Are there any rules regarding what kind of music I can upload to my ezFolk MP3 pages?

Yes. When you sign up as an artist you be sure to read and agree with the terms and conditions in our User License Agreement. It was kept short and uncomplicated so it can be read and understood by everyone. Click here to view the User License Agreement. Feel free to leave a message in the ezFolk forums about any questions you might have. There are basically only 3 main rules that we need to enforce, which are:

1. You may only upload original music or public domain music.
2. Short samples of songs are not allowed. Your uploads must be entire songs.
3. We are listed as a family friendly site in numerous directories, so profanity is not allowed in song lyrics.

Are there some simple instructions somewhere for getting started?

• Click here for the Quick Start Guide for Artists.

Are there instructions on using the different features in my artist control panel?

• Click here for a detailed overview of all of the features in your control panel.

Who can become an artist on ezFolk?

• Since the foundation of ezFolk is folk music, folk and acoustic artists are especially welcome, but any good music is welcome and if there is not a genre that you feel fits your musical style let me know and I’ll definitely consider adding the new genre. Keep in mind that ezFolk is a site for all ages, including children, and if your music contains lyrics or messages not suitable for all ages please don’t upload it.

I signed up but have not received my validation email.

• Your validation email is sent automatically and you should receive it in just a few minutes. If you don’t see it be sure to check your spam mailbox if you have one just in case it landed there. If you can’t find it within an hour, email me and I’ll either re-send it or validate your account manually.

How much does it cost?

• The ezFolk site is free for all artists, members, and guests. You will not be asked for any financial information when you sign up and there are no hidden charges.

How many songs can I upload?

• There is no limit to the number of songs, videos, or pictures that you can upload. Some artists have over 100 songs and some have only one or two. You can decide for yourself how much music you would like to share.

Can I upload cover songs to ezFolk?

• No. You can’t upload cover songs or anything else that is under copyright including copyrighted photographs and videos. You can upload songs that are original or in the public domain. These are songs that were published before January 1, 1923. If you’re unsure about whether a song is in the public domain, please ask me and I’ll help you find out.

Can I upload videos?

• Yes, you can upload videos in FLV (Flash Video), WMV, MPG, or MOV formats. Currently the preferred format is FLV, since it is the only type that will play in the Flash video players. If you are unable to save videos in the FLV format, the WMV videos also work well. All types of videos are welcome (even home movies!) but remember they should be suitable for general audiences. Try to keep the size of the movies small enough so people can load them. If you have a large video you would like to share please edit it down or create several parts of 5 or 6 minutes each. Video files of under 20 MB are best. It’s okay to go up to about 50 MB or so but that’s pushing the limits of what most people can stream on the Internet. Most video editing software will help you choose a format acceptable for the Internet.

Can I sell CDs and other items on ezFolk?

• Yes, every artist has their own store that is easy to set up. The store is for selling tangible items such as CDs, T-shirts, etc., that you will be sending directly to your customers. There is no charge from ezFolk for selling your items from your “Store” page. The only charges you will incur will be between you and PayPal since the store operates through PayPal. You will need a PayPal account to add store items. To set it up, just go to PayPal and create an item for sale. You won’t need the code that is generated by PayPal -- just the item number. Entering the item number on the ezFolk form will tell PayPal what it is you’re selling and the correct selling price. Click here for a more detailed explanation of setting up your store.

Can I sell individual downloads of my MP3s on ezFolk?

• Yes. You can now sell not only MP3s but any other type of digital files such as videos, PDF files, ZIP files. This is different than selling in your store (where you accept payment and mail out CDs or other items). In selling digital files (it’s called the “Digital Vault”) the customer adds your music or other files to their cart and when they’re finished shopping they pay ezFolk and we deliver the items electronically to them so you don’t have to fulfill the order. You will receive an email stating that you have sold a digital item. You keep 80% of the net sale amount (after PayPal charges). When your earning reach $10.00 you will be paid through PayPal, or if you don’t want to use PayPal we can send you a check. For more details on selling MP3s and other digital items, click here.

What format do I need to use for my MP3 files?

• LoFi files are created automatically from your HiFi MP3 files, so you only need to upload a HiFi MP3 for each song. Our system will accept MP3s encoded from 8 kbps to 320 kbps. (kbps stands for kilobits per second, or thousands of bits per second). Keep in mind as you create your MP3s that, as a general rule, the higher the bitrate the better quality of recording, but as the bitrate increases so does the size of the file. Whle 320 kbps is permissible, a file of that size will be harder to load on some computers. Bitrates of 128 kbps and 192 kbps are currently the most popular. Also, for the embedded Flash Player on your ezFolk site to work correctly your MP3s will need to be encoded at a rate of 44,100 Hz.

My MP3s uploaded just fine and sound good when they’re played through my normal MP3 player. However, when I try to use the Flash Player that is embedded on my MP3 page it sounds like it’s playing double speed. What’s wrong?

• The Flash Player can only properly play MP3s that have been encoded at 44, 100 Hz. If you still have your original WAV files (you should always save your original recording) then resave it at a bitrate of 128 or 192 kbps with a sampling rate of 44,100 Hz (44.1 kHz). By default, the LoFi MP3s created automatically are saved at a lower sampling rate so they do NOT play correctly in the flash player although listeners will hear them correctly if they click on the STREAM option.

I signed in as an ezFolk artist but I’m not able to post in the forums.

• The forums use a different script than the main MP3 section so you’ll need to sign up for that separately. If you like, you can use the same username and password for both to keep it easier to remember.