An increasing number of labels running remix contests are asking for entrants to make sure that downloading is disabled when uploading your entries, especially when it is to public SoundCloud groups. Labels are doing this because if your remix contest entry manages to win a release, they know that the download hasn't been spread around already before they get the chance to release it.
Some labels are even going as far as stating that if downloads are enabled then you'll be automatically disqualified from the remix contest. I keep seeing reminders being given out to make sure that people are disabling downloads. So to stop anyone accidentally getting penalized, I thought I'd put together this quick tutorial on how to actually disable downloads.
Disabling Downloads Whilst Uploading Your Track
- 1. To upload your track to a SoundCloud group or a user's dropbox go to the dropbox page and click the "Choose File" button.
- 2. Once uploading you should see it being uploaded with an progress bar at the top. While this is happening you can start to put in the details about your track such as the name, genre etc. Under this there is a section called "Settings" that looks like the following image. (Note. If you can't see this then continue uploading as normal and follow the "Disabling Downloads on an Already Uploaded Track." instructions below as we've seen the download option not appear before).
- 3. Now make sure you click the first tick called "downloads enabled" so that it looks like this and says that "downloaded disabled"...
- 4. Once your file has finished uploading, click save and your done. But to check just make sure that the SoundCloud player on the SoundCloud widget doesn't have a downward pointing arrow download button is disabled and greyed out. If it is then your done and good luck with you remix contest entry.
Disabling Downloads on an Already Uploaded Track
- 1. Firstly click the pencil icon on the SoundCloud track you want to edit, this will edit the track details.
- 2. On the next page you should see all the settings for that SoundCloud track such as the name, genre etc. Scroll down and you should come across a section called "Settings" that looks like this.
- 3. Now make sure you click the first tick called "downloads enabled" so that it looks like this and says that "downloaded disabled"...
- 4. Now click save at the bottom of the edit page and your done. But to check just make sure that the SoundCloud player on the for that track doesn't have a downward pointing arrow download button is disabled and greyed out.
I hope these help you disable downloads on your SoundCloud tracks and remix contest entries for those who were unsure on how to do it.