Interview with QUINCY CARROLL, CEO of iPlayMusic, discussing Beginner Guitar Lessons and Play Music Together tutorials.
MyMac: Can you please confirm these two guitar instruction installers MUST be fully placed on my hard drive, as opposed to running from the DVD? One of them is over 7GB!
QC: Yes, you must fully install the DVDs in order for the programs to work. The large install size is due to a few reasons:
1. We maintained highest possible resolution on the videos (30 frames per second) so that you don’t see encoding artifacts in the videos, which is particularly problematic with close ups on guitar strings. When the image breaks up as you’re looking at the strings, it can be a frustrating experience for users.
2. We maintained highest possible resolution of the audio files that are embedded as part of the GarageBand projects. Uncompressed audio (AIF) means large file size, but our intention was to provide users with the actual raw tracks, so that if they want to record and remix their own projects, or create their own loops from the included audio tracks, that they have the full resolution source content.
3. We included separate pre-encoded iPod-formatted videos to accompany each full resolution video, so that the export for iPod function is instantaneous rather than the user having to transcode the videos, which can take some time.
MyMac: And how does the TV/DVD included with one of them differ from the instruction on the installed software?
QC: The TV/DVD for the Play Music Together product is for playing on a standard NTSC DVD player (e.g. one that would be connected to a television). It is not an installer DVD. The DVD is specially authored with interactive menus that make it very easy to use and interact with on a television rather than a computer. We actually won a 2007 Parents’ Choice Approved Award for that DVD.
One other thing I should mention. Our latest version of the software is now available as a download at: www.iplaymusic.com/download
This application provides a video Download Store, so people can pick and choose exactly which videos that they want and customize their learning experience. This way they only download the videos that they want (i.e. leading to less disk space used). What they don’t get in this case however is the GarageBand functionality and the quick export for iPod functionality. If they want to export for iPod, we provide the ability to transcode each video to iPod format and then drop it into iTunes for you.
MyMac: How is your new BEGINNER GUITAR similar or different than the original one we reviewed here? If someone has the first version, is there an upgrade, or isn’t this necessary?
QC: The latest version of the software adds three bits of functionality. First, it adds compatibility with Leopard. When Leopard was released, we received feedback from Apple and our customers that the software was not launching, so we solved this in the new version.
Secondly, it adds the ability to shop within our new Download Store. This is the most significant piece of new functionality, since now people can simply download a small client (less than 5 MB) and customize their learning experience, meaning that they can choose exactly which products and which videos they want, rather than purchasing the complete software, which comes with 165 videos. The Download Store has both individual files for 99 cents as well as video packs, which range from $9.95 to
$34.95.
The entire shopping and downloading experience is similar to iTunes, with an enhancement we developed that is useful for instructional video — when you purchase a video pack, the files within the pack are downloaded continuously and placed into a pre-defined file structure within the area we call the “media browser” in the software. By maintaining this organizational structure, our Download Store is the ideal solution for teaching, since videos can be sold in packs, containing easily digestible and downloadable video snippets that download one-at-a-time and are placed neatly within the “teacher’s” intended organizational structure. If you haven’t tried this out, I would recommend downloading the “Free Video Pack” product within the software to see how it works.
Finally, the new software adds the ability to transcode files into iPod video format. By clicking the export button, the client actually does the work of transcoding the source video to iPod format. This means that videos in the Download Store can be in multiple formats, downloaded to the client, and then the client will do the work of making them iPod-compatible.
The software still has features like looping and slow motion, which again are very useful for instructional video content. Since we launched the first version of Beginner Guitar Lessons we have invested significantly in building a platform for delivering instructional videos. We plan on spending the rest of the year making our platform the most diverse and useful music instruction software out there, so please stay tuned for new developments.
MyMac: Are you the company CEO? What happened to Stewart Putney, who we met in 2006?
QC: Yes, I am the company CEO and original founder. I started the company back in 2003 with a couple friends. We shot a few videos, posted them to a website, then sold a link to the videos on eBay. This was how the company originally got started, and over time we developed DVDs, books, and software. Stewart joined in 2005 and then decided in 2006 to pursue another idea he had for creating photo slideshows on the Internet.
MyMac: Why are your sample songs 35-to-350 years old? Can’t you come up with something newer that has equal value for education and entertainment?
QC: This is really due to licensing issues and goes back to the history of how the company got started. We decided not to license any music initially, because at the time it was difficult and expensive to work with publishing companies, and there was a lot of controversy on the Internet over copyright issues.
Since then, we have licensed more popular music, including songs like “I Shot the Sheriff,” “Redemption Song,” and “Yellow Submarine.” You can see demos of these on our home page at www.iplaymusic.com — simply click on the preview buttons for a nice flash demo of each. Since 2003, licensing and working with publishers has gotten easier, so we do have plans to build out a larger library now.
The Download Store now gives us the ability to add titles one-at-a-time. Previously, we would have had to create a completely new boxed product then convince Apple to sell it in their retail stores. This is another big advantage of having our new Download Store, since we can dynamically add content more easily now. Again, please stay tuned later this year as we broaden the selection of videos within the Download Store.
MyMac: You emphasize that iPlayMusic videos can “Export to iPod,” but what about iPod TOUCH or iPHONE export also?
QC: We use the standard iPod-format encoding settings on our Export for iPod button, so any device that can read the 320 x 240 .m4v files we export should be able to play the exported videos. We have not had a lot of requests for iPod Touch or iPhone support specifically, but this is something we can test and support relatively easily. There is also an Export menu option, which gives you all the same encoding options that you would find in QuickTime Pro, so whatever format you need can be selected there.
MyMac: How proficient at Garage Band do users need to be in order to “remix and record your version of the songs”?
QC: We have a video within the iPlayMusic Beginner Guitar Lessons product that explains the steps necessary to record your own audio track in GarageBand and use effects. These step-by-step instructions make it easy to record your own track and export to iTunes. We assume that the user has little or no knowledge of how to use GarageBand in that instructional segment.
MyMac: Tell us about the physical guitars you offer for sale.
QC: Our guitars are for adults and children that are just learning to play. We offer complete bundles, which include the guitar, our DVD, and accessories for extremely good prices and good value — from $79.99 for our “pony” and “dino” guitars for small children up to $219.99 for our electric guitar pack for adults.
We have carefully selected our guitar suppliers, so that we are able to offer high quality instruments at low cost. We’ve seen over the past few years that the quality of instruments manufactured overseas has increased dramatically while costs have declined, and so we are taking advantage of this trend, and offering people truly great deals.
In fact, the instruments we sell are in many cases made by the same companies and with the same manufacturing processes as branded guitars. The difference is that customers do not pay the brand price premium that they pay for a guitar with a name on it that they recognize. In the past, guitar brands really mattered, since they represented quality manufacturing. But for a beginner guitar, there is really no difference in quality between our guitars and branded guitars. The difference is that we offer much lower prices.
MyMac: Is there enough free info or demos on your web site so people don’t really need to spend any money on your software?
QC: This depends on the level of the person visiting our site and/or downloading our software. For absolute beginners, just interested in learning some basic skills such as how to hold the guitar, how to construct chords, etc., yes there is enough information available for free. However, for more in-depth lessons, detailed chord construction videos, and more songs, people need to pay to download these products.
The value of the software is that it provides 165 videos, GarageBand projects, and pre-encoded iPod videos (so the user does not need to spend time transcoding individual videos). If someone were to purchase each of these 165 videos within the Download Store, they would need to spend over $160, but the boxed software provides this value plus the GarageBand projects and iPod videos for $39.95.
MyMac: What are the differences between the MAC and WINDOWS versions of your training?
QC: The only difference is that the Windows version relies on Sony Acid software to provide the same functionality that GarageBand provides on the Mac. Since Acid is not bundled on Windows computers for free, we provide an installer CD-ROM and serial number with the Windows software. For the downloadable version of the Windows software, there is little or no difference with the downloadable Mac version.
MyMac: Where is the best place online or other to obtain additional training songs, once people get past the ones included on PLAYING MUSIC TOGETHER or BEGINNER GUITAR?
QC: A site that I recently discovered that I like is www.ivideosongs.com. They have some great content. That said, we do plan to broaden our library significantly this year, so please come back and visit us.
MyMac: Explain your bundles, value packs, and other bargains.
QC: All of our value packs include multiple items at a total price that is much less than the cost of buying the items individually. Our acoustic guitar bundles include the guitar(s), DVD, and accessories, and our electric guitar bundles also include an amplifier. For kids, we’ve got some great new products, including a “pony” or “dino” bundle for small kids:
http://www.iplaymusic.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=69
The 3/4 size acoustic guitar bundle:
http://www.iplaymusic.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=31
And the 3/4 size electric guitar pack:
http://www.iplaymusic.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=64
For adults, we offer acoustic and electric guitar packs in multiple colors:
http://www.iplaymusic.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=28
http://www.iplaymusic.com/store/product_info.php?cPath=21&products_id=29
Again, we offer extremely competitive prices for high quality instruments with our award-winning DVDs. We are confident this is the best value available for beginning guitarists.
MyMac: Thank you, Quincy. Please keep us informed as you introduce new products and technologies at iPlayMusic.
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