README for Packet-In
v2.2 - plutek 2008-11-14

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This file defines a protocol for this distributed music-creation repository - PLEASE READ before uploading!
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http://packet-in.org is the online repository of a distributed virtual band which emerged out of a discussion on the Linux Audio Users discussion list. The first suggestion was made in this post -- the discussion jumped to another thread here -- and then the discussion took off!

The band represents an attempt to create music out of contributions from diverse people/locations, all using audio software running under the Linux operating system. Membership and upload access was originally granted to the interested participants in that discussion. New members are welcomed; please join the discussion list, and indicate your interest.

We will, periodically, feed announcements/invitations back to LAU as well.

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COMMUNICATION:

There is a mailing list. There is also a #packet-in channel on FreeNode (OPN).

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Please place all uploads in the appropriate directory here. (See details, following...)
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SONGS:

Make one directory per song, as required - grouping your song directories under a personal directory is ok, but is discouraged.

Upload default-quality .ogg files (i.e. oggenc -q 3, 44.1kHz samplerate), indicating the following in the filename:
1. the name of the song
2. your identity
3. track label (bed, instr., sound, etc.) or mix-type (maybe it's a submix, or full mix, etc.)
4. if it is a mix, put in the version number of the mix (see "Versioning Mixes" below too)
. if it's a track, the start-time of the file as mm:ss.sss (N.B. please make all bed-tracks start around 1min, to allow for any pre-bed additions -- if you're working to a timeline which uses bars/beats, then just pick the closest bar-start to 1min.)
Also please add ID TAGS, i.e. 
        title=Blues Ditty                                                                                            
        artist=Kevin Cosgrove                                                                                        
        date=February 2, 2008                                                                                        
        album=LAU Chill Band


example bed-track filename: example_song_plutek_bedtrack_01:00.000.ogg
example overdub filename: example_song_plutek_tenorsax_01:33.312.ogg
example mix filename: example_song_plutek_0.1_mix_1_00:55.000.ogg

Also, please include the BPM in a README file or in the title of one of the bed tracks. i.e. example_song_plutek_bedtrack_110bpm_01:00.000.ogg
Notes re. timestamps:
The bed-track contains audio right from its start, but is always placed at 01:00.000 to allow pre-bed overdubs.
The overdub contains audio right from its start, and this audio begins at 01:33.312 (relative to our entire editing "workspace"), or 00:33.312 (relative to the beginning of the bed-track).
The mix contains audio right from its start, and includes overdub audio which started 5 seconds before the bed-track.
(Think of our standard "workspace" as always containing 1 minute of pre-roll, to be used as needed.)

Also feel free to upload any explanatory notes in any given song directory (such as lyrics, chord changes, or general comments).


Versioning Mixes:
Please create a songname_mix_changelog file in GNU or Debian ChangeLog format (there's an emacs mode for it). i.e. ---------- 
Spaceman (0.1.2)
  - Pulled the piano back a bit
  - Left the aspirations in the main mix, yanked them from the reverb send though
  - Removed the aggressive lowpass filtering from the L/C/R echo
  -- ken restivo  Thu Feb 14 2008 11:49:12 PM
Spaceman (0.1)
   - First mix
  -- Jeff Mashaw  Thu Feb 14 2008 12:56:08 PM
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LOOPS, SAMPLES, PATCHES, etc.:

Place these in the "materials" directory - make category subdirectories if you think it'll help.
This is simply material being made available for use in any songs, as desired.

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LICENSING:

This project is standardized to a CC-by-SA (U.S.A.) 3.0 license -- please upload only materials which you are content to release under those terms.

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ATTRIBUTION:

In order to track and credit creators appropriately, please follow this protocol for attribution:

The first uploader in a given song directory creates an attribution.txt file and places their full identifying information in that file along with the "key" to file names indicating which files are theirs. Folks who add tracks to that song just add their information to that file. Advantage here is consistency in naming and content, and only one attribution file in each song directory.

Example attribution.txt file:

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MySongTitle
11/20/2007
Anyone wishing to use all or part of this work must review the Creative Commons requirements linked to the CC by SA button at the bottom of http://lau-cb.peterlutek.com

Joe LauCB
author, backing acoustic guitar, lead electric guitar, lead vocal
SomeTown, SomeState, SomeCountry
jlcb@bogus.net
filenames containing "joeLCB" are my contributions to this work.

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--------------------------------------------- thanks -- have fun!
-plutek