Reston, Va.-based stock video startup VideoBlocks launched a free new app on Monday that lets anyone add music to their pictures and videos. Just Add Audio basically lets you add soundtracks to your movies and slideshows without having to deal with copyrighted material. Even if that's not your concern it would at least add variety beyond Time of Your Life by Green Day to farewell events. The app, which is limited to iOS right now, is the second major launch of the year for VideoBlocks, which launched AudioBlocks back in July, and which is providing the music for the new app.
"Photos and videos are powerful mediums, but they’re even better when you add quality music," said Joel Holland, CEO of VideoBlocks. "Until now, it’s been difficult to get your hands on free, legal music to use without restriction for the creation of engaging content on your mobile device. We’ve made this process drop dead simple by providing instant access to over 1200 free professional-grade tracks. So whether you’ve got videos from a weekend wedding, or photos from an overseas trip, it takes less than 30 seconds to turn them into powerful digital stories and share with friends."
In simple terms, VideoBlocks is pitching the app as a way to class up your slideshows and videos for free. You don't have to be a music expert either, you can search for songs by mood and style, which can be compared to searching for music on Songza according to VideoBlocks chief marketing officer TJ Leonard. There are eight moods to look through and a lot of suggestions for tone in the collection a user makes.
Once the collection is complete it can be emailed or posted on a range of social media, although interestingly, not Snapchat or Instagram or Vine. That was actually a deliberate choice.
"As far as the social networks we selected... the primary driver was simply the popularity of the networks," Leonard said. "One technical limitation came with Instagram, which limits the length of videos you can upload. We decided we preferred not to limit the stories our customers created at the start, and so left Instagram off for launch."
That probably won't stop the app from succeeding or not. In fact, the music aspect of VideoBlocks is an area of the business is "surpassing expectations" according to Leonard. The app"creates a bridge to everyday people," he said.
That's part of why the app, which Leonard said will always be free, is being looked at as a way to expand the reach and engagement of VideoBlocks, then drawing users to the premium subscriptions. Those cost money, but if customers like the free services, they could then want to get more options and join the 100,000 plus paying customers that VideoBlocks already has. That would make the Just Add Audio app a real success.
