FAQ

It is difficult to answer this kind of question.

But as of 2023, I can say that this is a site where you can listen to and download songs I have written. For more information, see About This Site.

“nerve” and “雑音空間” each have separate origins.

In the beginning, this site was called “The Space for Sundry Matters”. It meant something like “The Junkyard”. But no one remembered the name correctly.

So I decided to give it a catchy Japanese name, and decided to read “Sundry Matters” as referring to “miscellaneous music”, “雑多な音楽” in Japanese.
The literal translation “The space for miscellaneous music” (“雑多な音楽のための空間” in Japanese) was then abbreviated to “雑音空間”.

One day in 1999, I suddenly had an idea and changed the name of the site to “nerve” without prior notice. However, many visitors said that this name made no sense and that I should change it back, so I resurrected the original site name with brackets and “nerve(雑音空間)” became the official name.

I don’t remember exactly where nerve came from, but it is probably one of the following.

• Acronyms of Noise Environment (which) Recalls Vivid Enchantment
• I was given part of the title of master musician Brian Eno’s album Nerve Net, as I was a big fan of his ambient furniture music at the time.

The contact e-mail address for this site is not publicly available. Please use the Contact mail form to contact us or ask questions.

For many years, I made the k2works.com email address public for contact purposes, making our email address available to anyone on the Internet. As a result, I continue to receive hundreds to thousands of SPAM emails every day. The sheer volume of junk mail made it very difficult for me to notice incoming mail, even when I received mail that required a response. So I decided to stop making the email addresses available to the public.

Depending on the content of your request in the mail form, you will receive an email reply from a private email address with one of the following domains: k2.works, nerve-noise.space, or gmail.com.

If you don’t mind communicating in public, the quickest way to get in touch with us is through our Twitter account: @nerve_k2works

We welcome you to link to our site, but we do not accept reciprocal links on request.

Our policy is to limit the number of links to music related sites and sites of old acquaintances.

We often get a lot of “Hi! I have linked to your site! Please link to us from your site!” messages. We are sorry, but most of them are not accepted.

There is no need to contact us before or after the creation or removal of a link to this site.

Note: You may link to any page on the site, with the exception of direct links to the music data files (MIDI, MP3, Ogg and M4A) listed on the site. This is because repeated downloads of these files increase the costs we pay for our servers and networks, and make it more difficult to keep the site up and running.

If you are viewing this site on an older PC, Mac, or smartphone, or if you have not updated your browser in a long time, this site may not display properly.

Please contact us using the Contact Form with as much detail as possible about the environment and pages you were viewing.

No cover songs have been listed since February 13, 2001.

We used to post MIDI files of arranged classical masterpieces by Erik Satie and others, but with the relaunch of this site on February 13, 2001, nerve(雑音空間) had rebranded itself a site for original music only.

At that time, I set up a website called “Crimson Lunar Eclipse” and moved the MIDI files of classical and traditional music arrangements there. However, we were unable to add any cover songs to the site, and “Crimson Lunar Eclipse” was closed on February 13, 2011.

Until 2022, the lyrics were posted on a separate page.

After the 2023 renewal, they have been moved to the detail page of each song. For songs that have lyrics, the lyrics are framed near the bottom of the page.

As of February 13, 2023, there are no English lyrics for any of the songs, so the lyrics only appear on some of the Japanese pages of the music articles.

Some of the music files distributed on this site are in formats that cannot be played properly on many browsers for computers and smartphones released after 2012.

Songs released from 1997 to 2002 were originally released in MIDI format. This format was designed to distribute “scores only” rather than “audio waveforms themselves”, and its ability to express music in a smaller file size than the audio itself suited the Internet situation at the time.

In the past, MIDI-compatible software synthesizers were included as part of the operating system or as browser plug-ins, and it was possible to play MIDI-formatted music with them. However, Windows 8 and later and Mac OS 10.6 and later no longer allow playback of MIDI files in browsers by default. The same applies to newer iOS and Android smartphones and tablets.

Although we have not been able to fully verify this, you may be able to play music in MIDI format using the method described on the Browser Support – MIDI Sequence File Playback page.

We are proceeding with the re-recording of files distributed only in MIDI format in MP3 format, starting with those that have been highly requested. Please send us your requests using the Old Songs Re-recording Request Form.

As of 2023, the site does not have any specific functionality for streaming. Streaming from this site’s servers is expensive, and it is difficult to provide this service for free.

There may be some applications which can play the file on the network, but we ask that you download the song data from this site first, and then play it in your local environment.

If there are many requests for streaming playback, we will consider offering it in a subscription format from various vendors.

Yes, it can be used as background music or sound effects for any content game/scenario.

In most cases, there is no charge for this service.

There are almost no restrictions on “personal” and “non-commercial” use, but we do require credit for other use cases. Please check the latest Terms of Use before using before using the music files distributed on this site.

Depending on your cases or your situation, you may change the audio format, cut portions of the audio, adjust the volume, mix sound effects, or make other edits.

If any of the following conditions apply to you, we may charge you a fee. Please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

1. You are an individual or company commissioned by a client to create a game software scenario for a fee, and you wish to use the songs distributed on this site as part of that work.
   • Use in game software for consumer game consoles and arcade games falls into this category.
2. If a game soundtrack collection is sold for a fee as a separate product from the game itself.

Yes.

Whether the recording media is CD-ROM, DVD, Blu-ray, download, or other format, this does not change the conditions under which the music was originally used.

After all, if the music is used as background music for a game, it is only natural that some of the music will be redistributed along with the game. It is only the game that is included in the bundle, and the songs distributed on this site just happen to be part of that work.

However, if you are talking about releasing media containing only the soundtrack separately from the game, please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

Yes, you can.

The Terms of Use for the songs distributed on this site do not restrict the content that may be used in combination with the songs.

You may use the songs distributed on this site for any kind of sites, games, videos, etc., including pornographic and grotesque material (R-18). We make no distinction between the use of our music in combination with such so-called adult content and any other use.

Yes, it can be used as background music or sound effects for any content game/scenario.

In most cases, there is no charge for this service.

There are almost no restrictions on “personal” and “non-commercial” use, but we do require credit for other use cases. Please check the latest Terms of Use before using before using the music files distributed on this site.

Depending on your cases or your situation, you may change the audio format, cut portions of the audio, adjust the volume, mix sound effects, or make other edits.

If any of the following conditions apply to you, we may charge you a fee. Please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

1. You are an individual or a corporation that is contracted by a client to create a game software scenario for a fee, and you wish to use the music distributed on this site as part of that work.
2. You are selling a collection of game soundtracks, including music distributed on this site, for a fee as a separate product from the game itself.

Yes, you can use it as background music for any video or video with any content.

In most cases, this service is free of charge. As long as you make it yourself, there is no charge, even if it is sold for a fee on DVD or in downloadable format.

Some types of use may have conditions, such as credit requirements. Please check the latest Terms of Use before using our services.

Special attention should be paid to the use as background music in promotional activities for any product or service, such as TV commercials or video commercials distributed on video sites, may be subject to a fee. Please be sure to contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

Depending on your cases or your situation, you may change the audio format, cut portions of the audio, adjust the volume, mix sound effects, or make other edits.

If any of the following conditions apply to you, we may charge you a fee. Please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

1. If you are a company or corporation and it is not possible to credit this site, nerve(雑音空間), in the video or its accompanying information.
2. If the video or image is created for commercial purposes and it is impossible to credit this site on the video or image.
3. If you use the songs distributed on this site as background music for the promotion of some products or services, such as TV commercials, video commercials distributed on video sites, etc. (because even if there is a credit on our site, it will hardly be recognized).
4. You, as an individual or corporation, are hired by a client to produce videos, images, programs, and commercials for a fee and you wish to use the songs distributed on this site as part of the product of that work.

Yes, it can be used as background music for any content, live Internet broadcast or radio.

In most cases, there is no charge.

There are almost no restrictions on “personal” and “non-commercial” use. However, we do require credit for use cases on business. Please check the latest Terms of Use before using the music files distributed on this site.

Depending on your cases or your situation, you may change the audio format, cut portions of the audio, adjust the volume, mix sound effects, or make other edits.

If any of the following conditions apply to you, we may charge you a fee. Please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

1. If you are a company or corporation and it is not possible to credit our site in the video or its accompanying information.
2. If you are distributing live Internet broadcasting, video distribution or radio broadcasting for commercial purposes and it is impossible to credit this site, nerve(雑音空間), in the video comments, images or your website.
3. If you use the songs distributed on this site as background music for the promotion of some products or services, such as video commercials distributed during live broadcasts (because even if there is a credit on our site, it will hardly be recognized).
4. You, as an individual or corporation, are hired by a client to create a live broadcast, program or commercial for a fee and you wish to use the songs distributed on this site as part of the product of that work.

No, it is neither.

Under Japanese law as of 2023, authors cannot relinquish their copyrights and put them into the common property of society (authors cannot put them into the public domain).

In other words, even if a music distribution site operating in Japan declares that its product is “copyright free”, it is still in a state of “the author owns the copyright, but it can be used free of charge under certain conditions”.

Therefore, the songs that are distributed on this site are neither “copyright free” nor “in the public domain”.

Please see the Terms of Use for details.

Yes, you can use it. However, as of 2023, it is not common to play background music on websites other than videos, and we do not recommend this use.

In most cases, there is no charge for this service.

There are almost no restrictions on “personal” and “non-commercial” use, but we do require credit for other use cases. Please check the latest Terms of Use before using before using the music files distributed on this site.

Depending on your cases or your situation, you may change the audio format, cut portions of the audio, adjust the volume, mix sound effects, or make other edits.

For website use, we may only charge a fee if the following conditions apply to you. If so, please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

1. You are an individual or company contracted to create a website for a client for a fee, and you use the songs distributed on this site as part of your deliverables.

Yes, you can.

This service is also available for sites that are private to the general public, such as members-only sites, sites that are only available within a specific geographic area, sites on a corporate network, sites with private search-protected URLs, and any other sites that are not open to the general public, regardless of the method used to make them private.

If you have any concerns, we recommend that you contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

Although permitted under our Terms of Use, we do not recommend it for other reasons.

• The songs distributed on this site in MIDI format were suitable for attaching as background music because the files were small. However, as of 2017, there is little software that can play them as background music in email attachments.
• Files in MP3, Ogg and M4A formats are large and undesirable to send as email attachments. In some environments, they are physically prohibited from being sent due to size restrictions.

Yes, it can be used as background music for any theatrical or stage performance of any content.

In most cases, there is no charge.

There are almost no restrictions on “personal” and “non-commercial” use. There are also no restrictions on use for “school or educational activities” as described below, as well as “personal” and “non-commercial” use.

• Drama and musical club activities of elementary, junior high, and high schools, as well as their outside performances and competitions.
• Performances and competitions by student theater troupes at universities, etc.
• Kindergarten and nursery school performances by children, and piano performances by teachers.

However, we do require credit for use cases on business. Please check the latest Terms of Use before using the music files distributed on this site.

Depending on your cases or your situation, you may change the audio format, cut portions of the audio, adjust the volume, mix sound effects, or make other edits.

If any of the following conditions apply to you, we may charge you a fee. Please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

1. If you are a corporation or individual whose business is to hold events and who earns revenue from ticket sales, and if you use the songs distributed on this site as background music for a theatrical or stage performance you are hosting, and it is impossible to credit this site on your brochure, printed materials, or official website

素材利用規約 – 禁止事項をご覧ください

See “Terms of Use – Prohibitions“.

As of February 2023, it cannot be applied to any Creative Commons license.

One reason it cannot be applied is that all Creative Commons licenses except CC0 always require “attribution”, but I do not require attribution for personal, non-commercial use.

If we had to choose a license that most closely matches our terms of use, it would be the Creative Commons license CC BY 4.0. What this site requires of individuals for non-commercial use is a condition that removes the “attribution” requirement of CC BY 4.0 and instead prohibits the standalone redistribution of unmodified songs distributed on this site.

This answer is subject to change due to changing circumstances. Please check back for the latest information.

No, there is no need to do this at all.

The copyrights to the music distributed on nerve(雑音空間) are not held in trust by any copyright management organization.

The music files may be used free of charge under the conditions specified in the Terms of Use previously established and published by the author, Koji KUSANAGI.

In this matter, if the business rules of a public organization or company require a written statement “guaranteeing that the copyright is not held in trust” signed by the copyright holder Koji KUSANAGI himself, it may be issued on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

Generally, documents will be issued in PDF format using our prescribed form. In cases where electronic signatures (electronic seals) in accordance with Japan’s Electronic Bookkeeping Act, or documents in a proprietary format, or paper-based seals or mailings are required, we may charge for the administrative procedures based on individual quotes.

Yes.

If the business rules of a public organization or company you belong to require a document stating “Permission for Free Use” signed by Koji KUSANAGI on this site or by Koji KUSANAGI personally, we can issue such a document on a case-by-case basis.

Please contact us in advance using the Usage Consultation Form.

Generally, documents will be issued in PDF format using our prescribed form. In cases where electronic signatures (electronic seals) in accordance with Japan’s Electronic Bookkeeping Act, or documents in a proprietary format, or paper-based seals or mailings are required, we may charge for the administrative procedures based on individual quotes.