Terms of use

§ 1 Scope and parties

These terms apply to the macOS application musaik (“app”), including its modules (Mashup, Edit and DJ mix mode), updates and documentation.

The app was developed by Mathias Fiedler – Maui Media ART. All rights in the app belong to the rights holder. Pondstack Software distributes the app on behalf of the rights holder and is responsible exclusively for distribution, license management and customer contact.

By downloading, installing or using the app, the user agrees to these terms.

§ 2 Description of the service

musaik is a macOS application for editing, combining and rearranging music files. It analyses audio files and lets the user create mashups, reworked single tracks (edits) and DJ mixes and export them as audio files. Features include in particular:

• separation of a track into drums, bass, music and vocals (stem separation), locally on the user's device
• automatic analysis of tempo, beat grid, key, chords and song structure
• three project types: mashup, track edit and DJ mix
• time-stretching and pitch-shifting to match tempo and key
• instrument tracks for the user's audio plug-ins, piano roll, harmony assist, arpeggiator and phrases
• mixer with EQ, filters, FX buses, ducking, automation and master processing
• sampler tracks and a palette for loops and your own snippets
• import from rekordbox and Serato and optional write-back to the rekordbox collection
• optional AI suggestions via a service chosen by the user (see § 7)
• export as WAV or MP3

Music is processed locally on the user's device. Audio data is not transferred to the distributor, the rights holder or third parties. Features may be changed, extended or reduced through updates.

§ 3 Purchase and contracting party

The app and its modules are purchased through the checkout on musaik.info. The seller is FastSpring (Bright Market, LLC dba FastSpring, Bright Market LLC dba FastSpring Limited and/or FastSpring B.V., 801 Garden St. #201, Santa Barbara, CA 93101, USA), acting as authorised reseller and merchant of record. Which of these companies becomes the contracting party depends on the payment method and is shown in the checkout before you pay. FastSpring's terms apply to the purchase in addition.

After purchase, the user receives a license key by email. The app is offered as a one-time purchase (no subscription) unless expressly stated otherwise.

§ 4 Copyright and license

The app is protected by copyright as a computer program (§§ 69a et seq. German Copyright Act). All rights not expressly granted remain with the rights holder.

With the purchase, the user receives from the rights holder – via the distributor – a simple, non-transferable, perpetual right to use the app in the purchased major version and within the purchased modules on their own devices. Future major versions may be chargeable.

A license can be activated on up to three devices at the same time. Devices no longer in use can be released in the app.

Upgrading to Ultimate. Anyone who has bought a single mode can upgrade to Ultimate within four weeks of that purchase. The amount paid for the single mode is credited in full; only the difference is payable. Upgrading requires that exactly one mode was bought; from the second separately bought mode onwards it is no longer possible. On upgrading, the previous license key is replaced and ceases to be valid – the new key covers the previous mode as well. The previous key is only replaced after the new one has been issued. If the upgrade is withdrawn or refunded, the previous state is restored: the Ultimate key ceases to be valid and the previously bought key is reactivated.

For activation and renewal, the app needs an internet connection at least once every 90 days; in between it works fully offline. If renewal fails, the app remains usable; export and paid modules become available again after the next successful renewal. Renewal is a technical check, not an expiry date and not a subscription.

The user may not

• copy or distribute the app or license keys or make them available to third parties,
• decompile or disassemble the app or otherwise derive its source code, unless mandatory law (§ 69e German Copyright Act) permits this,
• circumvent, remove or disable the license protection,
• modify, rent or lease the app or create derivative works from it,
• remove copyright notices, protective notices or other markings.

License keys that are passed on or made public may be blocked.

§ 5 Trial and pre-release versions

The free trial includes all features except export and is limited to 14 days per device from first activation. To enforce this, the trial start per device is recorded by a license service (see the privacy policy). After the 14 days the app is locked without a valid license; projects already created remain on the device and can be used again once a license is activated. There is no right to an extension or repetition; circumventing the limit is prohibited.

Pre-release (beta) versions are provided for testing and may be incomplete, faulty or unstable. Use is at your own risk. Feedback is welcome via the contact form at musaik.info/kontakt.

§ 6 Music rights – the user's responsibility

This is a key provision of these terms. musaik is a tool. Apart from demo tracks and sample packs expressly marked as such with their own license notes, the app does not provide any music, recordings or compositions. All other audio material comes from the user.

6.1 Ownership of rights. The user alone is responsible for holding the necessary rights in the audio files they process – in the recordings as well as in the underlying compositions and lyrics.

6.2 Adaptation. Splitting into stems, changing tempo and pitch, rearranging and combining several works into a mashup or mix are generally adaptations of protected works under German copyright law. As a rule they may only be published or exploited with the consent of the respective rights holders.

6.3 Private use. Private use permitted by law (§ 53 German Copyright Act) remains unaffected.

6.4 Publication and commercial use. Any further use – in particular publication, upload to platforms, streaming, public performance in clubs, at events or on radio, and any commercial exploitation – requires the user to obtain the necessary rights and licenses beforehand (e.g. from labels, publishers, artists and collecting societies such as GEMA and GVL).

6.5 No rights in music. Neither the rights holder nor the distributor grants any rights in third-party music through the app.

6.6 Indemnity. The user indemnifies the rights holder and the distributor against third-party claims arising from unlawful use of third-party content in or with the app, including reasonable legal defence costs.

6.7 The user's results. Projects created and audio files exported with the app are the user's results. Neither the rights holder nor the distributor claims any rights in them; third-party rights in the content used remain unaffected.

§ 7 AI feature (optional)

At the user's request, the app can generate suggestions (e.g. melodies, chord progressions, arrangement hints) using an AI model. The feature is off by default. The user decides whether to use a local model on their computer or an external service (e.g. OpenAI, Anthropic, Google, OpenRouter) with their own access. External services are subject to their own terms and prices; the contract exists directly between the user and the service.

AI results are suggestions. No warranty is given as to their suitability, originality or legal usability; the user checks them before any publication.

§ 8 Third-party software, plug-ins and DJ databases

The app can load audio plug-ins (VST3/AU) installed by the user. These are neither provided nor tested; the user is responsible for licensing them. No liability is accepted for malfunctions or damage caused by third-party plug-ins.

At the user's request, the app can read from – and, after explicit confirmation, write to – local rekordbox and Serato databases. Before writing, the app creates a backup copy. The user should also make their own backups.

§ 9 Backups

The user must make appropriate backups of their music files, projects and DJ databases before using the app and before updates.

§ 10 Updates

Updates are provided where technically and economically reasonable. There is no right to specific updates or new features unless required by law. Support for older macOS versions may be discontinued. The app can check for new versions; this can be switched off in the settings.

§ 11 Warranty and technical limits

11.1 The statutory warranty rights for digital products apply.

11.2 Automatic analysis. The analysis of tempo, beat grid, key, chords, harmonies, song structure and vocals as well as stem separation are based on machine methods and provide estimates. They usually work reliably but may be off in individual cases – for example with tempo or meter changes, key changes, ambiguous harmonies, unusual tunings, live recordings or very dense material.

11.3 Tempo and key matching. Descriptions such as “always on beat”, “always in key” or that the app automatically syncs and harmonically adapts tracks describe how the app works and what it aims for. They do not guarantee that every result is perfectly in sync, tonally fitting or musically successful. Matching is based on the analysis under 11.2; its deviations affect the result. Time-stretching and pitch-shifting may produce audible artefacts depending on the material and the amount of change.

11.4 Harmony assist. Harmonizer, chord bar, arpeggiator and phrases align played or generated notes with the detected key and chords. Whether a note “fits” cannot always be determined unambiguously in musical terms; tension notes, style and taste play a role. The harmony assist may therefore set notes that do not sound as intended in individual cases – especially if the key or chords were not detected correctly.

11.5 Musical results. Whether a mashup, edit or mix works musically depends on the source material and personal taste and cannot be determined objectively. Automatically created arrangements, transitions and edits are suggestions.

11.6 Checking and correcting. The app provides tools to check analysis and results and correct them by hand (including segment correction, grid tool, key and chord adjustment, rule sets). The user checks results before publishing them.

11.7 The user’s statutory rights, in particular for defects in the app itself, remain unaffected.

§ 12 Liability

Liability is unlimited for intent and gross negligence, under the Product Liability Act and for injury to life, body or health. For slight negligence, liability exists only for breach of an essential contractual obligation and is limited to the foreseeable damage typical for the contract. Otherwise liability is excluded, in particular for data loss due to missing backups, for infringements caused by content processed or published by the user, for third-party plug-ins and for incompatibilities with future macOS versions.

These liability rules apply equally in favour of the rights holder and the distributor.

§ 13 Termination

If the user seriously breaches these terms, in particular § 4, the license may be blocked; the user must then delete all copies of the app. The statutory right of withdrawal remains unaffected, see right of withdrawal.

§ 14 Changes

These terms may be adapted in the event of significant changes to the app or the law. The current version is available at musaik.info/agb.

§ 15 Governing law and jurisdiction

The law of the Federal Republic of Germany applies, excluding the UN Convention on Contracts for the International Sale of Goods. Mandatory consumer protection provisions of the country of the user's habitual residence remain unaffected. Place of jurisdiction for merchants and legal entities under public law is Hamburg, Germany, to the extent permitted by law.

§ 16 Severability

Should individual provisions be or become invalid, the validity of the remaining provisions remains unaffected.