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Creator

Creator's Guide

Welcome to Mixtape Society! This guide will help you set up your server, create amazing mixtapes, and share them with the world.

📚 Complete Creator Journey

1. Installation & Setup

Installation Guide

Choose your deployment method:

  • Docker Compose (Recommended) - Production-ready with persistence
  • Docker - Quick one-command setup
  • Local Development - For contributors and testing

What you'll need:

  • A music library (MP3, FLAC, etc.)
  • Docker (or Python 3.11+ for local dev)
  • 10 minutes for setup

2. Managing Your Collection

Collection Management

Learn to:

  • View your library statistics
  • Resync after adding new music
  • Understand what gets indexed
  • Troubleshoot collection issues

Key concepts:

  • Initial indexing vs. resyncing
  • What metadata is extracted
  • How album art is handled

3. Creating Mixtapes

Editor Guide

Master the mixtape editor:

  • Search and add tracks
  • Reorder for perfect flow
  • Customize cover art
  • Write meaningful liner notes
  • Save and get your share link

Pro tips:

  • Keyboard shortcuts for efficiency
  • Track reference syntax in liner notes
  • Cover art best practices

4. Sharing Your Mixtapes

Sharing Guide

Share your creations:

  • Quick Share - Simple links for casual sharing
  • Gift Experience - Themed landing pages for special occasions
  • QR Codes - For physical gifts and events

Learn about:

  • Privacy and access control
  • Permanent vs. temporary sharing
  • Creative sharing ideas
  • When to use each method

🎯 Common Tasks

Creating Your First Mixtape

  1. Log in to your server
  2. Click "New Mixtape"
  3. Search and add 5-10 favorite tracks
  4. Add a title and optional liner notes
  5. Click Save
  6. Copy the link and share!

Detailed walkthrough →

Adding New Music

  1. Add files to your music directory
  2. Log in to Mixtape Society
  3. Click "Collection" in navigation
  4. Click "Resync Library"
  5. Wait for indexing to complete

Full collection management →

Sharing as a Gift

  1. Create your mixtape
  2. Click Save
  3. Choose "Gift Experience"
  4. Select Playful or Elegant theme
  5. Copy the gift link
  6. Share with your recipient

Gift sharing details →

🔧 Installation Quick Reference

Docker One-Liner

docker run -d \
  --name mixtape-society \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -p 5000:5000 \
  -v /path/to/your/music:/music:ro \
  -v /data/mixtape-society:/app/collection-data \
  -e APP_PASSWORD=YourStrongPassword123! \
  ghcr.io/mark-me/mixtape-society:latest

Docker Compose

services:
  mixtape:
    image: ghcr.io/mark-me/mixtape-society:latest
    container_name: mixtape-society
    restart: unless-stopped
    ports:
      - "5000:5000"
    volumes:
      - /your/music:/music:ro
      - mixtape_data:/app/collection-data
    environment:
      - APP_PASSWORD=${APP_PASSWORD}
      - APP_ENV=production

volumes:
  mixtape_data:

Full installation guide →

💡 Best Practices

Organizing Your Music Library

  • Use consistent folder structure (Artist/Album/Tracks)
  • Ensure proper ID3 tags (title, artist, album)
  • Include album art in files when possible
  • Use standard audio formats (MP3, FLAC, M4A)

Creating Great Mixtapes

  • Flow matters - Order tracks for emotional journey
  • Mix it up - Vary tempo and mood
  • Liner notes - Explain why you chose each song
  • Cover art - Use strong visual that represents the mood
  • Length - 10-15 tracks is the sweet spot

Sharing Effectively

  • Context is key - Add a personal message when sharing
  • Choose the right format:
  • Quick link for casual shares
  • Gift theme for special occasions
  • QR code for physical presents
  • Privacy - Only share with people you trust
  • Update when needed - Edit mixtapes after sharing if needed

🆘 Troubleshooting

Server Won't Start

Check:

  • Docker is running
  • Port 5000 isn't already in use
  • Music directory path is correct
  • You have sufficient disk space

Detailed troubleshooting →

Music Not Appearing

Solutions:

  • Ensure files are in the mounted music directory
  • Run a collection resync
  • Check file formats are supported
  • Verify file permissions

Collection troubleshooting →

Verify:

  • Mixtape was saved successfully
  • Server is accessible from outside your network
  • Firewall allows inbound connections
  • HTTPS setup is correct (if using)

Sharing troubleshooting →

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

How do I update my server?

docker compose pull
docker compose up -d --force-recreate

Your mixtapes and database are preserved in volumes.

Can I edit a mixtape after sharing?

Yes! Edit anytime. The share link stays the same, and recipients see the updated version immediately.

How much disk space do I need?

  • Database: ~1MB per 1000 tracks
  • Cache: Up to 2GB for transcoded audio (configurable)
  • Covers: ~5MB per 100 mixtapes

Can I run this on a Raspberry Pi?

Yes! Use the ARM-compatible Docker image. Works great on Pi 4 or newer.

Is there a user limit?

No built-in limits. Performance depends on your server hardware and concurrent users.

More FAQ →

📖 Next Steps

Ready to dive deeper? Check out:

Happy mixtape making! 🎵