You’d think that sharing sound libraries would be simple. I once thought so. After all, I thought, how hard is it to send an MP3 to a fan?
That was in 2000. Since then, I’ve peeled back layers of library ingestion, SSL, licensing, and other arcane Web shop terms. There’s no manual for sharing sound. It was exciting exploring this world and discovering how it worked. But good information remained clouded. One reason I started this blog was to part these clouds. Why would I do this?
Well, one benefit to creating this site is that I’ve had the privilege of hearing cool tracks from people who visit. Others need to hear these recordings. They will love them. It still amazes me that we can hear recordings from thousands of kilometres away seconds after they happen. It’s easier than ever to trap and ship audio anywhere.
But this has introduced a problem. While transferring sound is simple, sharing it well is not. Why?
The transmission of a creative idea is never easy. It can be misunderstood, or corrupted midway. Crafting an irresistible collection is trickier. Serving it to others is harder still. Web shop ingestion is a maze of confusing requirements littered with land mines of bugs. And every shop is different. You’re busy recording cool tracks. Who has the 13 years I did to learn the ropes?
This is why I wrote my upcoming book, Selling Creative Sound. I’ve read email from many people who want to know how to share sound smartly, and support themselves from their work. The book is designed to help send your audio to fans quickly, wisely, and support you while you do it.
So, today I’ll share how to prepare a sound library for Web shops. It’s an abridged checklist taken from the book. It’s meant to prepare a bulletproof package that will be prized in Web shops, and, later, perhaps a site of your own.
Update: Selling Creative Sound is now available. Learn more about the e-Book.
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