Roscoe sound clip database ideas

lwrthnwhalepoop · #1 10-27-2009, 10:22 AM

I'm starting this thread as a means to exchange ideas about the feasibility of setting up a web site to post, browse, and search Roscoe bass sound clips. It's a branch or re-direction of the ideas talked about in the later stages of the "Roscoe sound clips" thread on this forum.

-Dave

JOME77 · #2 10-27-2009, 10:32 AM

Good idea starting a new thread.
My comments/suggestions:

Common server to upload sound clips too
Complete spec's of Roscoe played for each specific sound clip (including Serial Number)
Brief explanation of type recording (On-baord pre settings, effects used, strings, finger style/pick/slap/chordal)
Ability to search via wood combo and/or p/u's/preamp type
Volunteers to help maintain data

VroomVroom · #3 10-27-2009, 10:33 AM

I'm onboard for this. I may even be able to host. My 'bassguy' site is on Siteground. They're very generous with disk space, although sometimes they get stingy with bandwidth.

I'm no developer or DB pro, but if there's any help needed on the back end, I'm happy to take a stab. I can enlist some resources on the front end (graphic & web design) too, if needed...although I know of at least one Roscoehead who is very gifted in this arena as well.

Regarding the audio, I'll toss out a recommendation that we try to make the files as consistent as possible - perhaps selecting an .mp3 bitrate and applying it across the board. This way we're getting a fair and somewhat equal representation of each instrument, and we have a handle on file size & download times.

Bottom line - let me know how I can help.

lwrthnwhalepoop · #4 10-27-2009, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JOME77

Good idea starting a new thread.
My comments/suggestions:

Common server to upload sound clips too
Complete spec's of Roscoe played for each specific sound clip (including Serial Number)
Brief explanation of type recording (On-baord pre settings, effects used, strings, finger style/pick/slap/chordal)
Ability to search via wood combo and/or p/u's/preamp type
Volunteers to help maintain data

Good suggestions, Joe and Jerry.

I see the functionality such that the user will upload and maintain their own sound clips on the hosting site/domain (as opposed to links to external files), which would mean, hopefully, that there would be minimal volunteer/moderator data wrangling necessary.

Joe, I like your addition of the playing technique criterion - slap, fingerstyle, bowing the strings with a frozen bratwurst, etc. Excellent and important piece of information to know about each clip if you're searching for a particular sound/technique combination.

Jerry, your suggestion about sound clip file format and bitrate is another great idea to help keep things as consistent as possible bass-to-bass, clip-to-clip. Great to hear that you've got some resources potentially available on your end.

I think anyone who volunteers and helps should get a Roscoe T-shirt.

-Dave

Darkstrike · #5 10-27-2009, 11:18 AM

Another thing to think about, it to split the "in the mix" clips and the "solo" ones, or at least, have that listed along with the fingerstyle, slap, etc.

ubone · #6 10-27-2009, 11:58 AM

I'm in. I've been very remiss about posting any sound clips. Or even pics of my baby's for that matter.

lwrthnwhalepoop · #7 10-27-2009, 12:00 PM

Another piece of functionality - probably a wish list item for some time in the future, but definitely do-able - would be a subscription model where a user could subscribe to a particular bass or user and would be notified when new clips were posted.

A thought to throw out: would we want to make a the clips from a bass follow it wherever it went, or would they only be associated with and managed by its current owner? In other words, if data-poacher poaches another Roscoe from some unfortunate soul, what becomes of the clips in the database for that bass? Do they stay in the database, permanently associated with that bass, or does Adam have to start over and post a new bunch of clips, or...?

Just thinking into the keyboard, but we would have to figure that out.

If we're going to make this thing highly Roscoe-centric, one model would be to create it as essentially a registry of Roscoes and their sounds, along the lines of the SAAC (Shelby American Automobile Club) registry:

http://www.saac.com/index.php?page=s...mart&Itemid=45

...or...

We could make it more universal, where any musician set up a profile, upload one or more instruments and descriptions, associate sound files with those instruments. This would have broad appeal, possibly leading to licensing it to TalkBass, Harmony Central, etc. with the proceeds going to some purpose we all agree to. Lavish Hawaiian Roscoe GTG, anyone?

lwrthnwhalepoop · #8 10-27-2009, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

Another thing to think about, it to split the "in the mix" clips and the "solo" ones, or at least, have that listed along with the fingerstyle, slap, etc.

Another excellent suggestion. Man, you guys are really reeling me into this.

Like I need another pastime:
http://www.widespotperformingarts.org/

I'm a co-founder, board member, and the technical manager there. We just had three solid days' worth of film festival. It was a hoot.

lwrthnwhalepoop · #9 10-27-2009, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwrthnwhalepoop

Lavish Hawaiian Roscoe GTG, anyone?

I guess if we had a bass jam with hula dancers and roasted a pig and ate pineapple, it would be classified as a low-au.

Darkstrike · #10 10-27-2009, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwrthnwhalepoop

Another piece of functionality - probably a wish list item for some time in the future, but definitely do-able - would be a subscription model where a user could subscribe to a particular bass or user and would be notified when new clips were posted.

A thought to throw out: would we want to make a the clips from a bass follow it wherever it went, or would they only be associated with and managed by its current owner? In other words, if data-poacher poaches another Roscoe from some unfortunate soul, what becomes of the clips in the database for that bass? Do they stay in the database, permanently associated with that bass, or does Adam have to start over and post a new bunch of clips, or...?

Just thinking into the keyboard, but we would have to figure that out.

If we're going to make this thing highly Roscoe-centric, one model would be to create it as essentially a registry of Roscoes and their sounds, along the lines of the SAAC (Shelby American Automobile Club) registry:

http://www.saac.com/index.php?page=s...mart&Itemid=45

...or...

We could make it more universal, where any musician set up a profile, upload one or more instruments and descriptions, associate sound files with those instruments. This would have broad appeal, possibly leading to licensing it to TalkBass, Harmony Central, etc. with the proceeds going to some purpose we all agree to. Lavish Hawaiian Roscoe GTG, anyone?

This is a tricky problem.

If the basses are going to have their serial numbers listed, I'm sure the bass could have its own file, and the current owner can add to the clips, of course, this makes it awkward, as the account for the bass has to be passed from person to person, and each player would probably need their own account too, linking to the accounts for the Roscoes currently in their possesion.

The other way, just letting each person post clips of their basses, and should they trade it on, leave the clips up, with the new owner adding more clips, if they desire.

The second option, seems much easier, but less comprehensive, and detailed. Depends on how much effort is wanted to be put into this.

I suppose as the details get settled, you could open up a poll on some of the major choices, and use the most popular, maybe.

Darkstrike · #11 10-27-2009, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwrthnwhalepoop

I guess if we had a bass jam with hula dancers and roasted a pig and ate pineapple, it would be classified as a low-au.

There it goes, now I need a new beer.

ubone · #12 10-27-2009, 12:37 PM

[quote=lwrthnwhalepoop;8155174]
A thought to throw out: would we want to make a the clips from a bass follow it wherever it went, or would they only be associated with and managed by its current owner?

Keep it simple and keep it's association with the current owner. I say this because the same bass can sound vastly different with another's playing style.

lwrthnwhalepoop · #13 10-27-2009, 01:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ubone

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwrthnwhalepoop

A thought to throw out: would we want to make a the clips from a bass follow it wherever it went, or would they only be associated with and managed by its current owner?

Keep it simple and keep it's association with the current owner. I say this because the same bass can sound vastly different with another's playing style.

I'm inclined in this direction also. But it seems a shame to discard or make unavailable the clips from the previous owner. Say, for example, I were fortunate enough to acquire one of Jerry's (VroomVroom) fabulous basses which had lots of great clips of Jerry coaxing forth wonderful sounds from it. Would we then only have clips of me playing it in which it sounded like a horse farting in a tin shed? That seems an injustice to the bass and a needless loss of good clips. If the bass were sold, we could allow the previous owner to keep the bass on an "archive" page of previously owned basses (with a link to its new home on the new owner's page?), but what becomes of the previous owner's clips? It's an option with some variations that we could toss around for feedback.

-Dave

ubone · #14 10-27-2009, 01:27 PM

Each owner should keep the sound files associated with the bass during the time he owned it. That would give everyone the opportunity to hear the bass and all of it's tonal variances associated with the player at the time.

Darkstrike · #15 10-27-2009, 01:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lwrthnwhalepoop

I'm inclined in this direction also. But it seems a shame to discard or make unavailable the clips from the previous owner. Say, for example, I were fortunate enough to acquire one of Jerry's (VroomVroom) fabulous basses which had lots of great clips of Jerry coaxing forth wonderful sounds from it. Would we then only have clips of me playing it in which it sounded like a horse farting in a tin shed? That seems an injustice to the bass and a needless loss of good clips. If the bass were sold, we could allow the previous owner to keep the bass on an "archive" page of previously owned basses (with a link to its new home on the new owner's page?), but what becomes of the previous owner's clips? It's an option with some variations that we could toss around for feedback.

-Dave

I think it'd be best for each player to have an account, and keep the clips of formerly owned basses up, for future refrence.

Basically, each person can post clips of their bass, and should they sell the bass, the clips stay up, and the new owner can post clips too, if they like.

Using serial numbers, you could search for a specific bass, and hear clip from each owner, which would be cool, to hear how the same bass sounds different by player.

lwrthnwhalepoop · #16 10-27-2009, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I think it'd be best for each player to have an account, and keep the clips of formerly owned basses up, for future refrence.

Basically, each person can post clips of their bass, and should they sell the bass, the clips stay up, and the new owner can post clips too, if they like.

Using serial numbers, you could search for a specific bass, and hear clip from each owner, which would be cool, to hear how the same bass sounds different by player.

I like this model. It keeps the clips tied to a particular bass, which is I think closest to spirit of the original thread where we posted clips to show others what our Roscoes sounded like - as opposed to clips that showcased our playing (which many of the posted clips also do, of course). Using bass sound clips to showcase one's playing is completely valid, but there are other means of accomplishing that (MySpace, Facebook, etc.) where the focus is more on the player. I envision what we're discussing with this online sound clip database as more instrument-centered.

I think this model would be well-suited for anyone shopping for a bass or looking to do mods to one or more of their current basses.

-Dave

ubone · #17 10-27-2009, 01:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darkstrike

I think it'd be best for each player to have an account, and keep the clips of formerly owned basses up, for future refrence.

Basically, each person can post clips of their bass, and should they sell the bass, the clips stay up, and the new owner can post clips too, if they like.

Using serial numbers, you could search for a specific bass, and hear clip from each owner, which would be cool, to hear how the same bass sounds different by player.

I like it.

LightGroove · #18 10-27-2009, 08:36 PM

Why don't we all just keep the Roscoes we have and this issue is moot....Sheesh why sell/trade such a fine instrument....Whoops Ive done it twice

Gard · #19 10-27-2009, 09:17 PM

OK, you guys are really onto something here...let me start talking to our resident webguru/ROG president/motorcycle wrangler Crash to see how we can integrate all these ideas into some stuff we're working on for the Roscoe site itself.

Understand that I'm COMPLETELY over my head with all this, so if I do or say something really dumb, just laugh, shake your heads knowingly (poor dude, you knew something was wrong with him when he admitted openly to being a Saints fan

), and point me politely but firmly in the correct direction.

Also, try not to laugh in my face, but at least wait until I'm out of your line of sight, and hopefully out of earshot as well...

VroomVroom · #20 10-27-2009, 11:13 PM

This is all great stuff. Gard, your role is the most important, and for that you don't need to know any technical jargon. Just make sure those of us involved aren't putting the cart before the horse...and don't hesitate to tell us if/when we do.

Let me just reiterate that I'm totally on board for this, and am happy to help whereever I can add value. The awesome thing is that aside from some truly magnificent players in this little corner of the universe, that same community includes some great talent on the geek side...even if it is our day gig.