--- In AN1x-list@y..., Shayne Hardesty <lists@s...> wrote:
> Hi group.. I've been lurking here as an AN1x owner but not
much of a
> musician for a couple of years now. I've downloaded and
enjoyed
> countless patches you guys have worked on, but since I've
never really
> jumped into synth programming I'm not able to contribute
much of
> anything back. BUT, I do online website database integration
work for a
> living, and I think the huge collection of GREAT patches we
have in the
> yahoo files section is just begging to be organized.. I'm willing
to do
> all of the programming to put it together. In my mind you would
upload
> an individual patch, categorize it based on type of sound (pad,
bass,
> percussion, sfx, etc) and we would store all of the info in a
database
> so you can search by sound name, sound category, most
popular sounds,
> creation/upload date, creator, etc. This would solve a need ∗I∗
have
> (finding certain patches I've lost along the way), and I think
would
> make patch sharing and finding much easier.
>
> So I guess basically I'm wondering if you guys are interested
in
> taking this approach, and if anyone has any further ideas or
thoughts?
> To begin with I could host it on my home server on a cable
modem, but my
> upstream bandwidth is capped off at 400k so it wouldn't take
much to
> overwhelm it. If it works we could either hope someone could
donate a
> place to host it, or take collections for a cheap webhosting
provider
> (you can find tons of them online for about $10USD per
month).
>
> Let me know what you guys think. Mostly I'm thinking outloud
here..
> Heck, there's really no point in limiting it to the AN1x, I could
> abstract the engine to accept patches for any platform. I could
> probably get a rough working version in a weekend of
> marathon-beer-fueled coding. Once it is working I'll need
some
> volunteers to take the existing yahoo groups sounds, break
them out of
> the zip files and directories, and upload and categorize them
one by one
> making sure to give the original creator credit (so that we'll be
able
> to search for patches by a given creator). I'd also need a
volunteer or
> two who is good with photoshop to do some graphics, as I'm
horrible with
> that stuff.
>
> Shayne
Hi Shayne,
Here are some issues you might take under consideration...
First, you might preview a couple of existing databases along the
lines of what you are considering to see where they come up
short and where they succeed:
http://www.ampfea.org/sln/http://www.soundcentral.com/http://www.primesounds.com/IMO, the Ampfea database has little worthwhile content but the
format is user friendly. The Sound Central database is large but
mostly proprietary and poorly documented. The Primesounds
data base is nice but many of the download banks exceed a 31
character file name and require some adjustment on the user
part. You might consider make doc and contact info mandatory
fields for uploaded files.
Second, you'll need to make accommodations for duplicate
patch names, i.e., 'String 1', Piano 3', etc. While many of the voice
banks are in AN1x format - the preferred format on this list for
some time now - not all users have necessarily used a
Category to define their Voice(s).This means time spent
categorizing said voices. Also, some of the Voice banks are in
.MID and .SYX format which means even more time splitting this
data into individual components. Whatever your estimation for
completing this work - double it!
Third, the Yamaha supplied voices have been available for
download from many web sites (my old web site included) but
always in the same format in which they where originally
distributed. AFAIK they have never objected to their voices being
redistributed but repackaged may be another matter. Since
Yamaha once posted much of the Teklab user archive on their
PLG150 web page I can only assume they would be okay with
this. I have reservations in regards to seeing my own work
redistributed and would not like anything that says JDLX
included.
A little history - there use to be an AN1x mailing list hosted by
Teklab (Jay Vaughn.) This list here at Yahoo! Groups was
created when the Teklab servers crashed and we found
ourselves homeless. Somebody started this list at Onelist which
became eGroups and then Yahoo! Groups. Teklab suffered from
a problem which affects many small developers - over promised
and under delivered. The Ampfea database (originally Teklab)
above still contains a limited number of AN1x Voices but quite
frankly, hardly anybody is aware. Likely because of the manner in
which Teklab support for the AN1x community was abruptly and
inexplicably severed. Jay never reinstated contact with this
community and that was that...so, the point is, you're going to
need to deliver on some semblance of system availability once
your DB grows beyond it initial scope. People will not judge your
efforts kindly if the server you choose to host your work - this lists
work - is unreliable.
Something else to take into consideration. Many of the Voices in
the Files section were created within this community for this
community. Speaking for myself, much of my effort has been
intended to encourage participation on this list and my Voice
banks are examples of my work - I don't particularly relish the
idea of homogenizing them into convenient little packets for
redistribution - I prefer they remain intact as they were intended.
While the file organization here at Yahoo! Groups is less than
idyllic at least it serves as an incentive for list subscribers to
share and contribute. I would be concerned your DB would
siphon off contributions to this community but given the fact the
AN1x is a five year old VA - and discontinued at that - we're likely
to remain the best resources for information and support outside
of Yamaha.
I hate to be cynical but once you establish your DB I'm certain the
amount of files uploaded will be insignificant compared to the
number of downloads. I base this comment upon witnessing the
download statistic from my old web site vs. the number of
unsolicited contribution I received (one of the deciding factors I
took into consideration when moving the content here to Yahoo!
Groups) along with the supporting documentation written by
myself and those who hosted the user voices prior to me and
then Yahoo!
I'm sorry if this reply is not along the lines of what you expected
but I'd much rather be forthcoming with you then the alternative.
regards,
Jon