Need legit mp3 sources on the web

Hi guys,

I am testing some mp3 jukeboxes in SL that I have built, and I would like to test them against a wide variety of available mp3s on the web.

If anyone knows of legitimate mp3s on the web, that can be linked freely, then could you please share the urls with me.

Many thanks,

Rock

I suggest you use streams and not MP3s as the streaming servers expect to be used for that.

You can find good sources at http://www.radio-locator.com/
which I found using http://www.google.com/search?q=internet+radio+stations

Thanks for the suggestion Malachi, but I have done quite a bit of streaming, and I am now exploring mp3s.

Rock

Then you will likely have to get your own server (or puchase hosting) and put an mp3 there.

The reason you won't find static mp3 hosts out there is because mp3 files are expected to be downloaded, not streamed and therefore have different needs and pricing. Given the way SL handles sound, I can't really see why you'd want to use static files.

You can search for "free legal mp3" and discover that the URLs may not keep up with realtime.

Found what I was looking for. Some mp3s created by amateur bands. Wide variety of locations, and recording parameters, and royalty-free.

The scripts work perfectly.

So why do it you ask?

I run a rental business over several sims, and have streaming music in all my units. However, from about 1 month back, streams have been going dead at an alarming rate, due no doubt to this recent problem coming out of the States re. hugely increased royalty fees. It has got to the point where the daily complaints from my tenants that 'my radio doesn't work' (because although there are nearly 100 channels in a typical SL radio, the tenant only actually listens to 2 or 3 of their favourites, and if they go down, as far as they are concerned the whole radio is buggered).

A little while back I was playing with some mp3s, created a great compilation and uploaded it to my website (US$0 hosting, lots of them about now), and eventually found how to play the compilation in SL.

My tenants have become increasingly curious about mp3 playing in SL (as many of them already have compilations for their car etc), and cannot be bothered with all the setting up required for streaming via Shoutcast, for exmple. My new gadget requires almost no setting up whatsover, just put the url of your mp3s into a notecard in the unit and that is it, you can play all your favourite tracks in SL!!

I can now put together a 20 track compilation, and have it playing in SL in under 3 minutes.

Of course, playing mp3s is not the same as streaming, and it has some disadvantages*, but I think the advantages are quite attractive. Anyways, it is now available for those who want it (and sold some today already before I even had my vendor fully installed, by some early birds from the scripting forum).

I now have a sample notecard installed in my units, with 12 sample mp3 tracks from the web.

Rock

*The main disadvantage for mp3 playing in SL is that every call to the SL url handler starts the download afresh. This means you cannot pause an mp3, if you try it just starts over from the beginning. This also happens if you leave the parcel, even for a second, and return. And if a friend turns up after five mins, and starts their audio, they will hear from the beginning, while you are 5 mins into the tracks. The only way to synch the audio, if you are dancing with a partner for example, is for both to press play on the audio control at the same time. That aside, the simplicity, and the quality, and the reliability are the main advantages.