My message to Park Tools regarding their music videos

[matt_twam_asi]

Music played as a background during speech is IMO a modern curse.

Check out this modern cycling video. The narration is drowned out by the music! Awful!

What we "oldies" are a bit incredulous about is why the youngsters haven't worked out a way to switch the music off if you don't want it. After all, it isn't rocket science (or should that be mechanical engineering?).

I say this with all respect, it's probably because it's not worth the effort.

Sure, Youtube could create a tool where video publishers add music within the website instead of editing it in before upload. It wouldn't be around for very long and would break any videos that used the tool, going on previous experience with Youtube.
edit - I've just checked, and it is technically possible to add music to YT videos within the YT Studio. I have no idea what effect this has over and above baking the music into the video.

THEN Park Tools could re-edit a version without music to all their videos, re-upload a music-free version, re-add the music in Youtube, and bingo! But what's in it for them? Why do all that extra work?

[Cyril Haearn]

Simples, charge extra for music

[Jdsk]

Simples, charge extra for music

I'm not sure how familiar you are with YouTube, but viewers of this type of content typically aren't paying anything to anybody and don't even need to register. This is a crucial part of the business model.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/YouTube

Jonathan

[horizon]

Just like you think music spoils the videos, I'm sure there are just as many people (me, for example) who like the music and think it makes the videos better and more entertaining.

It could well be that the vast majority of people who view Park Tools videos prefer the music. It could well be that if the music were lighter and more incidental, then even that figure could rise (it would be fine by me). But that still leaves a small number of viewers (perhaps older or with hearing difficulties) who find it intrusive. While those people might not deserve our sympathy (and indeed should go elsewhere), I'm hoping that Park Tools will at least give a solution their consideration. It wouldn't be my intention to deprive people who do enjoy the music, their experience/enjoyment.

This by the way is from W3C:

The Web is fundamentally designed to work for all people, whatever their hardware, software, language, location, or ability. When the Web meets this goal, it is accessible to people with a diverse range of hearing, movement, sight, and cognitive ability.

Thus the impact of disability is radically changed on the Web because the Web removes barriers to communication and interaction that many people face in the physical world. However, when web sites, applications, technologies, or tools are badly designed, they can create barriers that exclude people from using the Web.

https://www.w3.org/standards/webdesign/accessibility

I don't know at what point the music goes from being an annoyance to effectively an inability to view the site properly. There may be such a thing as hyper-sensitivity to sound which some people suffer from.

https://www.webmd.com/brain/sound-sensi ... eracusis#1

[Postboxer]

I don't know much about speakers and sound setups, could it be possible that whatever system you are watching the videos on somehow makes the music more intrusive? The short clip I watched the music went very quiet when the technician was speaking.

[gregoryoftours]

It wouldn't be so bad if 95% of the music in bike mechanics videos wasn't such utter dog sh*t!

In your opinion!Someone else will like what you consider to be utter dog sh*t!

Iz actual fact

[jb]

Attention deficiency is big problem these days and fast high beat music is a way of holding on to the remains of their attention. Look at you tube videos of technical subjects from the fifties, the professionalism is on another level. And it's not because the younger generation are any less intelligent, or less capable. But they have been brought up to believe that everything can be achieved at a fast pace with a few taps of a key pad.
This isn't the case in science or high end engineering but it is in the more mundane sections of society I'm afraid.

[richardfm]

As copyright laws will stop them playing anything decent I think they are somewhat limited to the bottom of the barrel anyway.

Copyright laws don't stop them, money does. If they are prepared the licensing fees they can use any music they want.

[jb]

As copyright laws will stop them playing anything decent I think they are somewhat limited to the bottom of the barrel anyway.

Copyright laws don't stop them, money does. If they are prepared the licensing fees they can use any music they want.

Well yes...it's the money thing that stops them.

[Ride-sleep-repeat]

It wouldn't be so bad if 95% of the music in bike mechanics videos wasn't such utter dog sh*t!

In your opinion!Someone else will like what you consider to be utter dog sh*t!

Iz actual fact

So what music would you prefer that in your opinion isn't utter dog sh*t?

[horizon]

So here's my reply from Park Tools:

Hi xxxx,

Thanks for reaching out and for your suggestion. We will take that into consideration.​
​
Thanks,
​
Truman

Not bad (and quick, assuming it wasn't AI ). You never know, it might start something - or not!

[Jdsk]

Thanks for posting the response.

Jonathan

[gregoryoftours]

In your opinion!Someone else will like what you consider to be utter dog sh*t!

Iz actual fact

So what music would you prefer that in your opinion isn't utter dog sh*t?

Perhaps Enya's seminal 'Orinoco Flow' would fit the bill. Soothing, unobtrusive yet haunting. Sail away. Or 'Sadeness pt2' by Enigma.

[Ride-sleep-repeat]

Iz actual fact

So what music would you prefer that in your opinion isn't utter dog sh*t?

Perhaps Enya's seminal 'Orinoco Flow' would fit the bill. Soothing, unobtrusive yet haunting. Sail away. Or 'Sadeness pt2' by Enigma.

I see.Unfortunately I think that both of those choices fall into your utter d-s catagory and I'm sure many younger than me would too
Probably why so many hang up when they hear 'Greensleeves' or similar when on hold.Now if they did 'Trance' versions of your choices I'm sure many under 30s would be happy enough.It certainly worked for William Orbit when he covered Barbers adagio
That's the thing with music.You can't please everyone.

[SimonCelsa]

Perhaps Enya's seminal 'Orinoco Flow' would fit the bill. Soothing, unobtrusive yet haunting. Sail away. Or 'Sadeness pt2' by Enigma.

Crikey, I want to learn how to fix my bike, not hang myself!