adventures in free hosting

[wrench45us]

2 weekends ago I uploaded to download.com. after several trials at getting my wav files converted to 192 bitrate mp3s, I finally used musicmatch and the files were accepted. That was last Tuesday and as of today, my status there is still pending activation


so this weekend I uploaded to soundclick.com. again there were issues
-- you have to sign up to be a member, before you can setup a 'band'. part of that process is receiving an activation code from soundclick.com via e-mail. Unfortunately my isp filters messages from soundclick.com due to spam concerns -- a little overzealous eh? Soundclick suggested sending my isp a request to open up. My isp suggested requesting that the vendor setup negotiations with them. Obviously this avenue leads nowhere.

-- the workaround is to set up an e-mail account on yahoo or hotmail. my suggestion would be to do this first. then all the soundclick and 'band' related messages go to that address. and by doing it first you won't run into things like that name is already taken, etc. etc.

--again i converted all my wav files using musicmatch to 128 for soundclick. this is just one simple facility of musicmatch from the File menu | convert -- one slider for bitrate. musicmatch is really meant for downloading and organizing your downloaded music from the internet in playlists, etc. it wants access to the internet when it's up and running. i suspect, but i'm not absolutely sure that musicmatch (or somebody else: ???) set up a 'hothits' spyware on my system. time and time recently my system has stalled out in loading or renewing, I'd check processes and iexplorer would have most of the cpu when I wasn't running iexplorer. i ran a free spyware blocker and the chief offender was named 'hothits'. i removed all spyware and my system runs smoothly again.
this is one good argument for keeping your music system away from internet system. normally when music making I'll have my ASIO PCMCIA in the slot, but with all this uplaoding I've been running with the wireless card in the slot and running off the direct sound drivers.
anyway two things to be aware of

otherwise -- my impression is soundclick is the way to go for free, templated music hosting. once everything was registered, the 'band administration' is really well thought out. the free service has no limit on number of songs (largest file is limited to 10 mB), they must be 128 bitrate only for lo-fi streaming. there's a per month fee-based upgrade path for higher bitrate streaming (up to 320 kBs and 30 mB per song limit) and opening a propmotion and CD sales management.
sounclick claims activation in a day. we'll see since I'm still waiting on download.com and they promised 2-3 days.

so hopefully soon, I'll be able to announce some of my tunes are online.

[Zoing]

I have been looking for places too, I might put some songs on soundclick, but I ended up making a page at Audioshot, which is a free/cheap hosting place, really worth looking into. I have a free account currently, 50mb size limit, 500mb traffic per month (I think). You have to do your own page though, but thats good if you want to do something a bit individual, and its not a music community thing, so you'd have to direct traffic there somehow.

here's audioshot

http://audioshot.com/index.php

and speaking of directing traffic, here's my site there which I have just finished tonight!

http://thedairygiant.audioshot.net

Speaking of making mp3's, iTunes (from apple.com) is really good, free download for mac and pc, I made good quality mp3s and also low quality mono mp3s that stream pretty well over a dial up connection, lots of variables in that one and no spyware I would think...

[glurgle]

another vote for audioshot here. If you are at all interested in creating your own pages I'd recommend checking it out.

btw zoing, I find the signature link to be most stylish :P

edit - in addition, I'm really digging your songs, (and fancy site! the mouse-overs are really slick, back to w3 school for me ;)

[Zoing]

Thanks Glurgle!

I have access to GoLive (to make the website) from work, so I used that, I couldn't code my way out of a paper bag, but with GoLive and a trusty manual at my side it wasn't toooo hard.

I tried to listen to your songs, but I'm on a pretty slow dial up at home, so I'll check 'em out at work tomorrow!!

I better get my page in my actual signature, now that I have a page...

[Stupid American Pig]

pure volume is ok, but very limited unless you pay..

[waveriderarts]

Have you tried Acid Planet? It doesnt lead to sales, but the board is fun to use.

[püRe]

I'm a fan of Electromancer...
http://www.electromancer.com/