Ability to use alternative sources for sounds/media

Hi, I propose that the music/sound functionality in Roll20 is refactored or altered to allow alternate sources of media, such as an FTP server from where the sounds can be loaded when the GM of the campaign choose to play/use the sound. The reason for this is issues with SoundsCloud as a service as they have handed over parts of the copyright infringement procedure to Universal Music Group (*) and therefore even paid accounts can be removed solely by the word of a multinational corporation who does not have to give any reason, list of tracks or any other loggs of why they have blocked an account. As soundcloud have proven to be unable to see the reason as well, and refuse to unblock such accounts, Soundcloud have proven to be unreliable as a sound-host for our, and others campaigns. (* Source article) <a href="https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140702/10252827760/soundcloud-has-given-universal-music-group-ability-to-directly-remove-content.shtml" rel="nofollow">https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20140702/10252827760/soundcloud-has-given-universal-music-group-ability-to-directly-remove-content.shtml</a>

I agree with this.

Further agreement. Loss of stuff due to corporate shenanigans = sadtimes.

There's a conversation about this exact issue in the Mentors forum. The general consensus among posters (no dev response there yet) is that roll20 would come under attack for allowing pirated music to be shared if they provided facilities as you described. That said, I would like to see some way of allowing GMs to stream audio they have to their players, even if it were just an alternate mic source for audio chat which crafty users could connect to the output of some local audio player.

Based on the documentation I've read, the changes to SoundCloud would only affect you if you want to play music in your campaign that is taken down by Universal. Universal is only taking down things which violate copyright claims (presumably only their copyright claims, although it's the largest music company in the world so that's still a large portion of published music), and while they appear to be taking a very wide brush as to what constitutes a violation, it is possible to avoid music they care about. Worst case, the track you wanted to use isn't available, and your players lose a bit of ambiance. Hardly the end of the world.

Aaron said: There's a conversation about this exact issue in the Mentors forum. The general consensus among posters (no dev response there yet) is that roll20 would come under attack for allowing pirated music to be shared if they provided facilities as you described. That said, I would like to see some way of allowing GMs to stream audio they have to their players, even if it were just an alternate mic source for audio chat which crafty users could connect to the output of some local audio player. Roll20 would not be hosting any of the files, but loading them from an other source, such as the GMs own FTP server, Youtube or somesuch. This would let the host/owner of the files care for the legality/illegality of the files while Roll20 play the media in an URL address. Best regards, Mikael

Brian said: Based on the documentation I've read, the changes to SoundCloud would only affect you if you want to play music in your campaign that is taken down by Universal. Universal is only taking down things which violate copyright claims (presumably only their copyright claims, although it's the largest music company in the world so that's still a large portion of published music), and while they appear to be taking a very wide brush as to what constitutes a violation, it is possible to avoid music they care about. Worst case, the track you wanted to use isn't available, and your players lose a bit of ambiance. Hardly the end of the world. The problem here is that SoundCloud disable the whole accounts that have had media removed by a company which not long ago labelled SoundCloud as a 'Piratesite'. The disabling of an account result in that any and all media on the account is removed. Best regards, Mikael

I'll reiterate: Worst case, the track you wanted to use isn't available, and your players lose a bit of ambiance. Hardly the end of the world. It doesn't take that much to find a replacement piece of music.

Mikael N. said: Roll20 would not be hosting any of the files, but loading them from an other source, such as the GMs own FTP server, Youtube or somesuch. This would let the host/owner of the files care for the legality/illegality of the files while Roll20 play the media in an URL address. Yep, as blameless as Napster. =D

My concern with continued use of SoundCloud and their ridiculous cooperation / policy with big labels is that the continued use would be seen as support of that policy.