Smithsonian downloads

Subject: Smithsonian downloads
From: sian, west wales
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 07:18 AM

I've seen this via the Ethnomusicology Discussion list:

The digital download site, Smithsonian Global Sound (www.globalsound.org or use your search engine to find "Smithsonian Global Sound") will be up and running later this spring, as soon as we determine that it is ready. I'll let the list know as soon as we have a firm date. Meanwhile... WE NEED SOME HELP! IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN BEING A BETA TESTER AS WE MOVE TOWARD LAUNCH, please e-mail to Dr. Peter Seitel, [e-mail] . Tracks of up to five minutes' duration will indeed cost $0.99.

Smithsonian Global Sound will premiere with downloadable content by track from ILAM (South Africa) and ARCE (India) as well as the Smithsonian Folkways label catalogue and historical collection (see follwoing). An institutional subscription program is also in the offing.

First, though, we need to launch the Smithsonian Folkways Recordings re-designed website (www.folkways.si.edu). Smithsonian Folkways Recordings online offerings of physical products is supplemented by CD-R/audio cassette copies original master recordings from Folkways, Cook, Dyer-Bennet, Fast Folk, Monitor and Paredon catalogue titles otherwise out of print.

Please consider helping us by becoming a beta tester.

Thanks, and all the best to all...

Atesh Sonneborn, Ph.D.
Assistant Director
Smithsonian Folkways Recordings
Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
Smithsonian Institution
Washington, DC

Now that HAS to be of interest to 'Catters, right?

sian

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: fretless
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 11:06 AM

Right. Where do we sign up?

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: Damon
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 11:18 AM

Excuse my ignorance but what's a BETA tester?

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: GUEST,Ed
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 12:00 PM

Thanks, Sian. Sounds interesting. I look forward to the launch.

fretless,

Read Sian's post

Damon,

A Beta Tester, is a person who helps test software in it's later stages of development to help the developers iron out bugs, problems etc.

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 01:07 PM

I don't find a reference to this program at Folklife, but the following might be helpful if someone wants to pursue it. Mr Sonneborn sounds like he'd be in a position to be involved.

"The Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage is located at 750 9th Street, NW, Suite 4100, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C. 20560-0953. Please note our mailing address for the foreseeable future is P.O. Box 37012, Victor Building, Suite 4100, MRC 953, Washington, DC 20013-7012.
"Telephone: [phone]. Fax: [phone]. E-mail: [e-mail]

"D. A. SONNEBORN - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR, SMITHSONIAN FOLKWAYS RECORDINGS
"D.A. Sonneborn, Ph.D. in music (ethnomusicology), wrote new music for theater, film, and dance works in the United States and Western Europe. He managed productions and artists as well as produced concerts, festivals and albums. His articles, reviews, and photos appear in The Garland Encyclopedia of World Music and scholarly journals. Sonneborn co-authored (with drummer Mickey Hart and Professor Fredric Lieberman) Planet Drum (Harper San Francisco, 1991), is a member of ICTM and SEM and a founding member of the SEM's Applied Ethnomusicology Committee. His research interests include intentionality in music performance, music and ritual, and folk music of the Veneto (Italy).
"mailto:[e-mail]
"D. A. Sonneborn, Assistant Director, Smithsonian Folkways. 202.275-1158."

Sounds like an interesting setup.

Note: In a normal software project, the Alpha test is often done using company employees, but usually employees outside the "design group" that produced the software. The Beta Test usually refers to a limited "public" distribution where people "outside the company" are allowed to play with the program. Ideally, the Beta testing shouldn't start until the designers are sure (from the Alpha test feedback) that they have a product that's "ready for market." It doesn't always work that way - one "famous manufacturer" is on their 4th (or maybe it's the 5th?) Beta of a notorious new (and very large) program now.

John

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: sian, west wales
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 05:50 PM

So, if you BETA test this baby, does that mean you have to pay the 99 c. ? That doesn't seem quite fair ...

sian

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: Maryrrf
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 09:10 PM

If this is true I think it's very exciting. I'd gladly pay the $.99 download!

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: JohnInKansas
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 09:11 PM

Sian -

No way to tell what the "terms" are for Beta testers. Usually a Beta test tries to give the testers use of the program in "as close to real life" conditions as possible, so they might expect you to order and pay for downloads just like "real people" would.

They would, probably, give you a chance to give them periodic "evaluations" of how well things work; and would be likely to ask you to make some kind of comments (answer a questionnaire?) at the conclusion of the test.

If you think you might be interested, I'd suggest an email to Mr Sonneborn to ask him how the beta test will work, and what you have to do to volunteer. He probably has at least a form letter he can email back to you.

Smithsonian is reputable enough you shouldn't have to worry about getting a lot of spam if you contact them, although actually participating might get you a newsletter offer or annual "begs" for contributions for a while. I get a very minor bit of that from my magazine subscription, but they're not pushy.

I probably won't inquire, since the amount of downloading I do is so minimal that I couldn't give them much of an evaluation; although I'd like to see the system work for the rare times when I do want something.

John

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: sian, west wales
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 03:57 AM

Yes, I thought I might offer. The 99c. bit was meant to be a bit facetious, (although, if testers help smooth out bumps, I might expect some special offers in the future) and I certainly wouldn't worry too much about the Smithsonian misusing the info.

Looks good!

sian

Subject: RE: Smithsonian downloads
From: Chris in Wheaton
Date: 19 Mar 04 - 11:49 AM

I wrote and offered my services. They said they'd get back to me.
I also suggested that they sell the great booklets that went with the lp's - I still have a number of the lp's (Pete and Sonny is my alltime favorite lp, cd, whatever), but I seem to have lost a lot of booklets. Maybe they would do that if others asked.
Hope that I'm still around when you can download a song and it plays on your guitar! I'd probably have to go out and get a 12-string to play Pete's stuff !
Chris