Streaming Music from MP3Tunes Service into your .. local device..

Being your own DJ in Second Life, Take 2!

The Still Easy, more Steps Approach, using MP3TUNES.COM

Plans C and D are luxuries, but Plan B is essential -- Hotspur O'Toole.

Recent discussions about the MediaMasters service and the notion of digital licenses had me doing a little homework. This research, in turn, led to the discovery of MP3TUNES.COM, yet another service on the Internet that allows the customer to store a music library online, and stream it out to his or her local device, using WinAmp or some other player.. such as the Second Life client, for instance.



A couple of elements to take into account. MP3Tunes provides two tiers of service, free and paid. A free account has space limitations of 25 GB, which averages out to
about 400 songs, maybe a little less. The pro accounts are tiered, based on space.

Here is how the service packages break down.

PREMIUM MUSIC LOCKER

* Your music securely stored online
* Listen from the web, your stereo, mobile phones... everywhere!
* Store and enjoy larger, high quality music files
* No interruptions from audio or visual advertising

PREMIUM 50: Up to 10,000 songs*
$39.95 per year
$4.95 per month

PREMIUM 100: Up to 20,000 songs*
$74.95 per year
$7.95 per month

PREMIUM 200: Up to 40,000 songs*
$139.95 per year
$12.95 per month

FREE MUSIC LOCKER

* Listening from web player only
* No listening on phones or devices
* Advertising-supported (audio & visual)

Up to 400 songs

Note the bolding. They WILL slip in advertisements. Free isn't "free".

On the plus side, the tracks are played at a variety of speeds, and the MP3Tunes service enforces licensing.

Now, erm, how does one stream this wonderful service to a local device, say, WinAmp, or a Second Life client? Let's use a Second Life client as an example. To make this happen, you'll need an internet connection, some (legal) music files, and WinAmp or some other player that will allow you to see the details of a playlist.

Step 1: Sign up for an account. They'll want the standard information. If you're a privacy nut, call yourself "Sebastian Weetabix" or "Seymour Butz" instead of your real name.



2. Download the LockerSync utility. This is a little filer uploader/synchronizer that scans your drive for music files to upload to the MP3Tunes account in a rapid and efficient manner. Install, fill in your account information.



you will see a little widget on your desktop that looks like this (below). The default here is to have this thing turn on every time your computer does, but that can be turned off. The LockerSync tool tries to SYNCH your account on MP3Tunes with any new music that might have been ripped or downloaded since the last time you have run a synch.

3. Scan your PC for Music files

The synch process takes a few minutes, but it generates a catalogue of what music files exist on your computer:


4. Upload the Files you wish to upload

At the end of the scanning process, you will have a picklist to upload from. This will take as long as it takes-- depending on your connection, the size of the files, the number of files, what you choose to upload, etc.



And by Mary and all the Saints, don't forget to upload your Yma Sumac.


5. Create a Stream

Now, go back to the MP3Tunes website and make sure you are logged into your account. Find the button for MP3Tunes Main Player. I uploaded a couple of (legally purchased from Amazone MP3 Downloads) Aaron Copland songs to test this service.

You will see that they have showed up. You can now create a Playlist either thematically, by artist, or whatever yardstick you can come up with. I created one called "Copland".


6. Download a Stream File, then open it up in WinAmp.

Unlike MediaMasters, I couldn't find the stream information on the web. But I COULD download it, like so:


Next, bring up WinAmp (which is what I had handy).

In WinAmp, click on the song or stream playing. A dialogue box will pop up. A long string about the stream details will display. Select this and copy it to clipboard.

7. Copy Information about the stream for your SL Client

Remember this string, it's long and clunky.

8. Open Second Life and bring up your Parcel Dialog box.

Last step, go into Second Life. Go to a parcel you own, or have rights to change parcel settings on.



Remember our old friend the media tab on the land settings? Yep, paste that long, clunky string from WinAmp right into there. Close. Then hit the music button.

VOILA! I was listening to the strident trumpets and energetic strings of Aaron Copland's RODEO shortly thereafter.

And that's how it's done. I found this to be a tad clunkier to implement than MediaMasters, but they have better rights management and license control, and they have variable stream rates, which is a huge plus.

Disclaimer: this is a "How to", not a "Should I?". Information posted for your personal use, I assume no responsibility for what you do with it. I personally purchase all my music so the licensing is correct, and do not own a bar or club to play things in, so I think my implementation of this idea is so small potatoes I don't think the RIAA will care overmuch if play music for my own amusement. If you use this inworld, do let me know how it works out for you. I've only uploaded a few files and hardly consider this solution "Stress-tested".