Ahoy! I just wanted to outline (for anyone paying attention) my basic plan for jump starting the audio community on BYOND. This is just my own personal musing on how things should go, and isn't based on anything concrete, so if you know better than I how to go about getting people together to enjoy making music, please tell me.

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First, make a place (this guild) where people can gather. This place should eventually have 1) a means to associate with other like minded persons, 2) an appropriat theme, 3) resources.

Second, find a Mod Tracker program which the guild can endorse. Tutorials will be written for this tracker, and screenshots posted here (from staff) will show that tracker, for consistancy.

Third, write tutorials and provide starter material so that a determined novice can see results on the first day.

Fourth, provide (on site) a library of free samples (or instrument files) for commonly needed instruments (like guitar) or effects (like wind... melodic wind?).

Fifth, collect links to off site tutorials, samples, trackers, and other resources. Note: This does not remove the guild's need for it's own resources; A BYOND user should be able to get into tracking completely from this site.

Sixth, go public.

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If this looks like I'm placing a heavy emphasis on Mod Tracking (instead of other forms of music, or sound effects at all), I am. Mod Tracking seems to have a steep learning curve, and I feel that it's important that BYOND developers be able to lay down notes like they lay down pixels. Also, Tracking seems to be something which can be taught in a pretty straight forward way; all I have to do is choose a program and explain it's interface. The creation of sound effects is foreign to me.

So, there you have it, the official game plan. If you think you can help get us to the next step, please contribute what you can. Also, please give me suggestions for a better game plan, you probably know better than me! This includes if you'd like to include steps for jump starting the Foley community.

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While I'm here, I'd also like to lay down the long term goals of the guild, as I see them.

To give BYOND community members the tools they need to create game related audio just as easily and confidently as they create game related graphics or programs.

To provide a venue within the community for audiophiles, and to promote an appreciation of well crafted game audio as an art form, such as the pixel art society has done for game art.

To make BYOND a more viable development and gaming platform by fostering an audio community.

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I don't know how many more times I can encourage you to comment. This is our BYOND Audio guild, and these are the principles on which it will run. If no one gives me any feedback, it may just become Iain's Audio guild, and no one wants that. :)