Anyone who is familiar with the Banjo Hangout & the Fiddle Hangout sites, will know that members there can actually download MP3s of their own playing, onto their own members page, where other members can access them.

They also have a wonderful "Jukebox" there, which you can visit & listen to a stream of members MP3s, as you browse the site, forums etc.

So I'm wondering if these options have ever been considered for this site?

Would it actually be possible to add these functions to this site?

If so, would members here like the opportunity of being able to download MP3s of their own playing for other members to check out and would you also enjoy being able to listen to the playing of other members here?

Can you imagine how this might liven up discussions here?

Wouldn't it be great to be able to post an MP3 to back up what you were discussing?

Those Midi Files that we have here are OK in an academic sort of way, I suppose, but you have to admit, there's no pleasure in listening to them, is there?

Cheers
Dick

Sounds as if you're not aware of the Recorded Tune Links Page.

It may not be as slick; it's not officially part of this site; and you can't post your own recordings, but have to rely on Henk to do that. But otherwise it sounds similar to what you're proposing. It certainly contains mp3's by many of us members, not just midi files from the Tune-O-Tron.

Now if you were proposing a pay-to-play system, some us might be willing to risk "exposing" our talents to see what others think of our playing as they "vote with their pocketbooks".

P.S. When I tried the jukebox at Banjo Hangout, I selected "Newest 100", and the first tune was "Nancy". I wonder what Tom Clough would think of that rendition of the tune he wrote for his wife.

Hey Dick

I agree that having a on-site dump for member's mp3s would be fun but I think supporting maintenance and copyright-policing of such a feature is a lot to expect from a couple of concertina-crazed guys involved in the part-time operation of a fee-free site.

It is fun have a post with an mp3 to explain a point during a discussion. Each of us has about 4MBs of uploading capability and some of us have upload soundfiles for that purpose already. I uploaded a snippet trying to aid a member in comparing the scale range of a 30-button C/G to that of his smallpipes and I was using 56kbps dial-up at that. After the point was made I removed it to have room for posting photos later. Another member posted some files demonstrating rhythmic techniques on an anglo. Those are just a couple of recent examples.

I'd like to see members posting such files more often, ephemeral as those file would be due to storage capacity limitations, because they could make some discussions more dynamic and relevant---even helpful.

We wouldn't want to risk crashing the site from a long queue at the refund desk, would we, Jim?

Ah Ha ~ thanks Jim.

Yes that "Recorded Tune Links Page" is exactly what I was thinking of.

Yes, I see that's loaded with useful & varied examples, that folks could be directed to, during a discussion, if a point needed to be made.

Problem solved!

Cheers,
Dick

You've nailed one consideration for us; policing would be impractical but such an feature would open us up to copyright liability issues. The recording industry (at least in the U.S.) has been aggressive about that. The second consideration is that storage space on servers does cost money. We have managed to keep up with the growing use here by sticking to text and limited upload space. Much thanks goes to our loyal sponsors - do let them know you appreciate their forking over real money to support C.net.

The tune links page was our solution: dispersed or off-board storage, with pointers. Individuals can get server space pretty cheap, easier than we can provide it free to everyone. Hope that works well enough for y'all, squeeze on!

Ken

Hi Guys

Dick Miles mentioned in a post a little while ago this site: http://www.soundlantern.com/Index.do

It looks like an audio hosting site for MP3 files similar to YouTube for videos. Might be worthwhile to use it to create a link, and not take up a limited 4Meg storage space here. Looking through the "Recorded Links Tune Page" looks like most are links to other sites. I don't believe they're all hosted there.

Thanks
Leo

Thanks for the link Leo.

I've just joined up & posted a set of Concertina Reels over there.

The Witch of Glentow / The Black Nun

This "Sound Lantern" site may mean that Henk can now save his valuable space for the most deserving & relevent members MP3s, which are related to our own site here.

Cheers
Dick

Leo

You can check the RTLP and please believe what you see. Most of the files shown in the RTLP are hosted on websites of the "player". It's the charm of internet (linking to..). To give you an idea, have a look at this special page. All links in the "listen to" column that are shown in bold and green are hosted by me (on my website). The main reason for hosting on my site is the fact that the player had not the faintest idea how to upload the soundfile(s) to a website in order to give them an URL.

Henk

Awesome playing.
Hmm.
Now I want Anglo and I want to play like you.
But wait, didn't you use a fair amount of reverb in the recordings?
I especially liked that wonderful round accordion sound of yuor instrument (just kidding )

Glad you liked it.

Well, you can't have mine!

No, I was actually sitting in a cardboard box, in the middle of a forest, when I recorded that track, so it was all perfectly natural .... honest!

But seriously, if you are interested, I actually have a few more Concertina tracks posted on that page now, for your perusal.

Sound Lantern ~ Ptarmigan

By the way, are there any tracks of your own playing, perhaps over on Henk's excellent Recorded Tunes Link Page, that I can check out?

Cheers,
Dick

Of course, if you don't like 'Sound Lantern', you could always check out ezFolk.

ezFolk ~ Ptarmigan

They have a nice Player option there, which means that once you find an artist whose music you want to listen to, you just start up their player & then you can listen to all their music in a stream, while you go & do something else. Very handy.

Cheers
Dick

All round good playing Dick, love the hammered dulcimer playing too. You may even get me into playing mine, with that thought in mind I've applied to join the forum. Before too long I'll be living on forums!

Thanks.

N.B. I've just pushed through your registration, over on the Dulcimer Forum, so I hope to see you over there too, before too long.

Cheers
Dick

[color="#0000ff"][/color]



There are, but good is only one. But it's been a long time ago, so I wouldn't advertise now.
I put together some tracks here and there, and offer them mostly for critique.
I'm way behind you in the ease and predictability or smooth sailing.
But I'm working on some program, mostly classical pieces.
Patience.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrgggg






[Ptarmigan wants me to delete this post...but he's already made it clear he made a mistake, and in a humorous way. Do I have to?

Ken Coles]

I don't think it's possible on this board, just edit the duplicate and post a witty quip about how crap you are with computers 'n' stuff. Gets 'em every time.

You mean like that?

I'm a little sneakier; I've used the report button, and ask our moderators to cover up my ineptitude, and they delete it quietly. I thought i was the only one to do that.

Thanks
Leo

If I could blame the drink myself, Leo, I would ..... except I don't drink!

Thanks for the tip though, I've tried that.

Cheers
Dick

I've yet to read over this whole entire thread, but I've read the first and a few other posts. Anyway, first of all...

It IS possible to upload an MP3 file with a post. You must scroll down after typing your message (before actually posting it) and see the 'Choose File' section, upload, etc.. Of course, there's a limit to the total amount of uploaded things, per person, and there's also no easy way to 'tag' or reference the upload. Anyway -- maybe that's all very obvious, but I just thought I'd mention it.

Personally, I like using box.net, though to get the level one-up from 'free' does cost something, and it's WAY more space than I need, all by myself. But, it is convenient. You can post links to your MP3s, either directly or to the web address. (I'm not totally sure about hidden/embedded sound files (that don't show the player), using box.net.)

As for the MIDI files in the Tune-O-Tron, well, they at least serve their purpose, and I've had some fun with at least two of my own by converting them to MP3s and editing them this way and that. I can't remember if I used Audacity and edited them as MP3s, or if I opened the MIDIs with Noteworthy Composer and edited them there... I think I used Noteworthy, first.

But, here's a funny story, regarding concertina players and MP3s...

I posted recently about the site my daughter does some work for, and where I have my own page. Well, it seems that we concertina players are in a class all our own, which is, thus far, labeled 'experimental.'

I wrote some songs, and I play them with the concertina and I sing my own lyrics. I'm a girl, so... category is 'singer-songwriter/female,' right? Wrong. I'm supposed to put my stuff under 'experimental,' because, well... you know... it's got concertina!!! I'd thought 'experimental' was reserved for the accordion players -- they'd try them there and see if the site stayed in business, heheh.

Well, anyway, some of my stuff, I do consider experimental, because of something strange with the musical composition. So, I guess I don't mind the distinction (though, presently, I still have some things in the 'singer-songwriter' category).

But, maybe Henk's page is the place to be, for concertina players!