SoundCloud - music pro service + invites

henrikb · Post by **henrikb** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:16 am

Hello Abletoners!

I'm currently working on a web-based service for music professionals (you!) called SoundCloud. Not sure if you heard about us since we have been running the site secretly over the last couple of months but it's already used by artists like Funk D'Void, Milton Jackson & Sebo K.

SoundCloud is an online audio platform that makes it much easier for music professionals to send and receive tracks. Instead of having to use things like YouSendIt, FTP or email we wanted to create something that makes it much easier to use the web for working with music in a smoother and faster way. There's quite a few features that make it a great tool for artists to send out private pre-mixes, for labels & studios to receive demos & in-progress tracks, and also for people involved with promoting tracks through their private promo lists. We also have some kick-ass widgets for your myspace, blog or facebook page, here is an example: http://forss.to/

A brief tour of our site can be found at: http://soundcloud.com/tour

The site is invite only but i created some invites for you guys in the forum:
http://soundcloud.com/guestlist/ableton

Check out the site and some of the great artists:

http://soundcloud.com/miltonjackson
http://soundcloud.com/funkdvoid

See you in the cloud //Henrik

j2j · Post by **j2j** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:30 am

actually, not too bad an idea...

You can totally have problems sending tracks through email, and the other file share sites do suck...

So, how does this work? Is this a payware service? is it add supported? are there monthly limits?

HOW secure are the files? Can they get stolen? Linked too?

that sort of thing...

cheers

henrikb · Post by **henrikb** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:49 am

You can totally have problems sending tracks through email, and the other file share sites do suck...

We agree, the service is actually born out of frustration from using Yousendit, FTP and other non-usable ways to send music.

So, how does this work? Is this a payware service? is it add supported? are there monthly limits?

At the moment we are closed and available through invitation only and therefore the whole service is free. Unlimited uploads, all formats etc. However, this will change when we open the site to the public. We will then introduce the concept of PRO-accounts that can be bought for a small fee per year. I can't really tell you more about it right now but we will be very clear around what it means before we implement it.

HOW secure are the files? Can they get stolen? Linked too?

Well, it depends. If you share your tracks privately to a limited number of people (which is easily done) you have total control over who has access and who has not. If you share them publicly you of course have less control. You can also choose whether to enable plays from outside SC through widgets, facebook player and mashups. Then, since it's web-based, it's always possible to steal tracks. It's a fact on all music services online. Although we look upon that issue as very important and are taking all actions we can to prevent it, it's basically a trade-off between risk and spreading your music.

Hope this answers your questions. Feel free to ask more and give any kind of feedback.

Cheers
Henrik

frahnque · Post by **frahnque** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:57 am

Excellent stuff! I'm going to take a really close look at this, I've been looking for something similar for years.

frahnque · Post by **frahnque** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 10:58 am

Dbl post, but I gotta say I LOVE the way the commenting system works!

j2j · Post by **j2j** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:06 am

I've signed up.

I think to have a file sharing service, just for musicians, where you can upload various things, you haven't posted to your personal website, or haven't released yet, is a good idea......

Keep us posted with info about the development and all of that....

and you might want to have " tier " pricing... For example, a big label with twenty producers is going to have a lot more use, than a guy working in a crowd of 2's, 3's or 4's....

cheerss

henrikb · Post by **henrikb** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:11 am

j2j wrote:I've signed up.

Great!

j2j wrote: Keep us posted with info about the development and all of that....

Definitely. Also keep an eye on our blog for new releases and more: http://blog.soundcloud.com

j2j wrote: and you might want to have " tier " pricing... For example, a big label with twenty producers is going to have a lot more use, than a guy working in a crowd of 2's, 3's or 4's....

Exactly, there is going to be accounts for labels and other "bigger" players aswell!

frahnque · Post by **frahnque** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:13 am

I'm signed up too, already seeing some of my musician friends are on here!

Dr. Zoiberg · Post by **Dr. Zoiberg** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:30 am

Soundcloud is great, I've been using it for my netlabel.

I have a few invites left, just PM me

boraxx · Post by **boraxx** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:32 am

by god, this is well made! kudos

jesQuick · Post by **jesQuick** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 11:43 am

Signed up too... Looks really promising...

Thanks for the invite.

Best,

-j

3dot... · Post by **3dot...** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 12:03 pm

nice idea...
plus
looks and responds very nice...

heavensdaw · Post by **heavensdaw** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 1:29 pm

Thanks.. Great idea!

+1 on the look and feel, ace....

Best

Hd

signal · Post by **signal** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:08 pm

Looks good. Will try it out, thanks. Might I suggest that you reconsider the typography you use for your headings? Looks cool, but I've given up trying to read it. Life's too short.

manimal · Post by **manimal** » Thu Jul 24, 2008 4:16 pm

I have been using this for a month or so now, lots of great tracks comin from these guys, u got the compost records lot,ripperton,funk d'void and the subliminal kid,its also introduced me to lots of amazin artists i never heard!
loads of blogs have accounts and dropboxs setup
seems to be a really good idea, and a very positive community so far!!
Im signed up as bob swans if anyone wants to give me a shout??