Website Needs More of a Community Feel to it

[Aperio]

Before I give any feedback, let me first just say that I think you have an absolutely stellar product here with jamstudio and an incredible concept.   I think what would really push things over the edge is if the site itself had a more community feel to it - ie the actual web interface.  It seems very constrained at the moment, and is a little clunky and blind hit or miss to navigate to other people's creations.  I would LOVE to see the user end loosely following in the path of the youtube model where it is easier to browse through peoples material, make friends, have selections of featured content on the front, have an easier method of browsing and adding to collaborations etc etc. 

There's a huge list of possibilities that could be opened up by incorporating the social aspect to the site this way.

Just my humble .02

[yeayeayea]

yea I think so too! do you think it needs profile pages?  or like song charts?  i don't know how song charts would work without profile pages though

lets keep this conversation going, what do you think it should look like... I mean, there is already youtube, myspace, facebook, etc, out there for profile pages, but a central place to keep all of my sounds, would be nice... maybe have the sounds in different "CD's" that people could listen to.

I'd like to be able to upload a finished mp3 to JamStudio to show other people

[Ant]

there is know need for profile pages,or a place to post music! why!to many free ones out there most of us know were thay are.

[Aperio]

yea I think so too! do you think it needs profile pages?  or like song charts?  i don't know how song charts would work without profile pages though

lets keep this conversation going, what do you think it should look like... I mean, there is already youtube, myspace, facebook, etc, out there for profile pages, but a central place to keep all of my sounds, would be nice... maybe have the sounds in different "CD's" that people could listen to.

I'd like to be able to upload a finished mp3 to JamStudio to show other people

Yes - i think song charts would be really cool.. it could be based on a kind of digg like system where submitted content can make it to the main page based on different voting criteria/algorithms.    Then yes, profile pages so that if you like a person's style of music, you can subscribe to their channel to be updated when they release new tunes etc.  There's a lot of different directions it could go.  Actually it could tie into youtube quite nicely also since there are so many issues with music copyright issues and people are often looking for royalty free music to use in their videos etc.

Just a thought.  It's nice to know i'm not the only one that thinks this way!

[Ant]

with a all access pass you can have a MP3 file of your song.royalty free music is what you get with the all access pass!you own your songs.then take your music to[ ourstage ]were thousands can vote on your songs!  http://www.ourstage.com/login



 well check me out i'm ranked #55     http://www.ourstage.com/music/channel/86-guitar-solo/BALREBLTKHHZ-rockin-mosquitos

[Aperio]

I'm sure there may be some third party options for sharing music - I was merely pointing out that I think it would be an added draw to this site to offer full scale social aspect services to the jamstudio community.  It would tie things together so nicely.  The music creation side is incredible, but it just kind of ends there.  To take things to the next level so that you can actually start interacting in ways more scalable than what the forums offer would put an entirely new dimension of interactivity.

For example, if there was actually an interface associated with the site that allowed me to easily browse people's music - whether based on certain criteria (ie most views, top rated, recently added - or by music genre etc etc etc)  it would start to open up doors to users that I may not otherwise find.  It may allow me to more easily interact with other jamstudio users whose style I like and be able to learn from them and more easily browse and listen to their music.  It would make it more viable for people to find my music and leave me constructive criticism or praise for music I've created.   For people to have profile pages and start to attract a following on the site would be encouragement for them to continue to create and share music and opinions for other users on the site.

Sure they can post scattered links here and there or post music on other sites, but it is kind of defeating the purpose.  I realize they can post links in the forums - but again, that's still not accomplishing what I think the site needs or would benefit from.   I could go on and on, but I think you get the drift.    Right now JamStudio is a cool place to create some music and that has a forum, but it ends there.  I love the site and don't want to see it be a sort of drive through novelty that people stop at, create a couple songs then move on.  It needs a hook, that's all I'm saying.

Just my opinion, I love this site and just think it would be an incredible addition.
 

[yeayeayea]

ah ha! the ultimate conundrum... would you rather have this we speak of... or more pages, two chords per beat, more sounds, stuff like that

muuaahahahhahaaa!

[Aperio]

No doubt it's all a balancing act... the thing is I want it all Hehehe... a development team on the "product" side of things (so to speak... that is, the actual music functionality of the product) and a development team on the web functionality. 

I obviously have no knowledge at all in regards to how the site is doing in terms of attracting new members vs retention and what demographic they are most targeting.  I would think that yes, there are certain things I would consider a priority in terms of expanding the capabilities of the music creation (ie new pages, broader range of octaves, etc)... but if they are happening to attract a more novice user base, then I actually think that the community aspect is a big deal - right up there with the functionality wants and needs... A new user cares about learning, meeting people that can help them gain some building blocks to music creation and specifically the jamstudio product etc.. that's where i think the community aspect is a lot of bang for the buck.  The tools don't matter if you don't know how to use them  - know what i mean?  Of course that works the other way as well that if the site intends to attract a larger demographic of professionals then perhaps the functionality is the more urgent thing to expand upon before worrying about the social aspect - though I still think that becomes very important in this case as well at some point in the development, maybe just not the primary concern in that case. 

Bottom line I would imagine is that they need to be profitable, and to be profitable they need to reach and grab their target demographic. Members/Traffic and key partnerships are the main goal.  A site can have all the functionality in the world, but if it's not functional within the levels the users wants and needs rest then it doesn't necessarily equal success. 

Sorry, I'm just blabbering out loud at this point.  Good points about how the web aspect would likely slow down the music development aspect.  I'm sure that is much the case.  I'm just shooting out ideas that i think would be cool to add at some point.

Makes for a good conversation anyway

[jeff]

hi guys i think your ideas are not all that bad but i also think Ant is not the rigth person to discuss this with maybe you can sbmit this subjection to clint or go to the main page of the forum there is one forum made only for talking to administrators you could better tell them your idea though i doubt if they don't already know that. keep on thinking for the advancement of js

[Ant]

after listening to a lot of music on jamstudio I thing what is needed most is digital volume controls.Because if you can't keep the volume the same on all levels, this will hurt you when you try to mix or master a song.

[brianeno]

Aperio, I like your attitude, and your ideas not bad either. You seem to have thought alot about this and like jeff says, it is to further JS, and it's important to consider what's best "for the good of all." Still I'm not sure if I would want it to be too social a site either, like my space or youtube but who knows...worth some consideration, Thanks for the engaging suggestion, I'll be your friend, no doubt! Late Ron/eno

[Liambert84]

I like the ideas personally. I feel sometimes maybe alot of people that see my music aren't into the electronica/rock sound I like to make, but with a site that would allow others to easily browse genres and direct them to what they want to hear, which I feel in turn would even add to the creative aspect of the site. and Like what was said before, like minded individuals can bounce ideas off each other. A Profile page is a good idea, not necessarily to be set up in the fashion of a myspace page, but a page that has the user's music and genre defined and if they choose, links to their myspace/facebook whatever. Perhaps then people could then be grouped( Country, Rock, Hip-Hop, Metal, etc etc) I also like the idea of a most viewed category idea, but maybe top listeners, most active, and a most viewed within each genre. Just some food for thought!


-Liambert

[bgrade.chef]

I am a new user of jamstudio came across it looking for another site that does the same thing, but has that community feel  you are looking for already if I find it will let you know. But as far as this site goes its good for novices because you don't feel overwhelmed like I did with the other site but it dose need to do more than let you make music now, you can listen to other people tunes & play around with them but what goods that when it save under your name its like stealing their tune,  we need to be able to add & collaborate with other artist & help out new comers, the only way thats going to happen is if their is a community element to the site.
The thing is that it would make it more expensive to operate,  The question no one has asked is do you make it subscription only or do it with adverts like spotify where u can listen to music for free. Do you make is an independent application like spotify that would be a good way of making sure people/artists don't for get its there on their pc or mac & give it a more robust feel.

please let me know what you think of my comments ty bgrade.chef

[Joey_15215]

This site needs more cow bell!

Haha...lol

V/R,
Joey

[Ant]

  I can find you some bell loops if you want some!