Glossary
AT Protocol (ATProto)
Section titled “AT Protocol (ATProto)”An open, decentralized protocol for social networking. It’s the technology behind Bluesky and FreeMix. The key idea: your identity and data belong to you, not a platform.
Attribution Chain
Section titled “Attribution Chain”The linked history of how a piece of music has been remixed over time. When you remix a track, FreeMix records the connection. If someone remixes your remix, that connection is added too. The result is a chain showing the full creative lineage.
BPM (Beats Per Minute)
Section titled “BPM (Beats Per Minute)”The tempo of a track. FreeMix auto-detects BPM during upload, but you can override it.
Derivative Work
Section titled “Derivative Work”Any new piece of music created using material from an existing FreeMix track. Remixes, edits, mashups, and compositions using samples are all derivative works.
DID (Decentralized Identifier)
Section titled “DID (Decentralized Identifier)”A unique, permanent identifier for your account in AT Protocol. Unlike a handle (which you can change), your DID never changes. It’s the technical backbone that makes account portability possible.
A modification of a track that preserves the original composition’s structure and intent. Extended intros, instrumentals, and re-edits are examples. Contrast with a remix, which creates something substantially new. See: FM:DJ.
Handle
Section titled “Handle”Your username on AT Protocol. It looks like a domain: yourname.bsky.social or yourname.freemix.fm. You can change it, and you can even use your own custom domain.
The musical key of a track (e.g., C minor, F# major). FreeMix auto-detects key during upload.
Lexicon
Section titled “Lexicon”A schema definition in AT Protocol. Think of it as a blueprint for a type of data. FreeMix uses custom lexicons to define what track records, stem records, and license grants look like in the protocol.
License Tier
Section titled “License Tier”One of the six FreeMix license types: FM:Open, FM:Remix, FM:NC, FM:Stems, FM:DJ, FM:Samples. Each tier defines what others can do with your music.
A repeating musical phrase, typically 2–30 seconds. Drum loops, bass lines, chord progressions. One of the three FM:Samples categories.
Modifier
Section titled “Modifier”An additional condition added to a license tier (Credit, Mix, Royalty, ShareAlike, NoAI). Modifiers add requirements or restrictions on top of the base tier. See: Modifiers.
One-Shot
Section titled “One-Shot”A single audio hit with no rhythmic or melodic content over time. Kick drums, claps, synth stabs, and similar sounds. Typically under 2 seconds. One of the three FM:Samples categories.
PDS (Personal Data Server)
Section titled “PDS (Personal Data Server)”Where your AT Protocol data lives. Bluesky runs PDS servers for most users. FreeMix runs one at pds.freemix.fm. You can even run your own.
A substantially new arrangement or composition created from an existing work. The remixer’s creative vision is the defining characteristic. Contrast with an edit, which preserves the original’s intent.
Remix Tree
Section titled “Remix Tree”A visual representation of how a track has been remixed over time. The original track is the root, direct remixes branch out from it, and remixes-of-remixes branch further. Every connection is tracked through attribution records.
Royalty Cascade
Section titled “Royalty Cascade”The system by which royalty percentages flow through a remix chain. If Track A sets a 10% royalty and Remix B (of Track A) is sold, Track A’s creator receives 10% of the sale. The halving rule applies in deep chains to prevent royalties from exceeding 100%. See: Royalty modifier.
Sample
Section titled “Sample”A short piece of audio used as a building block in new productions. One-shots, loops, and snippets are all types of samples. See: FM:Samples.
ShareAlike
Section titled “ShareAlike”A license modifier that requires derivative works to carry the same or more restrictive FreeMix license. Inspired by Creative Commons ShareAlike, adapted for FreeMix’s tier system. See: Modifiers.
Snippet
Section titled “Snippet”A longer musical excerpt, typically 10–60 seconds. Vocal phrases, atmospheric textures, melodic passages. One of the three FM:Samples categories.
A single isolated element of a music production — the drums, the bass, the vocals, the synth lead. Stems are the building blocks that make up a full track.
Stem Type
Section titled “Stem Type”A label describing what kind of element a stem is (kick, bass, vocals, synth lead, etc.). FreeMix auto-detects stem types from filenames during upload.