• 05/12/2012 - ArtistServer Version 2 on the Horizon
• 05/31/2009 - 18 More Social Sites Added to SocialNetwork.in
• 05/25/2009 - Run Your Own Remix or Music Project at ArtistServer.com
• 05/22/2009 - AudioBoo.fm and YouNoodle.com Added to SocialNetwork.in
• 05/06/2009 - mp3tunes.com - no option to close your account
• 03/17/2009 - How to run a Remix Project
• 09/28/2008 - My Lovely Wife Lou is Pregnant
• 12/14/2007 - ArtistServer News and a new site: FreeMusicLicensing.com
• 09/18/2007 - AritstServer and ToneThis Serve Up Indie Ringtones
• 09/11/2007 - Running LightTPD and PHP on Windows

It has been quite a long time since I’ve made a blog post. A lot has happened since my last post – mostly, I’ve been working, spending time with my wife and son, taking care of our yard, and occasionally working on music.

Since early February, I've been working most nights on the next version of ArtistServer.com - which will be a 100% rewrite.  Some features will be removed, others added, and many will be updated.  I've been grafting on features and updates while modifying other areas to improve performance for 10 years now, so the best thing to do is toss the old code out as a learning experience, and start again.

Here's a review of what has been going on so far with Version 2 of ArtistServer.com:

• Planning Final Set of Features - my first task was sketching out a list of features I wanted to keep or remove, problems I wanted to fix, and goals I wanted to meet. I then browsed competitor sites, as well as other music sites, and took notes that further shaped the set of featuresReconsidering Platform - if you've been doing something the same way for a long time, it is good to ask yourself if it still makes sense to do it.  I code in ColdFusion, and have been since 1997, when the only other option was CGI scripts in PERL.  I looked into switching, which would require learning while developing.  I looked at PHP and Ruby as the Ruby On Rails framework. While both languages are much more popular, and have their own pluses and minuses - as well as larger developer communities, I decided to stick with what I know, and get better at it.  I'm going to be 43 this year, I have a wife and a three year old son that I love spending time with, so the idea of putting even more time into the relaunch didn't make sense.
• Evaluating application frameworks - taking advantage of object oriented programming and the features available within frameworks.  ArtistServer 1.0 is for the most part a 'procedural' Web application.  While I have applied some object oriented design principals, the overall design is not.  Some features we'll gain: multiple language support, improved performance through caching and optimized code, and a separation of the interface from the data/logic.  This last point will better enable me to support a desktop site, smartphone site, and tablet site all from the same code base just by loading a different interface.  I'm considering using the Mach-II framework for the sites, and the Taffy framework for the new API, which will also power portions of the site.
• Interface Design - I've designed new version of every page of the new site except for the MyAccount area, the dashboard, and a few other pages. This allows me to better visualize the finished product and experiment with ideas without investing time into development.
• Site Object and Layout Planning - with the interface designs mentioned above, I've now been going over them, taking notes and planning out all the site objects and layouts necessary to generate and populate these interfaces.  This will then be used to drive development and serve as a checklist while building out the application.

What Happens Next?

With the above all worked out, I’ll have a full understanding of what the new site will look like, how it will function, as well as what generates it.  I anticipate this will greatly accelerate development due to consolidating most of the decision making into the planning stages. I'll then start building next month, June 2012.

I hope all is well with you - more posts to come.

ArtistServer provides a music project management system to assist you in creating and managing four types of music projects, including:

• Remix: A remix project is where you have an original piece of media/music, and you want others to use it to make something new. You'll need to provide samples and loops, etc. from your song, even the midi file if you have one. For tips, visit the forums and ask.
• New Song Project: With a 'new song project,' you start with a collection of samples and sounds, or a midi file, or even a concept, whatever works for you. Next, add some rules if you like, then finally, setup if the project has an end date. Be creative!
• Cover Me: The 'Cover Me' project, is a request for people to do a recreation of your song, known as a cover version. Post any rules and prizes you have, launch it, and promote the contest. Artists can sign up, and post their version of your song. Once the contest is over, you'll pick the winner and grant any prizes you establish. This project is for cover versions, not remixes or mashups.
• Theme Song Contest: A theme song contest is a great way to promote your brand or business. Post any rules or suggestions, launch it, and promote the contest. Artists can sign up, post their version of your theme song. Once the contest is over, you'll pick the winner and grant any prizes you establish.

Visit the Music Projects section on ArtistServer: http://www.artistserver.com/projects/

The music project management system is a simple set of forms that creates a site for your music project where you can control the following:

• Project Site design - add a header, and set the color scheme
• Start and End dates - plan for a project in the future, and or set it to close by a specified date.
• Project Terms - define the limitations and rules for your project
• Sign up Management - you can set your project so everyone who signs up is automatically accepted, or require approval before starting.
• Winner selection - if your project is a contest, you can also select multiple winners, which will be displayed on your music project site.
• Project Files - while we do not host the sample packs or raw files use in your music project, we do provide a means to link to external URLs and only provide these links to those who are members of your project and have been approved.
  

In order to participate, people simply need to join ArtistServer. We offer 'Freeware' accounts which allow up to 5 songs to be hosted on the site. In addition, we offer an upgrade account which allows up to 300 songs to be hosted.

All artists on ArtistServer can create a music project. Freeware accounts are limited to 5, whereas those with upgraded accounts can create as many as they wish.

All submissions by participants will not only display on the music project's site, but also on the participants own music site on ArtistServer, in addition to the charts and genre sections on the site. We also display an icon with each submission that links back to the music project.

Each music project will have it's own Web URL in addition to a 'short URL,' which is helpful when posting to services like Twitter or in emails.

ArtistServer does not charge a fee for your music project, we only limit you to creating music projects for music you own the rights to. We do not allow illegal remixed material and encourage artists to avoid sampling music protected by copyrights.

More info here: http://www.artistserver.com/projects/

Tips on how to run a remix project here: http://www.gideonmarken.com/index.cfm/blog/2143/How_to_run_a_Remix_Project

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Remix - A remix is an alternative version of a song, different from the original version. A remixer uses audio mixing to compose an alternate master recording of a song, adding or subtracting elements, or simply changing the equalization, dynamics, pitch, tempo, playing time, or almost any other aspect of the various musical components. Some remixes involve substantial changes to the arrangement of a recorded work, but many are subtle, such as creating a "vocal up" version of an album cut that emphasizes the lead singer's voice. A song may be remixed to give a song that was not popular a second chance at radio and club play, or to alter a song to suit a specific music genre or radio format. Remixes should not be confused with edits, which usually involve shortening a final stereo master for marketing purposes.

• A sample is generally a wav file, it can be stereo or mono, it depends on the sound within the sample.
• A sample that that is a few measures or less, and can loop around from the end to the begining, is called a loop.
• A sample that that is a measure or less, that doesn't loop, and is meant to play though, is called a one-shot.
• A sample of drums that can loop, is a drum loop.
• A loop of guitar would be be a guitar loop, etc.
• A longer sample, could be called a phrase.
• A long recording, for example, the lead guitar channel of a song, while not really a sample, would be called a channel mixdown.
• A channel mixdown of vocals, would be an a'capella.

• Remix artists should be provided with eiter wav files, or high quality mp3 files.
• When creating your loop, make sure there isn't a 'pop' at the loop point. If there is, zoom in and adjust the position of the loop point.
• If you use virtual instruments in your song, render down a wav of this channel.
• Single drum hits, bass parts, and some percussion sounds are usually in Mono.
• If you are in a band and have stereo channel mixes of each part, you can render down 16bit 44100 stereo mixes of each channel and zip them up. If you do not provide premade loops and samples, you may have fewer completed submissions.
• If you know the BPM of the song, include that info to help others get started.
• If you used material in your song that has a copyright, you'll need to secure rights to redistribute the material, or leave it out.
• Multiple sample packs are ok - just be descriptive in the title.

• www.GetDropbox.net (best choice)
• www.Box.net(best choice)
• www.mediafire.com
• www.FileFront.com
• www.FileFactory.com
• www.RapidShare.com
• www.MegaUpload.com

• The Name of the site - example: Site Name
• The full URL to the site - example: www.sitename.com
• A link to a user/member URL on the site - example: http://www.sitename.com/ProfileName

You do have the option of adding profiles and links to other people's profiles as "private" links, although these links will only be available to you on the SocialNetwork.in site.

Why do you want all your profiles linked together?

This helps people connect to you, when they see that you are on some other site, the site visitor may click on the profile link and visit you there. If they are on that site too, they may add a link to you or add you as a friend.  With this tool, you'll greatly increase your cross-site networking and begin driving more traffic around to all your profiles. Start thinking about your 'core' profile, and not about having dozens of identities scattered around the Web - this tool helps make this happen, not only here, but any site that selects to adopt the SocialNetwork.in API.

Why signup at SocialNetowork.in?

Because the services it offers can be 'plugged in' and used at any Web site, which would allow you to benefit from greater levels of integration with the sites you use.

For example, lets say you are a member of SocialNetwork.in, and you are a member of Flickr.com - then you go out and join some new social/travel site that uses SocialNetwork.in's API to connect to our data and your profiles. By adding your SocialNetwork.in profile name to your account on the new site, they can now locate your photos and display them on your new profile without you having to reupload or import them in.

What is an API?

An API is an acronym for "Application Programming Interface." API's are VERY cool because they allow developers to connect to different sites and services and utilize the data and information in their own applications. You may have heard of the term "Mashup" being used on the Web - this relates to the process of connecting to at least one API and blending your own data with the data being offered by the API.  For example, all the various maps you see on the Web which display various types of data or photos or icons, etc are usually "Map Mashups" that use either Google or Yahoo Maps API.

Enjoy!

Oh... BTW... ArtistServer and IndieMobile now have 250 free Mp3/Realtone Ringtones available for download. All ringtones are provided by the artists at ArtistServer.com