Another great meeting with Alan over iChat. We talked about where the company is going, and who they are teaming up with. I was assured by the things that he told me, that this company means real business and is going to make tsunami sized waves in the near future.
I shared with him some of the first reactions to interface of the lobby, and some of the ways it worked. Some of my ideas were ones they had thought of already & were working on, while others were new to him and I was happy to bring them up. I also shared some more marketing ideas, along with some more viral ways of getting the word out about eJamming and JamCast.
A great side note that I am excited to share, if I can get the software working without a hitch over at Michael's (my lead singer) studio, then both Michael and I will play live with eJamming's Japanese project manager Yoshitaka Kagami. Yoshi will be playing bass, and Michael and I will be accompanying with guitar and vocals. This demonstration is for a potential strategic alliance partner in Japan who's interested in co-marketing eJamming AUDiiO and wants to experience how the process works.
Below is my list that I gave to Alan that I mentioned earlier:
Install
Installed the software on my MBP at school and set up an account. Setting up the account was easy, and of course the application install was simple.
Lobby
Once in the lobby, I found it some what simple to navigate, and it was not overwhelming. Some thought on things I would change:
-Setting up preferences is a little slow, and also the navigation around the settings area could be improved. I would change where the “edit” buttons are, and also increase the speed in which it loads each page. There is no loading bar to let you know if the website is working. For instance, I thought I might have broken the upload music and picture section until it popped up that it had finished. Also think that maybe the text is too small for my screen resolution.
-Chat room tabs should have “X’s” on the tabs themselves so you can close out private chats. It took me a sec to find out how to close it out. (Look to Firefox as an example)
-To listen to the music I uploaded, it opened up the browser to have me login again. I didn’t, and I doubt others would too.
-Other languages on the site adds too much clutter. I would make it where the guest user chooses a language at the beginning, and the log in requires a one time check on preference of language.
-Movable, expandable widow panels and chat window. Maybe even a pop out feature so that you can set your chat window to the far side of your screen.
-Colored chat screen so you know what you said, and you know what your friends said, and you know what guest or non-friends said.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Thursday, July 23, 2009
We're ready for launch...kinda.
Installed the "eJamming AUDiiO 2.0" software and since I am at school, I am only using the chat feature. I am trying to meet with the powers that be at AiD on installing and setting up an eJamming station in our recording studio, so that I can test the software. I thought maybe the set-up they have at school is different then the one at my lead singers house...but it isn't. They have digi003's with macpros and Michael has a digi003 with a MBP. So, if it is too much of an uphill battle, I might just be hanging out at Michael's house A LOT more often.
Making notes on changes I think will refine the user experience. I will post it on the blog as soon as I get it approved by eJamming. As I wrote earlier, I signed a NDA with them, and have a meeting set up with Alan to go over the "Do's and Don't" on what I can and cannot say.
Making notes on changes I think will refine the user experience. I will post it on the blog as soon as I get it approved by eJamming. As I wrote earlier, I signed a NDA with them, and have a meeting set up with Alan to go over the "Do's and Don't" on what I can and cannot say.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
Video Chat with Alan
I chatted with Alan last night via iChat, which is really the way to do business. There is something lost with conversations over the phone. For instance, when you are really immersed and excited about a subject and your interrupting each other with ideas, you can cut out the down time of "no you can go, no YOU can go", banter.
Anyway, Alan and I talked about some of his technology he was using and where the company is going with the Jam Cast software and how it will soon snowball with the amount of activity & users once bands realize they can make a living while playing the music they love to an online audience. We spoke about getting me set up with the ejamming software and taking notes while installing and first time use. This way I can help add some input from a users point of view. He is also interested in me helping with the interface and making it easy to use for all band members.
With that subject in mind, we spoke about how bands usually have one or two members that are computer/recording savvy. This means, in order for the product to work, all the members should be able to use the product without trouble. I hope to bring some insight to that subject to help the product be more efficient.
Hopefully I can test the product in a home, school, and recording studio environment, to really test all the bugs out on different levels of hardware. I will be installing it on a MacBookPro with a firewire audio interface. My lead singer has a protools system using a Digi003 mixer interface. I am not sure how the school is running the studio now-a-days but I will report back with that later.
Anyway, Alan and I talked about some of his technology he was using and where the company is going with the Jam Cast software and how it will soon snowball with the amount of activity & users once bands realize they can make a living while playing the music they love to an online audience. We spoke about getting me set up with the ejamming software and taking notes while installing and first time use. This way I can help add some input from a users point of view. He is also interested in me helping with the interface and making it easy to use for all band members.
With that subject in mind, we spoke about how bands usually have one or two members that are computer/recording savvy. This means, in order for the product to work, all the members should be able to use the product without trouble. I hope to bring some insight to that subject to help the product be more efficient.
Hopefully I can test the product in a home, school, and recording studio environment, to really test all the bugs out on different levels of hardware. I will be installing it on a MacBookPro with a firewire audio interface. My lead singer has a protools system using a Digi003 mixer interface. I am not sure how the school is running the studio now-a-days but I will report back with that later.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
eJamming.com Opportunities
I spoke with Alan Glueckman, one of the owners of eJamming.com since class on Thursday. He was impressed with my band and out self-motivated marketing progress and ability. He was also intrigued by my capstone project idea, as it lines up with his up & coming website release. They pretty much have the same ideas I have, but I am sure some of my ideas are a little different.
Either way, Alan expressed that he thinks I might be an asset to his testing and building of his new project and extended an invitation to work as a virtual intern for the company and test his product and site. He also showed interest in using my band as a sound board and testing team for his product.
Prof. Batchelder is looking into whether or not we can install and run the software in the roecording studio, so that I can test the technology and maybe build a site around it for capstone. More to come, but I feel my progress has good strength.
Either way, Alan expressed that he thinks I might be an asset to his testing and building of his new project and extended an invitation to work as a virtual intern for the company and test his product and site. He also showed interest in using my band as a sound board and testing team for his product.
Prof. Batchelder is looking into whether or not we can install and run the software in the roecording studio, so that I can test the technology and maybe build a site around it for capstone. More to come, but I feel my progress has good strength.
Thursday, July 16, 2009
Portfolio Capstone Ideas
Collabusician.com
A website where musicians can record a song with other musicians live, over the internet, in real time. Collaborate with people all over the world and edit your song together as a group.
Enter in contest to prove your online groups talent and win prizes and online record deals.
Log in to see a massive sound bank of samples, and songs open for use to the public. Critique members work and give them pointers on better techniques.
Mobile Componet:
On the fly recording through mobile apps and uploading to the website.
eJamming:
http://www.wired.com/entertainment/music/commentary/listeningpost/2007/04/listeningpost_0430
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0EIN/is_2008_Dec_2/ai_n31045283/
http://www.manta.com/coms2/dnbcompany_jlyjlw
http://www.beststuff.com/fromthewire/ejamming-goes-live-on-the-mac.html
Other Sites:
http://emusician.com/videos/tutorials/world_workstation_wc05v/
http://eastvillageperfumedcannibals.ning.com/
http://musicnomad.com/Support_Your_Music/Musicians_Wanted_Available
http://www.listio.com/reviews/2009/02/indaba-collaborative-music-application/
http://www.discmakers.com/community/resources/pse/2009/onlinerec.asp
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