Thanks for your interest in the mixshare community. Currently only friends and acquaintances can join this, but if there’s enough positive response, I’ll try to develop this into a web based community.  I consider sharing music with friends as falling under “fair use.” Additionally, all files are protected and hosted on a secure, anonymous ftp server. If you are interested in joining, please send me an email or contact me on facebook.

How it works

Members of the “community” (ie. people I know) can download mp3 mixes from other members of the community (ie. other people I –and maybe you– know) and upload their own mixes. When you join, I’ll give you a username and password, and ftp address to connect to where all the magic happens. The ftp site is anonymous, and relatively secure, plus really fast!

FTP

For now, the mixshare community is ftp based. If you’ve never used ftp before, here’s how to get it all set up.

If you use Firefox, simply go here: https://addons.mozilla.org/firefox/684/ and install the FireFTP add-on. After you install and restart firefox, go to tools -> FireFTP and you’re set.

If you don’t use Firefox (you really should. what’s wrong with you?!), you’ll have to download an ftp client. I recommend Filezilla, it’s free and reliable.

Once you have either FireFTP or Filezilla installed, simply enter in the address, username, and password that I’ll email you. Once you’re connected, uploading and downloading is as easy as drag-and-drop. Plus, speeds tend to be pretty good on the server.

Formatting

Remember, this is supposed to be an equivalent to a mix tape or mix CD. Please don’t upload your entire library or just a song or two. An album length mix is preferred. If you’ve never made a mix before (you must be one of those 1990s born kids), remember the mix is most important, there should be some sort of meaningful order to the songs so it sounds good. But I’m not one to criticize that.

More importantly, all songs should be in mp3 format (I know .ogg is better, you linux nerds, but not everyone can play that), and then zipped, so it’s all in one file. Also, PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE include a playlist file (.m3u or .pls… just click on save playlist) so we have some idea of what order to play the songs in. As I said, the order is most important, and that’s what allows you to put songs that you know everyone has already– it has a special place in the order!

Also, the best part of making a mix tape/cd for a friend is decorating the case. If you want, feel free to include an album cover in the zip file! Of course this is not required. But, boy, is it fun!

Please name your zip file in some way that identifies it easily. Since everyone is (at most) 2 degrees of seperation away from one another, I encourage you to use your real name followed by the name of the mix or number or whatever. You may also create your own folder to upload into.

Don’t delete anything that isn’t yours! Of course, this goes without saying.
Sharing

Downloading any of the mixes is open to everyone in the community. But please (for now at least) don’t give out direct links to your mix to people outside of the community. They will be welcomed to join up if I know them in even a tertiary way. But remember, loose lips get me a huge fucking lawsuit. Don’t post on your favorite bulletin board that anyone who wants can download your new mix from at soandso.com/soandso.zip.

Support local artists

Fuck the big four record labels, but local and independent artists can be hurt by sharing files like this. DO NOT upload an entire album by your favorite local band. I think one or two songs is great advertising on a mix. Please as you share music, remember to think “will this hurt or help the band I like?” If the band you like is on one of the major labels, forget about it, upload all you want.

Contact

If I know you and you are interested in joining the mixshare community, or if you have any questions about anything, please contact me at clantoncs^gmail()com.

Support fair use!