Congratulations to Mr. Sam Cook!
He's won a fantastic pack of Naxos American Classics CD's, as well as some other Naxos things!
A big thank you to all of you who entered! We received over 200 entries through all the various sites!
Until 1,000,000 tracks(or the next post),
Nick
Nick@NaxosUSA.com
www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com
Friday, July 31, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
The NML reaches 500,000 Tracks: We Celebrate!
We've done it!500,000 tracks!
To show our appreciation we want to say "Thanks" to all of you!
We're going to be giving away 20 of our Naxos American Classics CD's!
4 Ways to Enter:
Twitter: NaxosMusicLib
Follow us on Twitter, and tweet with the following Hash-tag
#NML
Facebook!
Reply on our Facebook Wall, to the story about this Post!
Myspace
Post on our Myspace Wall with the Hash-Tag #NML
NML Blog
Comment on this post!
We'll pick a winner at 4:00 PM CST on Friday July 31, 2009!
A big Thank You to everyone involved in making the NML the resource it is today! We look forward to many more years of fine music!
Best of Luck, and Happy Listening!
Nick
Nick
615.465.3836
Thursday, July 23, 2009
The Brave New World of "Flash Only"
Wow how time flies!
August 1st is just over a week away, and we're already excited to transition the NML to an Adobe Flash player.
At 12:01 AM on August 1st, 2009, the NML will retire it's Windows Media Player and Microsoft Silverlight servers, and offer only an Adobe Flash player.
Since October of 2008, the NML has been streaming in all 3 available formats. Many have called and written about the various ways they've been able to easily upgrade older computers.
The change from WMP to Flash is welcomed, especially by our friends and colleagues who work on Mac's. Now, the NML will "just work" on Mac's! No more Flip4Mac. No more crazy WMP Plug-In's!
We're also working extensively with the folks that maintain EZ-Proxy to ensure continuous access. Should you encounter any of those infamous Gremlins in the system, please don't hesitate to call or write to us!
EDIT:
Here's an e-mail clarifying many of the recent questions!
Hi Sam, Richard, and all,
We've actually just finished re-encoding all of the old AAC (flash) files. The issue currently / previously, is the encoding.
"FM-Quality" (20 KBP/S)- were playing through the Flash player, as "Near-CD".
"Near CD" (64 KBP/S)- were playing through the Flash player, as "CD" quality.
"CD Quality" (128 KBP/S)- were not playing through the Flash Player. These were being streamed at 192 KBP/S.
Just recently we here in Nashville received more files to test from our colleagues doing to actual encoding, and have finally sorted everything out. In fact, I'll be working with them later this evening on the final details, so that once August 1 comes around, there won't be any Sound Quality issues.
*EZProxy*
A few people have also written in regarding EZProxy. We've been rewriting all of our back end code to work with EZProxy. Also, the folks at EZProxy have adjusted a few settings regarding how the NML works through the servers.
Here's a bit from an e-mail with Chris Zager, a technical designer at EZProxy:
"I can alter EZProxy in any way required to hand the user off to your service. This would eliminate the proxying component, and uses EZproxy just for the authentication component. From my perspective, this is ideal as it eliminates any of these side-effects and also reduces network bandwidth requirements since the media does not have to pass through the university network."
Please keep the questions and comments coming! They are crucial to ensuring that everyone is happy!
Stay Classy!
Nick
Nick
615.465.3836
Thursday, July 16, 2009
500,000 Tracks of Music- Here we Come!
How do you think we should commemorate this special event? We really want to have a giveaway, but what to give away... now that's the real question...
And how to achieve these type of results......
Video c/o Youtube User: ArielColella
If you aren't a Naxos Music Library Twitter follower, be sure to look us up!
Twitter.com/NaxosMusicLib
Until Next Time, Stay Classy!
Nick
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Student Playlists Coming to the NML!
Student Playlists Feature Being Added to the Naxos Music Library
You read correctly! Student playlists will be available very soon for all NML subscribers.
With the transition of the Naxos databases from Windows Media Player to Adobe Flash, we're able to put many of your suggestions to good use!
Nope, Nada, No Way! The basic professor window will remain exactly the same. We're actually going a few steps further to make creating and maintaining playslists easier than ever.
Professors will now have the option to create customized Folders for all of their playlists. Once created these folders can be renamed and password protected! For some students it can be very confusing with so many Music Theory Listening playlists, or History of Bach playlists. Your students will now be able to easily find exactly what you want them to see!
Yes, Si, Ja! As a student you'll be able to visit your schools Unique URL (http://YOURSCHOOL.NaxosMusicLibrary.com), and click the playlist window.
From there you'll see a brand new window! --->
Simply enter the basic information (so you can easily retrieve your playlists).
You read correctly! Student playlists will be available very soon for all NML subscribers.With the transition of the Naxos databases from Windows Media Player to Adobe Flash, we're able to put many of your suggestions to good use!
I'm a Professor! What does this mean for me? Another Interface?
Nope, Nada, No Way! The basic professor window will remain exactly the same. We're actually going a few steps further to make creating and maintaining playslists easier than ever.
Professors will now have the option to create customized Folders for all of their playlists. Once created these folders can be renamed and password protected! For some students it can be very confusing with so many Music Theory Listening playlists, or History of Bach playlists. Your students will now be able to easily find exactly what you want them to see!
Will I really be able to make my own playlists as a Student?
Yes, Si, Ja! As a student you'll be able to visit your schools Unique URL (http://YOURSCHOOL.NaxosMusicLibrary.com), and click the playlist window.
From there you'll see a brand new window! --->
Simply enter the basic information (so you can easily retrieve your playlists).
Naxos will absolutely not sell or rent your personal information.
After you're done with that, it's pretty simple. Find your tracks, and add them to the playlist you want. If you need help with general playlist creation, there's a step-by-step walkthrough on the playlist page!
We missed my favorite feature though! I love the (+) symbol. The (+) button. All things (+). Maybe it has to do with the inherently positive nature of the symbol? Who knows. People tend to laugh at my over-enthusiasm .
Students, Professors, and all NML subscribers will have a (+) button added to the Flash Player, as well as "check mark" boxes added to the left-hand side of the track window. You'll be able to "check" various tracks, click the AWESOME (+) button, and instantly add thm to any of your playlists.
Stay Classy!
Nick
Nick (at) NaxosUSA.com
Another Great Feature
We missed my favorite feature though! I love the (+) symbol. The (+) button. All things (+). Maybe it has to do with the inherently positive nature of the symbol? Who knows. People tend to laugh at my over-enthusiasm .
Students, Professors, and all NML subscribers will have a (+) button added to the Flash Player, as well as "check mark" boxes added to the left-hand side of the track window. You'll be able to "check" various tracks, click the AWESOME (+) button, and instantly add thm to any of your playlists.
Stay Classy!
Nick
Nick (at) NaxosUSA.com
www.NaxosMusicLibrary.com