How to download soundtracks (free and paid)

I think if you’ve given the topic even a little thought, you’ll agree there are soundtracks that aren’t just simple accompaniment, but are half the film or half the video game.

There are plenty of examples; in films I could quickly mention The Last of the Mohicans, TRON: Legacy, The Greatest Showman, The Jungle Book or 1492: Conquest of Paradise, each with a completely different style.

If we’re talking games, few soundtracks are as legendary as those from Final Fantasy (especially VI’s soundtrack and X’s). Or, in a completely different register, any game from the Wipeout series.

The problem is that we’ve got used to thinking that if something is on Spotify, YouTube or Apple Music, then we already “have it”. But that’s not exactly how it works.

What you have on a streaming platform is access:

• As long as the licence remains active.
• As long as the album remains available in your country.
• As long as the app works.
• And, in some cases, as long as you keep paying the subscription.

As long as all that is true, you’ll be able to listen to the album. But that doesn’t mean you have the files.

That’s why, if you really like these soundtracks, downloading them to your PC is the best thing you can do, so you can keep them, listen offline, use them on your own devices and not always depend on a platform keeping that record in its catalogue.

Why download soundtracks

Aside from listening to them for pure pleasure, in my case I find them ideal as background music while I’m doing something else:

• Reading a book.
• Working in front of the PC.
• Going for a walk.
• Playing around the house with the kid.

I listen to a lot of music, but I’m spending more and more time on soundtracks, although curiously in the car I usually prefer other styles.

Incoherent as I am.

Downloading doesn’t always mean the same thing

Here it’s worth separating three routes.

Option 1: downloading inside a streaming app

Spotify Premium lets you download albums, playlists and podcasts for offline listening, although those files remain tied to the app and the subscription.  

Spotify also states that you need to connect at least once every 30 days to keep those downloads active.

YouTube Music Premium also lets you download music for offline listening, but the same thing applies: you aren’t buying independent files, you’re enabling offline playback inside its ecosystem.

Option 2: buying a digital soundtrack and downloading the files

There you can have an MP3, FLAC or another format saved on your computer, mobile, NAS or player. 

This is what stores such as Amazon Music or iTunes Storeoffer, depending on the album and the country.  

Apple, for example, still supports buying and downloading music through iTunes Store/Apple Music on compatible systems, and Amazon even sends you a digital album with the purchase of certain vinyl records.

If you’re looking for more specific soundtracks, here’s how I’d do it:

For video game soundtracks, search in this order:

1. Steam.
2. GOG.
3. The game’s official website.
4. The composer’s website. 

Steam lets you manage soundtracks independently from the game, and in some cases you can buy or download them without having the full title installed.

For independent, experimental or less mainstream composers’ soundtracks, Bandcamp is usually one of the best options. After buying, you can download from the purchase link, from your purchases page or from your collection.  

Another less well-known one is Qobuz and it’s interesting because it lets you buy albums and download them in different qualities, sometimes including FLAC (top quality with compression).  

Option 3: downloading soundtracks for free

Here you should know that, except for very clear exceptions (download from a lawful source or private copy), in general, in Spain it is illegal to download protected soundtracks.

If you still want to continue, below I’ll tell you the three best ways. That said, I’d at least tell you to use a VPN that protects your privacy.

I told you the first and easiest way in this article:

How to download music from Spotify.

The second way is to search for the soundtrack on YouTube and do what I explained here:

How to download long playlists on YouTube.

The third option is to go to this website, select the one you prefer and download it:

https://download-soundtracks.com

Although it is slower than the previous options, its library has a deeper catalogue.

So, is it worth downloading soundtracks?

For me, definitely.

I prefer to have those soundtracks I listen to every day while sitting at the PC stored on my hard drives rather than depend on third-party services reaching agreements with artists.

Without needing the internet, whether to avoid using WiFi bandwidth or for when you travel, because there are always stretches with less coverage.

Also when you’re looking for higher quality.

Of course, streaming is extremely convenient for background music, but it’s not the same: streaming only gives you access, while downloading gives you control.