[MusicallyInspired]

I've just completely overhauled my website from the ancient 10-year-old garbage I used to have in favour of a web 3.0 (or something) compliant and responsive design. I'd like some feedback on how it functions or if there are features lacking that you expected. Unlike earlier sites I've designed, I went with a web site builder instead of coding raw HTML/CSS and used Xara Web Designer Premium 15 (it was in a Humble Bundle a little while back). If there are any bugs let me know. It's to showcase my music, upcoming projects, and advertise my music production freelancing services once again (that portion of the website is still unfinished). I appreciate all criticisms. Just trying to fit in with the 21st century and turn some heads.

Also, if anyone is looking to hire a musician/composer, hit me at getmusic@brandonblume.com.

BrandonBlume.com

[Danukem]

I spent a few minutes browsing it. It's a very appealing and easy to navigate site for showcasing your musical talent. My only criticism is that it lacks any kind of narrative or structure that organizes the music. The projects are displayed/listed seemingly in a random order, and unless I click on each one to read your blurb about it, there is no context. I suggest a chronological listing of your works to show your progress as a musician, and a little bio which talks about your musical interests and ambitions.

[Forge]

Inconsistent results

When you click a Duke3d tune (whatever format), it takes the user directly to the player - there's no back button, or anything.

Choosing Ignition brings up a page of onsite clips - but at least the user can click the 'home' menu item

Full of eyes brings up a windowed youtube player, but again, at least the user can get at the menu items

Tres Lunas opens a 'pop-up' window - but the link to the offsite website brings up the Uncontrolled Reentry webpage in a new tab more often than the actual Tres Lunas webpage - actually depends on where you click on the "website" button it seems. Clicking towards the corners brings up Tres, clicking on the word "website" on the button brings up Uncontrolled.
Maybe the button below the pop-up is 'bleeding' through.

[MusicallyInspired]

Trooper Dan, on 22 September 2018 - 04:17 PM, said:

I spent a few minutes browsing it. It's a very appealing and easy to navigate site for showcasing your musical talent. My only criticism is that it lacks any kind of narrative or structure that organizes the music. The projects are displayed/listed seemingly in a random order, and unless I click on each one to read your blurb about it, there is no context. I suggest a chronological listing of your works to show your progress as a musician, and a little bio which talks about your musical interests and ambitions.

The current order is newest to oldest from left to right going downward. I suppose I could put dates next to them....any ideas? Maybe just larger thumbnails that scroll down single-file down the page? Or perhaps I should put my two newest projects there and then have a separate link for "more music" or "older music" which would have anchor tags for each year or something. I'm getting the impression that having so many thumbnails on the front page isn't as great an idea as I had thought, though.

Forge, on 22 September 2018 - 04:40 PM, said:

Inconsistent results

When you click a Duke3d tune (whatever format), it takes the user directly to the player - there's no back button, or anything.

That's because I'm linking directly to MP3/OGG/FLAC files which brings up the browser's built-in player. It's not actually a "page." You'd have to right-click to download without playing. Perhaps I should just ZIP them instead to force the browser to download. Things should be consistent, though. Thanks for pointing that out.

Quote

Tres Lunas opens a 'pop-up' window - but the link to the offsite website brings up the Uncontrolled Reentry webpage in a new tab more often than the actual Tres Lunas webpage - actually depends on where you click on the "website" button it seems. Clicking towards the corners brings up Tres, clicking on the word "website" on the button brings up Uncontrolled.
Maybe the button below the pop-up is 'bleeding' through.

Ah thanks for spotting that. Yes, it's a problem with the actual button having a separate link from the text itself inside the button. Obviously one of them is still pointing to a different URL from when I copied the buttons over between sections. Will fix that right away.

Thanks a lot, guys!

[Mark]

It might just be me but, at a website on music creation I was expecting one of your music files to play when the front page loads. Obviously it would stop when the user clicks to open another song or page. Having it a random song would help to make it less repetitive if the user goes back and forth a few times.

Side note on the content. I like your orchestral stuff more than the gaming stuff ( which is good ) that I've heard in the past. The 1st song from Mage reminded me of the orchestral stuff that progressive metal band Symphony X does in between some songs. The Seedy Tavern made me picture an old "gumshoe detective" from the 1930s or 40s walking into a bar.

Update. I'm listening to more music from the site. Full of Eyes kicks ass.

[MusicallyInspired]

Many thanks!

I intentionally didn't add autoplaying music to the site because in my experience it seems to be more of a nuisance to most people than something they appreciate. But I'd appreciate some more feedback on this from other people. Also, most of the artist websites I've seen don't have autoplaying music either. I suppose adding a readily accessible player that they can choose to start playing at any time might be an idea. But where to place it?...

Fulll of Eyes is quite an ambitious project on the level of something like Ayreon with regards to featuring talent and a full story. I've got the basic story laid out, but there's gonna be a lot of work writing, composing, and finding/fitting voices to characters/songs to work out.

[Noddy]

Come check out my new blog, where I will review new and old, even obscure games. Comments and suggestions are welcome.

https://colapoweredgamer.wordpress.com

[Noddy]

A new review is up

https://colapoweredg...telligent-qube/

[Noddy]

Today I started a new section "Under The Radar" where I take a look at games that might have gone unnoticed or under your radar. This time lets take a look at survival games

https://colapoweredg...survival-games/

[MusicallyInspired]

ah n/m

[Noddy]

Take a look at the new review of Unavowed, a point-and-click game with some new twists at:

https://colapoweredg...eview-unavowed/

[Noddy]

New Under The Radar article now covering cyberpunk games

https://colapoweredg...yberpunk-games/

[Noddy]

New review is up. This time for Far Cry 2:

https://colapoweredg...view-far-cry-2/

[Noddy]

Take a look at Outpost 2, an RTS from 1997 at:

https://colapoweredg...ivided-destiny/

[Noddy]

Due to a very good reception take a look at more cyberpunk games, that might have gone under your radar at:

https://colapoweredg...unk-games-pt-2/

[Noddy]

Take a look at my new review. Read all about Beneath a Steel Sky at:

https://colapoweredg...th-a-steel-sky/

[Noddy]

Take a look at my new review of the first Hitman game at:

https://colapoweredg...an-codename-47/

[Noddy]

Take a look at a timeless classic, Wing Commander at:

https://colapoweredg...wing-commander/

[Noddy]

Take a look at this old Infocom classic, A Mind Forever Voyaging at:

https://colapoweredg...rever-voyaging/

[Noddy]

Take a look at even more cyberpunk games at:

https://colapoweredg...unk-games-pt-3/

[Noddy]

New review is up! Take a look at Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. Read all about it here, at:

https://colapoweredg...te-of-atlantis/

[Noddy]

Take a look at Freedom Fighters, an underrated game from the developers of the Hitman series. Read all about it here, at:

https://colapoweredg...eedom-fighters/

[Aristotle Gumball]

Was this thread ever for general promotion or just for OP? lol. I get a feeling like Noddy just assumed it was for anybody. I enjoyed the cyberpunk reviews by the way. More genre/theme reviews would be cool.

[MusicallyInspired]

Yeah, it was just for my website initially. I was going to say something but I figured what the heck it doesn't really matter.

[Radar]

How shameless of him to hijack your shameless self promotion thread.

[Noddy]

Hey thanks for reading the blog, I really appreciate it!

My 20th article is up! Take a look at the first X-COM game UFO: Enemy Unknown / X-COM UFO Defense. Read all about it here:

https://colapoweredg...-enemy-unknown/

[Noddy]

I want to proudly announce that two of my review were featured on Indie Retro News website. The reviews featured are UFO: Enemy Unknown and Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis.
Read them here, at:

http://www.indieretr...t-strategy.html

http://www.indieretr...f-atlantis.html

[MusicallyInspired]

Love me some Fate of Atlantis. Some of the most incredible 8-bit Deluxe Paint digital art I've ever seen.

[MusicallyInspired]

I just joined a metal band as secondary guitarist called "Crown the Broken." We had our first full band practice over the weekend and it was incredible. Awesome guys and the music is killer. It's nice to play and write with a group that actually challenges my musical skills for once. It's been very refreshing and invigorating. Got some crazy material in the works. There's already one single out already (made before I joined so I'm not on it) on the various music stores called "Hope Is Not Lost." We're going into the studio this coming weekend to record another song that I will be on and I'm really psyched about it! Check it out:

[Radar]

Hey MI, be sure to post a song with that band once you have something finalized. What kind of gear do you use for recording? Desktop software, modelling gear, real amps, etc? Got any gear porn to show off?


I just finished recording a track today that I really wanted to show you. I buy worship songs from multitracks.com and re-record my own electric guitars. I want to be able to record studio-level electric guitar tracks in my own room, and I think I'm getting pretty good at it.

This song is "I Surrender" by Hillsong. There are 4 guitar parts and I re-recorded them all. I wish this forum allowed SoundCloud embeds. I can only share links.

Mix with electric guitars + keys, bass, and drums

Mix with just electric guitars


Here's a photo of my rig. You ain't playin' real electric guitar unless you have a vacuum tube amplifier that weighs 80 pounds. My guitar isn't in the photo, but it's a Suhr Classic T in white.

Spoiler