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Introduction to retrograde motion

This page explains how to use the site.

You can upload audio (final pieces or collaborative projects) and write a blog.

Be sure to register and log in before attempting the below.

How to listen to a completed audio file (e.g. a mix)

  • Click Audio (this will take you here.
  • You should see a list of uploaded tracks.
  • (optionally) Click Browse by... to view them by artist or title (we can extend this later).
  • Click the play icon to stream the track or Download audio file to save a copy.
  • (optionally) Click on the track title to view more about the mix (e.g. here).

How to upload a mix/ audio file

  • Click Create content (this will take you here.
  • Click Audio (this will take you here).
  • Leave the Title as it is. The track/ artist will be taken from the ID3 tags. If the ID3 hasn't been set then we can fix this later.
  • Type a description in the Body. This might include a track-list for example
  • Within Audio File Info, click Browse... use the dialog to locate the mix you want to upload.
  • Within Publishing Options choose whether to publish the mix (this is set by default - you can take the mix down without deleting it by unsetting this).
  • Click Save
  • If you haven't used ID3 tags then you can set the track name and artist by editting the mix...

How to edit a mix/ audio file (node)
This tutorial explains how to edit the node that the mix is associated with. It has nothing to do you audio production!

  • Go to the node of the audio file you wish to edit (this will probably be called something like http://retrogrademotion.net/node/1)
  • Click Edit (http://retrogrademotion.net/node/1/edit - note that, as the author of this particular mix, only I have permission to edit it
  • Scroll to Audio Meta Data and begin filling in details (e.g. track name, artist)
  • Scroll to Audio Images to upload artwork.

How to collaborate
The audio file nodes are treated slightly differently when they are used for collaboration.

  • Follow the tutorials to upload/ edit a mix.
  • On the edit page of the node that houses you audio file set Allow others to collaborate.
  • The audio file will now be taken out of the main audio section and instead included in the in progress section.
  • When you view the audio file's node (e.g. http://retrogrademotion.net/node/2) you'll see other attached files.
  • From the edit page of the audio file's node (e.g. http://retrogrademotion.net/node/2/edit) you'll be able to check-in/ out the collaboration, upload additional files (e.g. loops etc) and make comments.
  • The collaboration process works like this
    1. Project is uploaded by original author.
    2. Collaborator decides to work on the project and clicks check out.
    3. Collaborator works on the project offline until (s)he is ready to check in the revised files.
    4. Author decides whether or not to approve the revised files.
    5. Go to step 2.
  • Once a collaboration has proceeded sufficiently far a version may be released as a basic audio file