Good day all. I am trying like hell to find a good script/software/host that will allow me to set up a membership site to download audio files. I want to do something like they have set up at a site which is (I am not allowed to post a url yet as I am new to these forums) so it is proloops._ _ m. I think you get the point. PLEASE go to this site and tell me what I should do! I am VERY inexperienced with programming and IT skills (I am a musician so THAT is what I want to do, and so I REALLY need a script that is as "NO BRAINER" as it gets! As I have stated, I would prefer to find a host/service that does all of this for you and will handle all of the IT side of things, so that I can concentrate on creating the content to provide to members! Also, I have heard mixed feelings about membership sites as people claim that they are very easy to hack and have all of your content stolen. Any thoughts? Also I heard somebody mention something about Google "harvesting" these sites/files and I don't know what they were talking about. Any elaboration? Thanks for all who reply. As is said, I am desperately trying to get this figured out so that I can begin to tweak out my concept!! Thanks, luces. Btw I have tried MultiClientPro(this took way too much time interacting with tech support) and it never got working (even after 20 days) and I have demoed aMember and this seems to require more coding and scripting than I am capable of. sorry this is so long. luces

Your best bet would be to contact several programmers, as people who are fluent in any number of languages can design a service in several weeks that may fit your requirements. For example, I could write something with php, mysql, and java that could handle this (as could any number of people). Its also likely they can offer managed hosting with it. That could be expensive though depending on how many times your music is downloaded per month, since bandwidth costs money.

As for the issue of piracy, its very real and the reality is that if you put your music on the internet it'll likely get pirated somehow. And even if you don't put it on the internet, people will find a way to burn your cds and upload it to other fans. Apple, Virgin Records, and many others have spent countless dollars and man hours trying to make it so their digital content is "secure" but even these methods have been cracked time-and-time again. So your best bet would be to hire someone who can create a good-looking membership site with standard--and maybe even some advanced--safeguards to prevent your music from being stolen. But at the end of the day, I wouldn't be too steamed if you found out that some of your music was pirated. Maybe when that time comes you can think about hiring a lawyer and doing your thing...

You might contact www.sitetutor.com - they have a cart for electronic downloads. Also you might take a look at aMemberPro (http://www.amember.com/)

both oscommerce and zencart can be set-up to do what you want.

Wow! Really! How?Like I said I got noooooo IT/programmer experience,but I do have both of these available from my current host, Lunpages. Maybe you could kinda gimme an idea of how this might work. Thanks,luces

Hi,

Both have standard systems for selling downloadable products...

There are docs, info and forum help available at their home pages....

The standard functions is that a customer can purchase one or more downloadble products from the shop, only after the payment is confirmed will they get access to download the purchased products.

Go to oscommerce.com and zencart.com and have a look around......

In this particular case i have a slight suspicion that zencart will prove to be the most sutible one for you......

Okay, but the issue is that I will have thousands of files and I don't want a customer to have to put all of these in a cart and then have to download. I would prefer that the customer buy a "membership"(one simple transaction) and THEN access a secure area to download whatever they wish. I already have a cart that will do what you have suggested and it is very cumbersome and "unfriendly". So, I am back on my quest for "MEMBERSHIP" software. Thanks again,luces

You might take a look at http://www.cmsmerchant.com/ as well

Hey Corey, now we're talking! This looks intriguing! Thanks a bunch!!!! luces

I personally like amember.com as was already mentioned.

Another one is Account Manager™ Professional from www.siteinteractive.com

Karen

oscommerce has a add-on module for memebership, so its still an option but will require some small tech work from you or someone you do hire to do it for you.

Anytime Luces - hopefully that one will fulfill your needs