Soundcloud.com open for business- great for online track sharing

[fastonkeys]

Soundcloud.com is a great online track sharing service definitely worth a look... I participated as a beta tester, but am in no way affiliated with the company. Just posted an update & video of the service description on my blog for further info.

The first question that comes to mind is what's the benefit above and beyond email and/or FTP (especially since the pro options can appear expensive at first glance)? In my opinion, this is vastly superior approach; it's faster and more secure, but mostly it's the collaboration tools that won me over.

[Jam]

I've been using it for a while now and I'd also suggest everyone checks it out.

James

[xist]

Cool service, we've also talked about Soundcloud a couple of days ago...

[matucha]

So far I really like it. Hopefully it becomes totally free in a time, because the pricing vs. restriction scheme seems a bit steep on the $. I'd prefer 100% free app with some ads.

here's my bit:
zka4t - Tracks - SoundCloud

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by matucha

So far I really like it. Hopefully it becomes totally free in a time, because the pricing vs. restriction scheme seems a bit steep on the $. I'd prefer 100% free app with some ads.

Respectfully, I disagree!

I think this is a cool-looking site whose design elegance is a major part of the appeal. I just learned about Soundcloud, but it feels like the people behind it have a tremendous sense of style. Ads would gum up this presentation and make it less aesthetically appealing.

I'm looking forward to joining! What a cool company!

- c

[cl516]

I joined also - it just feels like this site is going to work well. I love the wave form and the timed comments idea, and I do actually find myself logging on just to listen to people's tracks.

[Recording David]

This is a wicked service. I've made a page and uploaded a cheeky track:

David Shoukry - Tracks - SoundCloud

[Agzilla]

This is good...thanx

I made a free page to start with...

Agzilla - Tracks - SoundCloud




Zz.

[Silver Sonya]

First of all: how fantastic is that name? Soundcloud. Phonetically and conceptually perfect!

Nomenclature is important!

Microsoft has an infinite budget and they came up with Zune. Boo. Project dies a quick and deserving death...

- c

[Silver Sonya]

This blog post has got me wondering how many people from the GS world have adopted this service.

I'm hoping it continues to catch on and become a standard, eventually. I'm also hoping that it's in a state of constant refinement.

- c

[Recording David]

I bit the bullet and bought a sub - I like the service a lot.

[Silver Sonya]

I'm really liking these people. I have been using this as a way for clients to get me songs for mastering. I find that the Soundcloud dropbox is elegant and so simple that even my computer/web-phobic clients get it.

And they're upgrading the service all the time, hard at work. Making suggestions gets an immediate response from The Powers That Be and usually whatever grievance you have is addressed very quickly.

I recommend anyone reading this opens up an account. I use Pro Light --- it suits my usage patterns --- but there are two options above that. And they have free options as well.

Cool people. Support 'em.

I want these guys to stick around and I want the service to become a standard/default.

- c

[reid]

I'm I the only one to get a bit twitchy, reading the Soundcloud Terms Of Use? The two paragraphs below seem to imply that anything you send through their service becomes for all intents and purposes, public domain.

Someone please put me right if I'm missing something important here!

Grant of License:

USER hereby grants SOUNDCLOUD and its successors and assigns a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download and/or otherwise make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services.

USER also grants each and every other registered user of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download USER's content and/or otherwise to make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services as set forth herein.

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by reid

I'm I the only one to get a bit twitchy, reading the Soundcloud Terms Of Use? The two paragraphs below seem to imply that anything you send through their service becomes for all intents and purposes, public domain.

Someone please put me right if I'm missing something important here!

Grant of License:

USER hereby grants SOUNDCLOUD and its successors and assigns a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download and/or otherwise make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services.

USER also grants each and every other registered user of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download USER's content and/or otherwise to make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services as set forth herein.

Whoa! I never read that.

I will concede that that is downright spooky.

They shouldn't have anything that creepy in there.

Legal departments of services like this always use creepy language that suggests you don't have any rights as a user. Facebook, Myspace. There's always some scary language lurking in the fine print. I thought Soundcloud had a different culture than that, though. It's dismaying, to say the least.

My sense is that that is not the spirit of the site, though. The people behind it seem pretty cool. I think of Soundcloud being run by artists for artistry.

They should probably come on this thread and explain, though. 'Cause I grant you: that whole clause is a little terrifying.

I'll try to see what I can do about flagging their attention to this thread. We'll see what they say.

- c

[brightbyrd]

Originally Posted by matucha

So far I really like it. Hopefully it becomes totally free in a time, because the pricing vs. restriction scheme seems a bit steep on the $. I'd prefer 100% free app with some ads.

here's my bit:
zka4t - Tracks - SoundCloud

Couldn't get these to play in Chrome or Opera browsers...not good.

[reid]

Silver Sonya, do a search for 'Dropbox' here on Gearslutz. There's a long thread about their product and the reaction of folks on GS to it. They're offering a service that's in the same ballpark as these guys, which many people picked up on enthusiastically. But again, examination of the small print revealed it's not all it's cracked up to be....

Think I'll be sticking with my un-sexy (but private!) FTP site for now

[DSpec1]

Originally Posted by reid

I'm I the only one to get a bit twitchy, reading the Soundcloud Terms Of Use? The two paragraphs below seem to imply that anything you send through their service becomes for all intents and purposes, public domain.

Someone please put me right if I'm missing something important here!

Grant of License:

USER hereby grants SOUNDCLOUD and its successors and assigns a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download and/or otherwise make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services.

USER also grants each and every other registered user of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download USER's content and/or otherwise to make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services as set forth herein.

An excellent way to scour the globe for money-making tracks. And, you get to pay a pretty high price to give all rights to your music away. I HAD dropbox and deleted all traces of the account.

Social networking in music moves to the underworld...

Sorry. This really rips me.

[Silver Sonya]

I admit I am dismayed by this text.

Why would they put that clause in there?

There has to be an explanation.

I wrote them a letter, asking them to come to this thread and explain.

- c

[Solar]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

I admit I am dismayed by this text.

Why would they put that clause in there?

There has to be an explanation.

I wrote them a letter, asking them to come to this thread and explain.

- c

Well done Silver!! Let's wait for this cats here! When Soundcloud started i think last year in beta mode, i was in touch with the Founder and he sounded like a really cool guy but let's he will show up here and give somes answers!

Thank God i only uploaded since last year 1 snippet audio track thats all!!

Cheeeeeeeeeeeers!!

I love dropbox!!!!

[Hint]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

I admit I am dismayed by this text.

Why would they put that clause in there?

There has to be an explanation.

I wrote them a letter, asking them to come to this thread and explain.

- c

Myspace is the same, I think. There were similar clauses in their fine print and subsequent alarmed postings around the net when they were discovered.

As I understand it, the clause is necessary because legally they need to be granted the right to "broadcast" your music to whoever visits your page without the artist demanding performance royalties in return. You are waiving your right to receive airplay royalties through use of your material on their site.

In order to provide download links, they also need to be granted the right to "copy" your music (since a downloaded MP3 is a copy in the eyes of the law). You are waiving your right to receive mechanical royalties through use of your material on their site.

The clause exists because it needs to be made explicit that by uploading your music to the site, you are giving them permission to "broadcast" and "copy" your material through their site. I don't think anyone's planning on getting rich by stealing the rights to and selling a bunch of producers' demos. Independent artists are heavily involved in the creation and running of the site.

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by Hint

Myspace is the same, I think. There were similar clauses in their fine print and subsequent alarmed postings around the net when they were discovered.

As I understand it, the clause is necessary because legally they need to be granted the right to "broadcast" your music to whoever visits your page without the artist demanding performance royalties in return. You are waiving your right to receive airplay royalties through use of your material on their site.

In order to provide download links, they also need to be granted the right to "copy" your music (since a downloaded MP3 is a copy in the eyes of the law). You are waiving your right to receive mechanical royalties through use of your material on their site.

The clause exists because it needs to be made explicit that by uploading your music to the site, you are giving them permission to "broadcast" and "copy" your material through their site. I don't think anyone's planning on getting rich by stealing the rights to and selling a bunch of producers' demos. Independent artists are heavily involved in the creation and running of the site.

Well, they should state this intent explicitly.

Alongside these spooky clauses should be some kind of "We're totally not interested in exploiting your music" statement. The absence of a statement of intent is just... very spooky.

Ironically, my presence on this thread was to encourage people to sign up, but I have to say I feel quite uneasy about it now. In fact, I feel a little foolish.

You cannot deny the language is terrifying in its suggestion of absolute, uncurtailed despotism.

- c

[CDS]

Originally Posted by reid

I'm I the only one to get a bit twitchy, reading the Soundcloud Terms Of Use? The two paragraphs below seem to imply that anything you send through their service becomes for all intents and purposes, public domain.

Someone please put me right if I'm missing something important here!

Grant of License:

USER hereby grants SOUNDCLOUD and its successors and assigns a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download and/or otherwise make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services.

USER also grants each and every other registered user of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website a worldwide, perpetual, non-exclusive, irrevocable, royalty-free, fully paid up, license to use, copy, transmit or otherwise distribute, publicly perform, digitally perform, publicly display, distribute, stream, download USER's content and/or otherwise to make USER’s Content available to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services as set forth herein.

Nothing is ever free and you must ALWAYS read the terms of service before you buy into anything online!

These guys seem to be rational enough to change this in the interest of user growth. It is likely they had a lawyer write that up and didn't actually read it themselves.

[Hint]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

You cannot deny the language is terrifying in its suggestion of absolute, uncurtailed despotism.

I don't deny that it's clunky and intimidating for people who don't know much about copyright - that's the language of copyright law unfortunately. But "despotism" is a touch melodramatic.

The key is in their use of the phrases "non-exclusive" and "...to other users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services". The license you grant them is restricted to reasonable activity on their servers - activity which you ask them to allow by uploading your music.

As I said, Myspace T+C used to be the same until there was a similar fuss and they reworded it. Soundcloud need to do the same, I agree (if they want people to stop calling them despots):

Originally Posted by The reworded Myspace T+C

MySpace.com does not claim any ownership rights in the text, files, images, photos, video, sounds, musical works, works of authorship, or any other materials (collectively, "Content") that you post to the MySpace Services. After posting your Content to the MySpace Services, you continue to retain all ownership rights in such Content, and you continue to have the right to use your Content in any way you choose. By displaying or publishing ("posting") any Content on or through the MySpace Services, you hereby grant to MySpace.com a limited license to use, modify, publicly perform, publicly display, reproduce, and distribute such Content solely on and through the MySpace Services.

Without this license, MySpace.com would be unable to provide the MySpace Services. For example, without the right to modify Member Content, MySpace.com would not be able to digitally compress music files that Members submit or otherwise format Content to satisfy technical requirements, and without the right to publicly perform Member Content, MySpace.com could not allow Users to listen to music posted by Members. The license you grant to MySpace.com is non-exclusive (meaning you are free to license your Content to anyone else in addition to MySpace.com), fully-paid and royalty-free (meaning that MySpace.com is not required to pay you for the use on the MySpace Services of the Content that you post), sublicensable (so that MySpace.com is able to use its affiliates and subcontractors such as Internet content delivery networks to provide the MySpace Services), and worldwide (because the Internet and the MySpace Services are global in reach). This license will terminate at the time you remove your Content from the MySpace Services. The license does not grant MySpace.com the right to sell your Content, nor does the license grant MySpace.com the right to distribute your Content outside of the MySpace Services.

[Silver Sonya]

Originally Posted by Hint

I don't deny that it's clunky and intimidating for people who don't know much about copyright - that's the language of copyright law unfortunately. But "despotism" is a touch melodramatic.

I'm sorry, but despotism isn't just dramatic, it's accurate: it seems to be precisely what the language sanctions.

Read it again and tell me I'm wrong. It comprehensively protects their right to do whatever they want with your music. The statement is clear.

I'm dismayed. I say this as a Soundcloud user and fan. This language should be eliminated immediately. Or a clearer statement should be added about intent. It's just that simple.

I can't recommend this service to anyone until that language is out of there. I have been recommending Soundcloud to my clients, but this is just stupidly creepy.

- c

[Hint]

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

I'm sorry, but despotism isn't just dramatic, it's accurate: it seems to be precisely what the language sanctions.

NON-EXCLUSIVE... despotism isn't what it used to be.

Originally Posted by Silver Sonya

Read it again and tell me I'm wrong. It comprehensively protects their right to do whatever they want with your music. The statement is clear.

No it doesn't!

Which clause allows them to manufacture and sell copies of your music without your permission and without paying you?
Which clause allows them to license it to an advertisment without your permission and without paying you?

Again... "do whatever they want"... melodramatic.

Like I say, they could word it better, like Myspace were encouraged to after similar OTT outrage by people who misread their terms and conditions, but it wouldn't mean anything different. Do you tell your clients to avoid Myspace too?

Have you even read Soundcloud's full terms and conditions yourself?

Any and all music, videos, photos, pictures, graphics, comments, and other content, data or information that USER uploads, stores, transmits or submits to SOUNCLOUD’s Website (hereinafter "Content") are generated by the USER (and other registered users of SOUNDCLOUD’s Website), but not by SOUNDCLOUD. USER’s Content therefore remains in USER’s sole property and responsibility.

SOUNDCLOUD does not claim any ownership rights in any music, photos, information, materials, data, files, communications, footage and other materials which USER posts, stores or exchanges through SOUNDCLOUD’s Website and Services.