In this post I wanted to mention 4 web sites that have features that are of interest to the SpokenWeb project. The sites are SoundCloud, Indaba, Delicious, and Dance in Video.
1. SoundCloud (http://soundcloud.com)
The short story
“SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform which allows musicians to collaborate, promote and distribute their music” (Butcher). Personally, I’m really impressed with this site. It’s a great way to discover new music and musicians, and an easy and fun way to share your own music. Plus they offer some really innovative features (e.g. waveform display, timed comments, ability to record online).
Relation to SpokenWeb
Here are a list of features that SoundCloud offers that are interesting from the perspective of the SpokenWeb project.
- Statistics (#playbacks, #downloads, listener’s geographic location, identify where audiotracks are posted, linked, or embedded)
- Batch upload of tracks into SoundCloud from desktop (with pre-determined tags, metadata, etc.) http://soundcloud.com/apps/scup
- WordPress integration
- Control over distribution (can optionally allow sharing i.e. on other sites, downloading, embedding),
- Private messaging system – User’s in SC can discuss music etc.
- Private internal file sharing system (with Drop Box for external use)
- Timed commenting (need to login into SoundCloud to post a comment) – or could use commenting built into WordPress (not timed comments though)
- Mobile access
- Facebook style news feed
- Group discussion
- Bookmarking (i.e. favourites)
- Discovery features (e.g. news feed, tags, etc.)
- Support for a variety of file formats
- Playlist creation (i.e. sets)
- Advanced: integration with other software e.g., FiRe is an application that lets you record with the iPhone (e.g. a poetry reading) and upload directly to SoundCloud to be published on your site
- Permanent links
2. Indaba (http://www.indabamusic.com)
The short story
Indaba is a site that allows you to create music online, using their web-based digital audio workstation (DAW). “It allows you to collaborate with other musicians through online sessions” (Indaba help). While other DAW software (ProTools, Logic, Ableton, Audacity, Garageband, etc.) have been around for a long time, Indaba is the first web-based DAW that I know of. This is great – it gives musicians and sound artists the chance to collaborate without having to be in the same physical space, or in front of the same computer. It hits on 2 core elements of the Web 2.0 philosophy: decentralization and active participation.
Relation to SpokenWeb
Here are a list of features that Indaba offers that are interesting from the perspective of the SpokenWeb project.
- EQ tracks (i.e. bring out, lower, or eliminate certain frequencies during playback)
- Combine multiple tracks (mix) e.g. add music, sound art, or effects behind a poetry reading
- Edit tracks and add effects
- Currently, can’t control speed of playback – but this is a feature common to DAW’s and I expect it to show up in Indaba soon. It could be very useful for spoken word material.
3. Delicious (http://www.delicious.com/)
The short story
“Delicious is a social bookmarking service that allows you to tag, save, manage and share Web pages all in one place. With emphasis on the power of the community, Delicious greatly improves how people discover, remember and share on the Internet” (Delicious help).
Relation to SpokenWeb
Here are a list of features that Delicious offers that are interesting from the perspective of the SpokenWeb project.
- Bookmark web sites, pages, web-based media content (e.g. UbuWeb)
- Keep bookmarks private or public (i.e. in order to promote discovery of the site or items contained within the site)
- Keep research notes (using “Notes” field) which can be exported into an HTML file at any time
4. Dance in Video (http://daiv.alexanderstreet.com/)
The short story
“Dance in Video will contain 250 dance productions and documentaries by the most influential performers and companies of the 20th century. Selections cover ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, experimental, and improvisational dance, as well as forerunners of the forms and the pioneers of modern concert dance.” (About).
Relation to SpokenWeb
Here are a list of features that Dance in Video offers that are interesting from the perspective of the SpokenWeb project.
- Use the web-based video editor to make clips of tracks. This is similar to Indaba in that it is one of the first instances of a web-based video editor that I’m aware of. It’s a very simple one (i.e. it only allows you to make clips), but I’m willing to bet that these kinds of features will continue to improve.
- Save them for personal or institutional use, and link to them