Freesound Project

How to upload files to The Freesound Archive

This tutorial illustrates the steps necessary to upload audio files to The Freesound Archive. If you encounter any troubles that are not addressed in this tutorial, posting in the forum will prove quite useful (Both to you and other users).

Note: The phrase "Freesound menu" will be refered to from time-to-time throughout this tutorial. The Freesound menu is refering to the left hand column that is visible on every Freesound page...

• 1 - Set up an account
• 2 - Prepare files
• 3 - Upload files
  • 3.1 - Using the javascript FTP applet
  • 3.2 - Using an FTP application
  • 3.3 - Using "My Network Places" (built-in Windows XP FTP access)
  • 3.4 - Using "Connect to server..." (built-in Mac OS X FTP access)

1 - Set up a Freesound account

You can't upload any audio files until you have created a user account. Creating a user account is as easy as clicking Join / Register in the Freesound menu, and following the directions. Keep in mind that whatever Freesound username you choose will be the name that anybody who uses your samples will identify you by...

2 - Prepare audio files for upload

There are a few important characteristics that files added to Freesound must have:

• Files must be compatible with the creative commons attribution licence.
• Only WAV, AIFF, OGG and MP3 files are allowed.

The bit depth / sample rate does not matter, as long as the format is one the 4 mentioned. The file name does not matter either (If in doubt, be descriptive).

3 - Actually uploading files...

Section 3 describes four different methods for uploading sounds to Freesound via FTP. The easiest method (3.1) is using the javascript applet that is located right here on Freesound (i.e. a web interface). However if you prefer to use a seperate program to manage FTP transfers (like smartFTP or Fetch for instance), the credetntials are provided for that in section 3.2. Finally, if you prefer to have a "drag-and-drop" interface to Freesound (i.e. upload files by dragging to a folder in your OS), sections 3.3 and 3.4 provide for that also.

3.1 - Using the Java FTP applet

The Java FTP applet is located on the Freesound website. Java is a programming language that runs on your computer, and therefore programs can be made with Java that allow you to browse for files on your computer. The Java FTP applet on Freesound essentially acts as an FTP file transfer program that allows you to select files located on your computer and then transfer them to the Freesound server.

Steps for transfering files with the Java FTP applet:

• Log in:
  
  
• In the Freesound menu, under 'Adding Files', click Ftp Applet:
  
• If this is your first time using the applet, a window will pop up asking you if it is ok to run this applet. The message will vary depending on which browser you are using, but the reason for it asking is the same: Your computer wants your permission to run this Java applet because the applet accesses your filesystem. Click Yes, or Allow, or OK (Whichever you see). The Java FTP applet should appear on your screen.
• Click the Connect button in the lower left corner of the applet. A authentication screen will appear with your Freesound username already entered. Enter your Freesound password into the password field (The same password you logged into Freesound with), then click OK. You will see a bunch of text flowing in the bottom field of the applet, as it converses with the freesounf FTP daemon.
  
• Select the files you want to upload from your computer. The left hand pane of the applet represents your computer. To open a folder, double click it. To go back, double click the very top folder in the file list with two dots next to it . You can switch drives by clicking on the open folder . Once you have located the files you want to upload, select them by single clicking on them (Multiple files can be selected by holding down the control [Ctrl] key while clicking).
• Transfer the files by clicking the right pointing arrow located between the left and right panes of the applet. You will see a window pop up with a status bar showing the progress of your files being copied, and when the transfer is complete you will see the files you selected in the right hand pane. The right hand pane represents your space on the Freesound server, so that means you have succesfully transfered your files (congratulations). Move on to step 4...

3.2 - Using an FTP application

Another method for transfering files to Freesound is to use a third party FTP application. Due to the fact that there are many different FTP applications to choose from, this example will only show the settings required to configure a specific application (screenshot is from SmartFTP on Windows XP). I am assumming that if you are using a third party application, you probably already know pretty well what you are doing...

There are only three pieces of basic information you need to configure your FTP application to connect to Freesound: Your Freesound username and password, and the address of the Freesound server.

That's pretty much it. The Freesound FTP server is listening on the typical port 21, and appears to be running on some *nix variant (Some FTP applications want to know).

3.3 - Using Windows XP's "My Network Places"

If you use Freesound a lot and you would like to be able to add files by simply dragging them to a folder on your Windows XP computer, you can try this method.

Windows XP has a special folder called "My Network Places", which have likely seen in your start menu, on your desktop, or in "My Computer". Whis folder contains links to places outside your computer that you have access to. You can configure a link in this folder to point to you Freesound space via FTP:

• Open "My Network Places". Depending on how you have configured your computer, you will find "My Network Places" either on your desktop, in "My Computer" or in your start menu.
• Start the "Add Network Place Wizard". Depending on how you have you folder options set, you will either click Add Network Place in the "Network Tasks" pane on the left side of the window:
  
  
  or you will double click the Add Network Place icon in the list:
  
• Click Next on the first screen. The wizard asks "Where do you want to create this network place?". Click "Choose another network location" and then click Next.
• The wizard asks "What is the address of this network place?". Enter ftp://www.freesound.org/ and then click Next.
  
• The wizard asks for a username. If "Log on anonymously" is checked, uncheck it and enter your Freesound username in the field, then click Next.
  
• The wizard asks what you want to name this new place. This name is arbitrary and only serves as a personal reference, so you can call it whatever you want. Click Next.
• The wizard gives you option to launch the location when you click Finish. Keep this option checked and click Finish.
• The first time you launch this network place, you will be prompted for a password. Enter your Freesound password, and make sure "Remember this password" is checked (Maybe it says "Save this password", I wasn't able to verify), before you click OK.

That's it! Now you have a link in your "My Network Places" folder to space on Freesound. Whenever you want to transfer files to Freesound, just drag them to this folder. Of course you can make a short cut to this folder and put that wherever you want (On your desktop, for instance). Move on to step 4...

3.4 - Using "Connect to server..." in Mac OS X

If you use Freesound a lot and you would like to be able to add files by simply dragging them to a folder on your Macintosh OS X computer, you can try this method. (Note: This method was done using 10.3.8, and I am not sure if things are still the same in "Tiger").

• Make sure that the finder has the focus, by licking anywhere on the desktop. You will know the finder has focus, because the finder menu bar (across the very top of the screen) will read "Finder | File | Edit | View | Go | Window | Help".
• Click Go in the finder menu, and click Connect to Server... in the drop down menu:
  
• A window will pop up with the title "Connect to Server". Enter ftp://www.freesound.org/ in the "Server Address" field, and then click the + button to add it to your favorites (OS X will require you to reconnect every once in a while, so it's nice to keep this in the list). Click Connect and a window with a progress bar will appear while OS X tries to connect.
  
• If all goes well you will get a window asking for username and password. Again, use your Freesound username and password here. Also, you can choose to add these credentials to you keychain, so you don't have to authenticate everytime you reconnect...
• You're finished! Now whenever you are connected to Freesound, an icon will show up in the list of connected drives in any finder window:
  
  From now on, you can drag files into this folder and be amazed as they are transfered to the Freesound server...

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