[who]

The suggestion:

• Allow use of a direct link to a suitable audio file for use on character profiles.
  

The reasoning:

Some Youtube channels block external video embeds of their content, meaning they can't be used in a profile.

This leads to people reuploading the music on their own channel or seeking to upload elsewhere. Unfortunately, both available platforms have strong copyright detection functionality, and so user uploads may be silenced even if they are marked private or unlisted.

There's also potential that videos may be deleted or region restricted, leaving them inaccessible.

If the content can be hosted on a users own server, it means people don't have to worry about the content suddenly vanishing, copyright, etc.

[Poruku]

The reason we're using links is to reduce the storage space requirement on the server. If this feature was ever implemented, it would likely require real money to obtain the privilege. Personally, I just think it would be nice if we could also add a starting time to the links so we can skip long intros which are often a big reason certain songs are unsuitable

[who]

The reason we're using links is to reduce the storage space requirement on the server. If this feature was ever implemented, it would likely require real money to obtain the privilege. Personally, I just think it would be nice if we could also add a starting time to the links so we can skip long intros which are often a big reason certain songs are unsuitable

Oh, I don't mean to upload them directly to the SL2 server, but be able to hotlink files from our own servers. Unless I am misunderstanding something here? My thoughts were that it would be much like the current situation with Youtube/SoundCloud, just allowing for more freedom in hosting. We used to be able to embed it ourselves in the old profile styles, for instance.

Not sure if Byond has a built in music player, though there are probably plenty of simple open-source players around.
 
Regarding space, it makes me curious how much space the marching bands have accumulated over the years... Of course, if there was the ability to just upload a file to the profile and be done with it, of course I'd expect that to be paid. Perhaps using patrions.

> skip long intros

I agree, choosing a start time (an end time too?) would be neat! Over the years I've seen a lot of songs with a stupidly long intro as you say, and it's usually not possible to reupload them because of copyright.