JPF Home Page Forums New Forum For Mentor Critiques: FAQ and Discussion

Hi everybody...
I'd love to participate but I don't know how to put up a link to my soundclick on here..or my mp3... I see how everybody's got a blue link under their name.. ??? I am so sorry that I am so computer illiterate... help??

Thanks sooo much..
Lori

To put a link in a page, you go to the item (the song you want to submit in this case) and right ckick it's title and then click copy shortcut.
You then paste that into you submission and it should work.
Graham

Hey Lori!
Just go to your soundclick page where your mp3 is and copy and paste the address here.
(highlight the address, right click, copy
then right click, paste in your post)

Like this:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=680632

This is YOUR page (I just happened to be listening to your songs . . I like to browse other people's stuff and I LOVE your lyrics!!)



well . . . Graham beat me to it . . .

Thanks U guys... I am soooooooo in the dinosaur age.. I will try it... but may have to ask again

Lori


Gosh, Jody... thanks so much... !!!!!!!!!!! ;D

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pageartist.cfm?bandID=680632

did I do it???

Oh my gosh... thanks guys... wow, I feel soooo smart!!!



Lori

Lori,

Let's say you wanted to post the mp3 address for "Take Me To the Fire...." You would first use then band link page that Jody posted and then go to the music page.

Then if you hold your mouse over the title "Take Me ...", you will notice that it is a hyperlink. Click on it. It takes you to the page for that song. Now copy the full address in the address bar at the top of the page and then paste it into your message:

MP3: http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=680632&songID=5159257 (note how it has the songid in the link)

A lot of words for a simple thing -- I hope it made sense.

Kevin

yep. Sort of.
The link you put in takes the clickee to a blank bar for pic and links page and it is better, I think to put in the music page link to save folks clicking more than needed if you want it as a signature.
If directing them to a particular song right ckick that song title and it will come up like so:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/songInfo.cfm?bandID=680632&songID=5159257
If you want the music page as a signature, here that is:
http://www.soundclick.com/bands/pagemusic.cfm?bandID=680632
Go to your profile in JPF or whatever board you are on and paste that imnto the add signature place and tell it to include changes.
You can also add it as an auto signature to all your emails to good effect.
Graham

Thanks sooooooo much Kevin...
Thanks also Graham... I went and made a signature under my name... YaY!!

I know it sounds so elementary but gosh, now I know how!!!!

Lori

Ya welcome.
We all have to learn and asking is a good way most times in here Lori.
Graham

Well, are we going to have another round of mp3's for Harriet to listen to? And if so, when will that take place?

Lori

Brian has it noted somewhere. Thursday I think.
Afrer Harriet has put her critique of week 5 up.
There will be a post saying Week 6 posts here when it happens Lori.
Graham

oh, Ok thanks Graham... this is so cool...

Lori

Hey Brian, Here it is Thursday already - are you ready for the posts this week? (April 5 - ?)? I have one I'd like to submit, but I want to make sure you're awake & had your first 5 cups of coffee 1st! LOL Let me know when I can post the song! Ray Withrow

When can we post for week 7?

Well, Nick, Brian keeps strange hours. And then seems like he only sleeps ,like every other day. I see his name's showing now though, so maybe it'll be upcoming 'fore long
wy

It's up and ready for entries.. I am considering shifting the times a bit so that we can keep getting discussions on Monday before Harriet posts. I think many folks only surf at work (don't get caught!) so I think extending into Monday may increase participation on that end.

Brian

Had me worried there Brian. Thought our little discussions might have discouraged you, LOL

Like I said, unless Harriet has a problem, I doubt I'd pull the plug any time soon. I just hate for a volunteer to spend a lot of time and energy without folks participating.

Brian

I see mention suggesting the writer of the chosen song should not comment on replies before the Criic has posted their review, but don't see it as a rule anywhere?
or the point in it being a rule for that matter.
Fact or fiction?
Whatever.
I think it is prpobably best to point out anything we see as errors in this post or IM the person involved, rather than put it in the song post, so as not to have the string stray away from the actual song.
Graham

Yep Graham, I knew Brian had said that. he just didn't "continue" to put it in .Week 2 I think-Brian---
"then we can have further discussion. We ask the author(s) not to comment until AFTER Harriet has posted her comments." Remember, we're looking for constructive critiques and discussion.
As to why it "should" be a rule---putting in your first critique after the author put in the way he meant the song is nearly the same as putting in your first critique after Harriet critiques. Then it's too easy to say "Yep, that's just the way I thought it was"
Wy

Thanks Wy. I looked for it but didn't find it.
Maybe a full rules list in this section could be a help.
Updating as they evelve.
And yep. I can see that happening, but don't know it needs a rule fettering open, and fully imformed debate, just because some may do the "I knew that" trick.
I found Robert's comments gave me fuel for more thought.
Graham

Just a reminder to all:

Harriet has to take this week off from the critiques. She will return next week for our 9th Mentor Critique session.

Brian

Hi Brian
Sorry to hear that this weeks session has been postponed.
Just when I was thinking of posting some lyrics. BOOHOO
Oh well there is always next week. JIM

Brian,
I quickly skimmed through this thread . . . I'm wondering if it's o.k. to post instrumental-only for the mentor critique?? I'm assuming "yes", but it doesn't seem that many (if any) have been posted, so I'm just checking.

Thanks

Jody.... I hope so too....I know Both Jean B and I have done so...but...I'd make sure...Brian understands...ya mean...instrumental and the lyric,.....and not just an instrumental.

Hugs....
Kaley.....

Kaley
Thanks for helping me clarify . . . yes, instrumental & lyric. But now that I think about it, I'll include instrumental-only (no words) in the question too. Some melodies are popping for me with no words . . . so I wonder, "is this good enough to find the words or ????".

Thanks Sweetie!

Good question...Jody... Keep writing them gal...!!! Tickled for you......

Hugs,
Kaley

You're welcome to post whatever you want for consideration. Certainly there's more to work with for Harriet with both a lyric and melody, but we want to encourage any and everyone to participate. Even if yours doesn't get picked, folks will often check out all the entries as they are entered and maybe someone who writes lyrics would want to co-write with you. It's clear we have far more Lyric only people posting than Music only.

Brian

OK,
I have looked through most of this thread, and am still not sure how to enter a song for torture. Some help please?
Thanks,
Chas

You enter on Thursdays and Fridays. Watch for the next Entry post.

Brian

We are now in the 13th week of this caper, and a couple of observations I have made toward smooter running, and less work for the moderators, and Harriet in particular I see are.
You can edit in your own post even after the thread is closed, so saving mods some work, and getting it there qquicker to boot.
This occurred ion Stan's post, and i am pretty sure it wasn't my newly aquired super powers that enabled me to edit it in as I am sure i edited in soujhnd link of one I hadn't demoed before I got given a badge.
Try it on an old post of yours, and see if it works.
The other point is.
I don't think it is a good idea to post anything otyher than an actual entry into the curent thread.
Stick to the subject at hand.
There are plenty of places to put side issues in here.
The other thing is Sound file links.
Make them the actual song link rather than a whole pagre, or a whole site link is best I believe.
Do that by right clicking the title of the song on your page and then clicking save shortcut. and past that.
Since this has started, I have taken to copying the song shortcut as soon as I have uploaded it, and pasting that into the lyric sheet in Microsoft word, and it is there forever, and can all be put in as copy and paste when , and where ever i feel the ned to send the song to.
Works for me.
Rant ends.
Graham

Brian,

I see that weeks one through six are no longer available to view. These threads are a treasure trove of songwriting tips -- are those threads gone for ever????

Thanks,

Kevin

Kevin,

You just need to change the setting for what you view on a board. It's likely set at showing only the last 3 months.

Brian

I just went through the my profile / my preference stuff and I don't see any option like that. I know it is probably easy to find, but I just can't see it.

Kevin

Click back one to the list of topics in the forum Keven.
Scroll to the bottom and you will see on the left a view nunber preferances box.
I set mine to view all.
Graham

Graham: Good one! I just went to the bottom of the forum and it already says Show Topics "from all dates" -- and all topics are now available. I didn't change it myself, but I am happy!

Thanks,

Kevin

These dang things seem tom have a mind of their own sometimes I swear.
You are welcome kevin.
Graham

Hi,

I'm new here, this being my first post. I read with slight dismay some of the critiques in another thread which suggested that downbeat songs need to be ultimately redemptive in order to be attractive to performers and audiences alike. Well there is much evidence to the contrary here! Two of the most obvious examples are mega hits like Nilsson's 'Without You' (which I understand sold about 5 million worldwide, possibly more), and Sting/The Police's 'Can't Stand Losing You'. Both are extremely downbeat lyrically and not remotely redemptive - and indeed, why should they be? Why can't negative songs be allowed simply to describe a situation rather than resolve it - which in itself can be cathartic for the listener because of the identification engendered. There aren't really any 'rules' of songwriting, and to imply such wasn't really helpful to that particular poster, who I felt was on the right track with her realistic lyrics.

Hi Brian,

I am very excited about this opportunity to recieve such expert critiques on our songwriting. I just hope that I do not forget and miss opportunities to post on Thursdays, is that right?

As I was reading other posts, it seems that there are still alot of open questions as to how it will be run, such as how often you should post, if your song gets chosen should another of your songs not be chosen, and others.

An idea popped into my head I just thought I would send you and Harriet to consider.

I dont know if it is possible, but what if there is no restrictions on how many songs you submit or the date that you submit them. What if there is just a running list or forum of "songs for critique", and Harriet picks whichever song she chooses for each session? If you could come up with some sort of "running list" of songs, or just use one specific forum for entries that could be entered at any time, would it be possible that each song that Harriet chooses then be removed from the "songs for critique" list or forum, and placed in a "completed critiques" forum, and she goes on and picks another from the "songs for critiques" forum for the next critique?

Just some thoughts....this is a very exciting subject

Thank you both

Letha

Letha, people would dump a ton of songs in the forum if there were no restrictions put on them. Also, if there were a running list, people would forget to check and see if they have been chosen. The mentors are very busy people and the way it is done now is the best way to go about it. Harriet is especially busy because she is a working performer and song instructor.

The songs chosen are usually examples of what the mentor thinks would be the most instructional. Sometimes it could be a song which may not need improvement and sometimes the other way around. One of the things that is also being done with the critiques is to help all of us practice the art of the critique as well.

Personally, I would rather not practice critiquing the entries but would rather see what the mentor says about it. I know Brian wants us to learn to critique better that way, but to me it sets up a competition to see who was right and wrong and on a couple of the critiques a lot of people started congratulating the member who got the pat on the back for a good critique and diverted the attention from the songwriter.

JRLyricist:

You comment is going to get lost here in this thread. You might want to try asking about this in one of the "General Messages" forums.

In my opinion good songs will always win out, but redemptive songs just speak to most people's yearning for second chances, triumph over adversity, good over evil, etc. If you are going to write a "bummer" of a song, you had better do it well.

Kevin

I'm new to your wonderful site and want to post an mp3 with vocal for critique. What is the procedure for posting a file. Do i write the text of the message and then import the mp3 file?

Artie,

You need to link to the file outside of our site. We don't host any songs directly here. You can see many examples of this on the MP3 Feedback forum.

Brian

thanks brian..but I'm not sure how to "link to a file" could you elaborate a bit.

Hi Artie!

One of the most common ways to do this is to open a free account at SoundClick.com. This is a site designed to host your MP3s, and they allow you to upload an unlimited amount of them...for free.

So when you start a new thread here on the MP3 forum (not this one, mind you, this is only for particular songs chosen for professional critique by our mentors), you can copy and paste the web address of your Soundclick page, creating a link for us to hear your MP3.

Does that make sense? If not, feel free to click on my name and send a private message and I'd be glad to tell you more.

Welcome aboard!

-mk

Mark..thanks..I have opened a soundclick account.. Now I want to download (to soundclick) from my hard drive the mp3 I want to post on JPF. That's the part of the problem I'm trying to solve. Can you tell me how to do that?
Thanks again

They walk you through the process pretty well, but if it isn't working, maybe what you think is an MP3 file is actually a cda file (if you put an MP3 on a CD, it often gets converted to this), or a wma file (if you play it on a Windows Media Player it may have been converted to this), or something else.

Find your song, right-click on the file name, and see if it does indeed end with ".mp3" If it's something else, let's say it's a ".wma", you could google the phrase "convert wma to MP3" and you will find many free downloadable converters that will do the trick for you in a jiffy.

Hope that helps. Soon you'll be doing all this with ease, and can move on to a new set of hassles... We've all been there. -mk


EDIT: Or perhaps you're just hung up on the "Browse" button on their upload page? You click that and it lets you explore through your own computer files to the MP3...you double-click the MP3 file, and you're set.

There is a thread on converting to mp3 on the general technical board. It contains in depth help and advice on HOW TO.

I'm am new on the forum,and glad to be here.I'm am looking for a mentor,so they can guide me to becoming a great songwriter.Thanks, for the help.