All this noise about Cloud this and iCloud that is giving me a headache. The so-called cloud, for what it’s worth, is merely a place to store digital files besides your office or desk at home.
Think remote storage. Think lots of cheap, fast, reliable remote storage. Think of on-the-fly, any device, downloads of anything, including movies, documents, music, and, uh, um, sound.
Sound In The Clouds
With all due respect to Judy Collins and Stephen Sondheim and Send in the Clowns, sound in the clouds has become a new age rage. Here’s how it all got started (with some editorial license and licorice, which makes me giddy).
Some guys were sitting around and thought, “Hey, let’s put our music online.”
Another guy came up with a domain name, SoundCloud.com, and a business was born.
It’s sound in the cloud. Isn’t that adorable? What the heck does it mean? What sounds would I want to put online?
Who would listen to whatever sounds I make? Why would they want to? Admittedly, I do some grunting and groaning from time to time that can be quite comical (after Thanksgiving Day dinner… what did you think I was talking about?).
SoundCloud defines itself this way:
SoundCloud is a platform that puts your sound at the heart of communities, websites and even apps. Watch conversations, connections and social experiences happen, with your sound as the spark.
Oh, well now it’s really clear. The sound is your music, right? I get it. OK, that makes sense. It’s a place to upload your latest musical creation for all the world to hear. And steal, I suppose.
There’s a neat techno-looking SoundCloud waveform player so you can see what your sound looks like in the cloud (and I’m not even speaking metaphorically).
Friends and fans can tell you what they like and don’t like about your musical creation. Everyone’s a critic, so make sure to stock up on thick skin pills.
SoundCloud Downloader is a free Mac app that lets you download songs from SoundCloud. Enter the URL and the song is saved to your Mac. What you do with it after that is up to you. But, there’s also a SoundCloud app for your Mac. It’s free, too.
As it turns out, there are all kinds of widgets and apps and tools for SoundCloud. Apps to mix music on Mac or PC, iPhone or Android or iPad. Music is music. SoundCloud is more about a music community mingling with smattering of podcasts. Think Facebook musicians meet up with YouTube and decide to ditch the video.
The whole SoundCloud thing is more than interesting. It’s the future. Ha ha ha. I jest. What I can’t figure out is where the money changes hands. At least with YouTube we know Google gets money from advertisers who want to count our eyeballs.
About Alexis Kayhill
Mac360's Comment Policy: Keep your comment on topic, relevant, worthy, and funny. Or, pick any three. Be pleasant, helpful, and only use your real name. Comments are moderated and will not appear immediately.