Honestly: I don't know any developer who doesn't use it today – it would be wasted lifetime not to. :)
In the past, audio analysis ran through external service providers; today my own code handles it "in-house". My A.I. now handles almost everything fully automatically:
- Analysis: It breaks down the music technically into its components.
- Texts: Introduction texts and detailed descriptions are generated.
- Organization: Topics, genres, and moods are automatically recognized.
- Highlights: It finds the most exciting moments in the song for the previews.
- Language: All translations on this site come from the machine.
The similarity search is also based on A.I.: I calculate vectors for each song and compare them in high-dimensional space (taking genres into account) to suggest the perfect next track.
When programming itself (and often in music too), A.I. is my constant co-pilot. It makes me effectively 10 to 20 times faster. Honestly: I don't know any developer who doesn't use it today – it would be wasted lifetime not to. :)
Is there a daily download limit per user?
Yes, there is a limit that depending on server load ranges between 20–30 downloads (daily) per user. If you exceed this daily limit, the wait time for each download will be increased to 5–10 minutes for you. It makes no difference whether you're logged in with an account or just a guest – these rules apply to everyone. Yes, that's a lot – but typically nobody needs more than that number of songs in a single day.
With these measures we ensure that all visitors can use the website equally and fairly, and that the server can handle it too.
Tip: Create a user account and use the favorites feature to bookmark your favorite songs for later.
With these measures we ensure that all visitors can use the website equally and fairly, and that the server can handle it too.
Tip: Create a user account and use the favorites feature to bookmark your favorite songs for later.
Why are you no longer on Spotify and other music streaming services?
I hate Spotify – for many reasons – and no longer have a private subscription there. I no longer want to support this rip-off music industry in general, so I've removed all my music from everywhere. Besides, it's all completely free here anyway.
Are you a member of GEMA or any other collecting society? Can you confirm that in writing?
Short answer: No – I'm not a member of any collecting society. Not GEMA, not GVL, nor any other organization on this planet.
However, I unfortunately don't issue individual written confirmations for each request – that would quickly blow up my hobby status (see also the section about support). The notice is clearly visible in the website footer, and the license (CC BY 4.0) already proves that you can use the music completely freely. You really don't need any more proof – promised.
However, I unfortunately don't issue individual written confirmations for each request – that would quickly blow up my hobby status (see also the section about support). The notice is clearly visible in the website footer, and the license (CC BY 4.0) already proves that you can use the music completely freely. You really don't need any more proof – promised.
Can I also use the music for events, telephone hold lines and the like?
Yes, of course. The Creative Commons license (CC BY 4.0) covers all of that – events, telephone hold lines, background music in restaurants, podcasts, commercials, indie games, YouTube, TikTok, your flatshare cleaning-rota video... you get the idea.
Honestly, I don't want to start a complete list of every conceivable use case here – it would be longer than a phone book and nobody would read it to the end anyway. Just take a quick look at the license, everything important is in there. Rule of thumb: if it's not expressly forbidden there, you're allowed to do it.
Honestly, I don't want to start a complete list of every conceivable use case here – it would be longer than a phone book and nobody would read it to the end anyway. Just take a quick look at the license, everything important is in there. Rule of thumb: if it's not expressly forbidden there, you're allowed to do it.
Can you personally confirm in writing that I may use the music for my project?
Same answer again, sorry: No – and it really isn't meant in a bad way. This website already contains all the information you need: the license, the note about my hobby status, and the fact that I'm not a member of any collecting society. From a purely practical standpoint, it simply isn't feasible to issue an individual, personally signed confirmation to each of the roughly 10,000 daily visitors – and honestly, I don't want to either. My only reward for this entire project is joy, not paperwork.
The good news: you don't need that personal confirmation at all. The CC BY 4.0 license is an internationally recognized, fully valid legal contract – it is your written confirmation.
The good news: you don't need that personal confirmation at all. The CC BY 4.0 license is an internationally recognized, fully valid legal contract – it is your written confirmation.
Can I upload my own music as an artist? / I'd like to apply for upload permission
Thank you, really – I'm genuinely flattered that you'd want to share your work here. But the answer is a clear and final No.
There's a reason this website carries my last name: it's my personal portfolio, my hobby, my little corner of the internet – not a platform or a marketplace for other artists. From 2019 to 2023 I did open it up to guest musicians, and that experiment ended badly: guest uploads triggered YouTube Content ID strikes against my users, who suddenly got copyright claims on music they were promised was free. That broke the trust people had placed in me (you can read the whole story under "The story behind this website", especially the dark year 2023).
In January 2024 I removed every guest artist and made a promise to myself and to you: never again. To protect my users, everything on this site is, and will remain, exclusively my own compositions. There are no exceptions, no application process, and no "but my case is different" – sorry. I won't reply individually to upload requests either; please consider this FAQ entry the answer.
If you make great music: that's wonderful, keep going! Just somewhere else. 🙂
There's a reason this website carries my last name: it's my personal portfolio, my hobby, my little corner of the internet – not a platform or a marketplace for other artists. From 2019 to 2023 I did open it up to guest musicians, and that experiment ended badly: guest uploads triggered YouTube Content ID strikes against my users, who suddenly got copyright claims on music they were promised was free. That broke the trust people had placed in me (you can read the whole story under "The story behind this website", especially the dark year 2023).
In January 2024 I removed every guest artist and made a promise to myself and to you: never again. To protect my users, everything on this site is, and will remain, exclusively my own compositions. There are no exceptions, no application process, and no "but my case is different" – sorry. I won't reply individually to upload requests either; please consider this FAQ entry the answer.
If you make great music: that's wonderful, keep going! Just somewhere else. 🙂
How do I delete my account?
Easily, and anytime, all by yourself – you don't need to ask me. Here's how:
What happens: Your account is deleted immediately and permanently – including your profile, email address, favorites and playlists. Your forum posts are kept (so the discussions don't fall apart) but anonymized, and can no longer be traced back to you. This action cannot be undone.
And if you do nothing at all: that's fine too. Any account that isn't logged into for 3 months disappears automatically (see "User accounts, privacy").
- Log in to your account.
- Open your settings.
- Scroll all the way down to the red-bordered "Delete account" section.
- Confirm the deletion (accounts with a password enter their current password for safety; for a quick-code account the checkbox is enough) and click "Permanently delete account".
What happens: Your account is deleted immediately and permanently – including your profile, email address, favorites and playlists. Your forum posts are kept (so the discussions don't fall apart) but anonymized, and can no longer be traced back to you. This action cannot be undone.
And if you do nothing at all: that's fine too. Any account that isn't logged into for 3 months disappears automatically (see "User accounts, privacy").
