Galaxy wrote:You can also create a Dropbox account and link to your mp3s there. That is if you want ppl to download them.
Hi there, my issues with 3rd party hosting are:
- They might require sign up, potentially decimating the number of views and inconveniencing any specifically intended recipient
- The hosting site might send malware via sponsored ads and popups / popunders
- The added embarrassment of not actually being 100% sure whether you're unintentionally sending a link that could result in opportunistic malware being sent by the hosting site - as the uploader, you're asking people to take a chance on you
Btw l use picosong.com - so far it's been a good site. Allows uploading mp3s or wavs without signup. Ad-free streaming. However, Firefox blocks a popup when you try to download the upload. Even then you can avoid the popup and right click to proceed with download.
Still though, in-line hosting for <10Mb files on this site would be better. Soundcloud is ideal for hosting within a forum thread ... but in case there's a multitude who like me don't do Soundcloud, inline hosting would be nice.
Why not Soundcloud? Well, they limit
engagement with the artist*, inasmuch as the artist reduces his profile to one of a herd, just as the listener is one of a herd. Too disociative for me. And then there's the Like count playing tyrant over me. Notice how nothing in this list of grievances has touched on my music and its attendant mysteries. It all becomes very meta. I'm daunted with the prospect of being stillborn on Soundcloud - it'll be over before it even begins, and the more effort l put in, the more l enshrine the status quo of my grievances (yep, l hear some damn fine music on Soundcloud. Sadly, songs come n go, links disappear, the artist gives no context to the song, unlike if he had his own site or if it was on a CD with cardboard insert). Not to mention the invasion of privacy, all part of the sheep branding process. What could possibly go wrong with trusting a third party?
I'd prefer a more equitable platform, at least in my fledgeling state. But this is off-topic, l'm talking about presenting songs on a forum, not about striking out as an artist, though there is some overlap.
* "WOW! I like this part, really creative" "Thanks that was my SDGDFG3 VSTi RE JS plugin" doesn't count as interaction to me. It's superficial, and l've lost count how many times l've read that on a song and you go to that time cursor and there's nothing to speak of. It's banal. /RANT