A Big Change in Downloading & Streaming - why?

  • Thread starter Thread starter rayc
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rayc

rayc

retroreprobate
I don't know whether it's my system or something else but I've noted that fewer people are using streamers.
I was quite used to clicking & listening but now a majority of posters are using something that's Qtime based & takes a fair while to download before playing.
It's this very reason that I've responded to so little of late.
I've been really pressed work wise & whip over to the comp for some musical relief. When I realise it's going to take time before I can listen I either search for a streamed offering OR go back to my set tasks.
Is it me, my system or is this a trend?
 
That's why Soundclick is so popular (and handy) - it offers both. But there's lots of others. Nowhere radio (if permissions are set right), and lightningmp3 come to mind. I like the option of downloading but almost always stream first....

:) :D :) :D
 
I love Soundclick, just click and listen. I always give my tunes the option of being downloadable, but I much prefer just clicking when I am a listener. I dont like the u-send-it types. If you put your stuff on soundclick there is a much better chance that I will listen. :D ;)
 
rayc said:
I don't know whether it's my system or something else but I've noted that fewer people are using streamers.
I was quite used to clicking & listening but now a majority of posters are using something that's Qtime based & takes a fair while to download before playing.
It's this very reason that I've responded to so little of late.
I've been really pressed work wise & whip over to the comp for some musical relief. When I realise it's going to take time before I can listen I either search for a streamed offering OR go back to my set tasks.
Is it me, my system or is this a trend?
Click to expand...

I host on my own server, and it's just more of a pain in the ass to set up a stream, ya know? :)
 
If you have quicktime installed, the downloadable links will stream in your browser.
 
I generally DL files if given the chance. Gives me a chance to play with it in software if I have an idea.
 
I just did a comparison.
Ido1957's latest, once the hifi streamer option was selected, from its site took 16 seconds to start playing. Timothy's posting of his student's playing a new page opens up - stay very white & blank with a downloading symbol in the bottom R H Corner & the the Q logo and narrow play strip appear in the middle of the page. It took just shy of 2 minutes to start playing - a time frame I find quite common.
The former used a site based streamer & the latter seemed to have to download a large buffer before Qtime started playing it.
It may well be my settings or start up registry. I do, however, find the situation as demonstrated by Tomothy's post, (sorry Timothy - nothing personal - I just thought I'd use ones I know fairly well), to be more common of late.
How can I change my settings for a quicker response?
I'm a scuz bucket - I download the MP3 of stuff I've enjoyed or need to listen to very carefully - & stream the rest for ease & speed.
Self hosted I understand Llarion & the PITA that setting up can be.
I must say I also enjoy the details I can get access to on soundclick whilst listening - it's the old album cover story I suppose.
NL5 you generously host a site for others to use if I recall - any clues for the termally clueless (me) ?
 
People don't "quicktime" anything, it's just the fact that you have QT installed that defaults the mp3 to open in your browser. If you right click and save as, you can play it in whatever player you want, and not have to wait some random amount of time without knowing how far it is from completion. Personally I hate streamed mp3's. They usually open in Winamp and delete my entire playlist and that pisses me off.

The best thing you could probably do is copy the URL and paste it in Winamp under "Open URL".. it will start playing immediately as soon as it's buffered enough. It treats it as a streamed mp3 file.
 
I keep all my stuff for stream or DL on my soundclick site. I love soundclick. I just do covers anyway so I'm living on the edge of legality. Get em while they're hot! :p
 
Mistral said:
The best thing you could probably do is copy the URL and paste it in Winamp under "Open URL".. it will start playing immediately as soon as it's buffered enough. It treats it as a streamed mp3 file.
Click to expand...

SWEET!!! I've used winamp forever and didn't know that. Thanks.
 
Mistral said:
They usually open in Winamp and delete my entire playlist and that pisses me off.
Click to expand...


That made me LOL. I have the same thing happen to me all the time. There has got to be a setting to "add to playlist" instead of erasing your old playlist.

RayC - are you on dialup? I get playback from DL files in about 2-5 seconds. About the same time as a soundclick stream.
 
NL5 - Nah - broadband/ADSL. fairly quick.
Perhaps I have to look at my qtime settings. Can I get MsoftMediaplayer to be the default for the download? If Y what do I click?
 
I always prefer to download.

A 4 MB file usually takes just 30 seconds or so. Right click/save as... read a couple posts in the thread and the file is already playing. I also sometimes like to open the mp3 in Reaper and play with the processing a little. I just keep a folder on my desktop called HR Listening and save all the stuff I listen to from the mp3 Clinic there.

Streaming sometimes stutters for me. But the main problem with streaming is the low resolution. 128 can be OK if a mix is really well balanced, but not so good if it's not. Less than 128 (Myspace) is a real problem and anybody putting up tunes for review at such low resolution isn't doing themself a favor because a listener can't really tell what's happening in it.

It's easy to use lightningmp3 and put it up files at least at 192. 320 is even better.

Ray, I'm surprised that it took so long to download the student clip I put up since it's under two MB.

EDIT: I had Quicktime on my system for a day and removed it... it was like it tried to take over my computer, heh, doing all kinds of weird stuff.
 
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Thanks Tim,
Qtime did an invasion on mine too - caused all sorts of confusion & the net result was the loss of a whole pile of audio files from current projects - I dislike it intensely.
If you're running without it happily & using lightning I'll give it the heave ho.
Excellent tip Mistral.
 
Quicktime is the spawn of satan. I swear, that freaking media program wants to open Word documents.
 
I just removed Qtime from my comp. left it for a few minutes so that the spirit could disspate and then clicked onto a lightning link PRESTO SPEED ACCURACY & QUALITY.
Hmmm, looks like I learnt a little lesson - QTIME = APPLE = S.O.S. (spawn of satan).
 
rayc said:
I just removed Qtime from my comp. left it for a few minutes so that the spirit could disspate and then clicked onto a lightning link PRESTO SPEED ACCURACY & QUALITY.
Hmmm, looks like I learnt a little lesson - QTIME = APPLE = S.O.S. (spawn of satan).
Click to expand...

I had the same problem with Quicktime screwing up downloads on my sound & audio computer-after deleting it I'm happy. I have quicktime on my web surfing computer if I ever need it, and that is rarely-I 've found .........:p....
 
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