Creating and submitting your audition

Hi everyone.  I want to encourage you to start preparing for your audition for Jazz Port Townsend, if you haven't already.  The deadline for auditions this year is April 13.  Now is too early to panic, but definitely not too early to focus!

We're really pleased at how our new system of submitting auditions is working so far.  Quite a few of you have uploaded your audition files already, which is great.  In case you're a little unsure of how to create and submit your audition digitally, we've prepared the following primer which should help.  As always, feel free to contact me at gregg@centrum.org, or 360.385.3102 x109 if I can be of help.  Thanks!

Gregg Miller, Jazz Program Manager

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 2009 Audition Information

Submitting Your Audition.  You must first register.  After doing so, you will receive an instructional email that includes a log in and password for a virtual folder at box.net.  Follow instructions carefully and remember to upload your audition mp3 file and required .txt audition form to your box.net folder no later than April 13.  To save your audition form as a .txt file go to your “File” menu, then “Save As,” then in the “Save As Type” box choose “Plain Text.”

You can find the specific audition requirements for your instrument or voice at our website, www.centrum.org/admin/auditions.html

Tips for creating MP3 files for submitting your audition.

If you’re not quite sure what this means, don’t worry.  It’s not as complicated as it sounds!

First you’ll need to create a digital recording of your audition.  There are lots of good programs you can download for free that will make this easy for you to do this on your computer.  One of our favorites is Audacity, available at http://audacity.sourceforge.net, which will record your recording digitally, and allow you (via a one-time-only install) to export in MP3 format.  Additionally, there are a number of other devices for making digital recordings, such as minidisc recorders, etc.

Using a good microphone IS important.  Without one you can’t make a good recording.  You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but if you don’t have one it would be a good investment (or you can borrow one).  If the mic doesn’t come with a plug that matches your computer mini jack or USB port you can get an adapter at Radio Shack, Best Buy or another electronics store.

Start by placing the mic c. 6 - 8 feet away from you, or possibly more if you’re playing with other people.  Experiment with different placements to see what sounds the best.  Remember, you need to be clearly heard—it’s YOUR audition!

If you are using Audacity, then you are done. Save your MP3 file and upload it to our box.net site per the instructions you’ll receive when you register.

If your recording device and/or software hasn’t already saved your audition as an MP3 file (ending in .mp3) you’ll need to save it in that format.  If you already have iTunes or Windows Media Player on your computer they can automatically create MP3’s for you.

Alternatively, if you have your digital recording in a non-MP3 format, you can convert it to MP3 for free at www.zamzar.com.

To use iTunes, simply load your audition recording into iTunes.  Then go to the folder that contains your iTunes Library.  (This is NOT the list of your music you see when you’re in iTunes.  All those titles are links to the actual files, which are what you want).  Label your file as follows, using capital letters as follows; Lastname-Firstname-Instrument-1(2, 3, 4 etc).mp3 (Armstrong-Louis-Trumpet-1.mp3).  The process is similar for Windows Media Player.

Once you’ve registered and received an email from us asking you to upload your audition to box.net you’ll be ready to go.  Congratulations!

Comments

[William S Sinclair]

BAD INFORMATION #1

You were telling us that we can use I-tunes to automatically store a track in the MP3 format. This is not correct.

When you play a WAV file that's already stored, it does NOT convert it. It leaves it as it is. Songs that were PURCHASED from the I-tunes Web site get converted, but those are converted to AAC or MP4, not MP3.

Which version of I-tunes are you talking about? The more recent versions don't do things the same.

What's wrong with sending you a CD? Why subject us to this big software hassle?

[William S Sinclair]

Bad Information #2

I have Audacity. It is not a simple to use as you say it is.

When you try to export a file as an MP3 file, it says that I have to have a "LAME encoder." So I have to go to another Web Site to get that, and download it before I can export the file. Then I have to add it to the AUDACITY software.

Whoever set this up obviously didn't bother to try it out first.

So, what's wrong with sending you a CD to listen to? Why should we be subjected to this software hassle?

[William S Sinclair]

BAD INFORMATION #3

I tried getting the "LAME encoder" that Audacity says it has to have. This encoder apparently is NOT available as an already compiled DLL file like it says it needs.

The WEB site says that "only the source code is available." So that means that we have to have a COMPILER at our disposal to get this in the proper format for Audacity to use.

I hope you are aware that most of your customers are musicians, not sophisticated software gurus. I have been working with this stuff for over 40 years.

So if I have trouble, what do you think is going to happen with some of the other applicants? Why do you make it such a hassle for us?

Don't you care about your customers?

[Centrum Admin]

Thanks for your comments, Bill. We've updated the post to make it easier for folks to understand. This seems to be working, as we're getting loads of auditions. We are using this method in 2009 in order to help our faculty evaluators, who are spread all over the country. CD's haven't worked well. Thank you again--we look forward to evaluating this later this year, and your comments are valuable in that regard.