A chap has set up a site in SS and has now asked me to take it over and finish it.

He wants to sell MP3 downloads from the site rather than his CDs .... so has set up a Paypal account. The idea is that visitors click to buy, process a PayPal payment and can then download the bought MP3 file.

Any ideas on how I can build into the site protection of the MP3s until payment has been made please?

mccifa

I am in the same boat.
I am thinking of setting up a new site, new domain name, purely for the purpose of selling original mp3s, pdf files of the piano sheet, and instructional videos of how to play the pieces.

The problem arises when posting an mp3 on a web site, anyone over 5 years old, can download it to their computer, so a shortened, or low quality version must be posted. Another way to discourage illegal downloading, could be to 'watermark' the mp3, with a 'beep' every so many seconds, etc.

You could place your downloads on a 'hidden' page, and email the link, after successful PayPal payment, but most people purchasing digital downloads, want to get it, immediately, and you would have to keep changing the page, or link name, to avoid fraud.

There are sites that will host your digital downloads, so that they are instantly available on payment, but obviously, they charge a fee for that service.

If anyone here, has a workable solution, that can be kept 'in house' so to speak, I would love to hear it.

Not ever having used PayPal, I am not familiar with exactly how it works; i.e., what feedback do you receive that payment has been completed?

It is fairly easy to set up a system using PHP to provide a link with an encrypted code that can be used to allow someone to download a file stored on you site. The link could be furnished via e-mail to the buyer after purchase is made and could be redeemed at any time. After the initial download, the link would be invalidated and could not be reused.

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1st the question would be is he selling his own music
or all/anyone's/other music ?

If his own...you could sign-up with some website
that provides all that is needed and who will handle
about everything...sample-playing & security & sales.
ofcourse these charge a fee...but keeps it simple for you.

If it's more or less like an online record-shop
selling each and everyone other's music then
things get slightly more complicated.

Here's a few links...maybe that helps for a start:


http://spinme.com/2005/09/sell...n-your-site-cheaply/

http://www.digitalgoodsstore.com/

http://www.e-junkie.com/ej/selling-mp3.htm

http://newmusicstrategies.com/...p3s-from-my-website/

http://allwebcodesign.com/setup/sounds-5.htm

http://ask.metafilter.com/93247/Selling-MP3-Downloads

http://www.webdesignerforum.co...x.php?showtopic=3859

http://www.soundclick.com/docs/support.cfm?site=store



For security you could maby use (a mix) of my below amateur-level ideas:


a)

"Referer-script"...page/mp3 will only be available if user is coming from
the correct website (paypal ? ..link in email ?)

b)

"Download limit" counter 1,2,3 times ?


c)

Rar it (type of zipping) ...you can add a password
which is needed to open (Un-Rar) the Mp3 or any type of file.
no password no Mp3.

I have not heard of it being cracked...could be,so do a search for that.

d)

Self-unpacking (selfexecuting) after you enter a password
it unpacks itself to Mp3...the unpacker is included in the file.
Advantage over Rar format is that visitor doesn't need to have
UnRar software installed

Google for "self-unpacking"

http://www.google.nl/search?hl...ng&btnG=Zoeken&meta=


Google for "protect mp3 downloads" :

http://www.google.nl/search?q=...&hl=nl&start=30&sa=N

Mostly encrypting Mp3-files that will only playback on their player
not such a good idea...i read just a few and very quick...maybe you
find something better


Google for link-encrypting:

http://www.google.nl/search?hl...ink-encrypting&meta=


Good luck !



Radio

.

Thanks for the help, Larry & Radio ... very comprehensive, Radio! I will have to check it all out to see what can be done.

He's selling his own voice recordings as well as the work of others. The site is not finished and needs a lot of typos corrected but you can see what he's set up using SS so far:

Aim Hi Publishing

I'm going to correct the errors and try to get he 'shop' working as he wants it so any help is much appreciated.

mccifa

I was looking at Payloadztoday.
Seems promising

Bailey, that's really promising! It looks as though it will do just what I need.

I'm going to check Radio's links now that I'm home again and then decide what to do. Payloadz may well fit the bill though.

Many thanks.

mccifa

I checked Radio's links and the very first one recommended PayLoadz too.

There were a couple of other sites in Radio's list that looked really interesting though I decided to go with PayLoadz.

So, thanks you guys ... now I must sort it out this week, LOL! :-) Good thing the weather forecast isn't too good!!

mccifa :-)

Had a few problems so just got around to testing Payloadz.com ... and it works a treat! So, many thanks for the info guys.

mccifa

Good to hear it works fine, before I try it myself

Are you using the free, or paid account?

Currently, the free one to test it. But there will be many MP3 files to download so will have to upgrade once the site is ready to launch.

The only small problem I have is that when clicking to add to cart the screen that comes up has a space for an image ... yet I can't find out how to get the image in it! Anyone have any ideas please? (BTW, we're not using the shop facility - and the section in that for an image doesn't relate to the 'add to cart' section).

mccifa