Frequently Asked Questions
I get a lot of questions in my email about different things in regards to trading, tracking, video formats and downloading/uploading. Figured I make this page to help people out. I know have 150% specific knowledge
1) What is VOB format?
- VOB format is a format of video files. It usually equals DVD quality. It usually won't be pixelated and the sound quality is fantastic on them too. Other than MKV, VOB is the best quality a bootleg can be.
2) What are small files?
- VOB small files are these little files that (if they were on an actual DVD) would be your menu and your chapter pages. Some people like to have small files when trading VOB videos so they have a complete DVD. I know some traders burn DVDs and they like to have all of the files to make it a complete movie.
3) Why do traders want VOB files compared to MP4s?
- Mainly it is the quality. The quality is DVD quality and super nice and clear for a bootleg. MKV is a good quality as well (that's Blu-Ray) but they are much more spacious and harder to download/upload. They are especially hard to download now due to MEGA's new quota limit.
4) How do I download VOB files??
- This is an EXTREMELY frequently asked question. This question is basically the reason I'm making a FAQ page. I'm gonna break it down in steps right here. Mind you, I have a PC and it may be a little different on a MAC.
1) Download VLC Media Player. It's safe, it's free and plays any video format. - Here's the link - https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html.
2) When you open a MEGA link for a video, you're gonna see in each Act (or if there's only one act) files called VTS_01_1, VTS_01_2, VTS_01_3, etc. These files are the video itself. This is what you want to download. 2a. The other files (VTS 01_0, Any files labeled ISO or BUP) are called Small Files. The small files would be the files that make up the Title Screen and Chapters Menu if you were to rip the video onto a DVD. If you wanted to take a video and burn it onto a DVD disc, you would need to download these small files.
3) Download each of the main video files. Since MEGA now has a quota, you're probably going to have to wait a few hours to download the files for each act. Each part takes a bit to download (depending on your computer's download speed).
4) Save them together in a folder in your Video Files. Example: Show Name, Act 1 & Act 2 and then put the files in there.
5) When you click the file to open it, right click and it should say "Open with" and select VLC Player. You can even set VLC Player as the default player for VOB files.
6) Open and enjoy! Each part is roughly 15 minutes of a show. Hence why there's 4 to 5 parts for each act.
Optional:
- You can also download and re-upload VOB files to Google Drive or Dropbox. Both of those websites will play VOB files and you view them on there.
5) What is a RAR file and what do I do with them??
- Another extremely asked question. RAR files are a file of multiple small parts all in one big file. People usually put things in RAR if they're looking to save space. Think of RAR files as a deep storage container that holds your small items in it. To extract RAR files means getting the small parts out of the hole. TO EXTRACT RAR FILES ON A PC (not sure how to do it on a Mac)
a) Download 7-ZIP File Manager. You can download it here - https://www.7-zip.org
b) Open the program up and find your RAR file you want to extract
c) Press extract on it. It automatically makes a save folder of the extracted files.
6) What does NFT mean?
- NFT basically stands for Not For Trade. However, each audio and video from each master is different. I'll explain some different meanings to it:
1) Some masters do not want their audios/videos traded at ALL. I mainly list these audios/videos just to tell people of their existence (ex. a Michael Luwoye Hamilton Broadway Audio and a Hamilton Puerto Rico Audio). I do not trade these out. Some I don't list at all. However, some people have total NFT rulings on audios/videos due to them leaking. It happens unfortunately.
2) Some masters have NFT on their audios/videos because they want you to get it directly from them and not other traders. I have some things on my site where I say not to contact me for trade, but to contact the master who's site/email is linked in the listing of their audio/video.
3) Some masters have NFT on their audios/videos until a specific date. A lot of newer videos/audios will have this. It means that it is NOT to be traded out until a certain day has passed. The reason masters do this is to kill the attention to their audios/videos so they do not get in any kind of trouble. Just wait for the day to pass and then it'll be up for trade. I'll talk more about this in my next question cause it mainly pertains to videos.
4) Some masters have NFT on their audios/videos because they want them to be gifted upon request or just gifted in general. These masters (especially putawaythefairytales/RedLadyDeath/DonnyNovaBandstand) have been especially kind to record and gift masters for people that want them. Traders will list these masters just so other people can find them. Just send me an email of that gifted upon request audio/audios you want and I'll send it to you.
5) I put NFT dates on my audios to basically give me time to track them. I've been trying to make a conscious effort to track the shows I've seen (a lot of people like tracked audios over untracked) so it just gives me time to do it.
7) Why is it so bad to trade videos before their NFT dates?
- I explained a little bit in the previous question, but it has to do with getting into trouble. If videos leak early, it can cause the person recording it to get in trouble. The reason NFT dates are so far back (like months from now) is that it kills the attention and the person recording it can release it quietly. If masters find out that their videos are leaking, they may not make anymore. We all want boots of shows we can't see and may never have a chance to and these masters make it happen. You just have to respect their rules. Be patient, wait until the NFT date passes and then you can get it. Seriously, chill the hell out.
8) Why is posting videos on YouTube and Tumblr so bad?
- It's pointless to post videos on Youtube and Tumblr because they are found and taken down very quickly. Plus, masters can get tracked down easier and get into legal trouble and get sued. This literally just happened with the director of Bandstand finding that someone posted the Bandstand bootleg on YouTube. You're not doing a great thing posting these bootlegs publicly. You're just making masters stop recording shows and we have lost a few video masters because of this.. Then we all lose. So please, do NOT post video bootlegs on YouTube or Tumblr.
9) What do some of the abbreviations mean on your site such as u/s, s/w, t/r? Also what does ** mean next to something. Also, what is n/e
- I use some abbreviations on my site in cast listing. U/S means understudy. S/W is a swing. T/R is temporary replacement. E/C is an emergency cover. The little stars ** next to something means that I had trouble finding cast information on an audio/video and could use some help. I'm kinda meticulous and usually go into deep detail with cast information (including what character the actor plays), but sometimes I come up short.
10) Why do you sell things on your site?
- I sell sometimes only when I'm just extremely broke. Like basically minus in my bank account. The first time I sold audios/videos, I put gas in my car and bought cat food. I do it off and on. If I do sell, I'm very cheap with my prices. Many people have also asked me to sell because there's no other way that they can get the boots they want. I also make sure to say that if you're a master and don't want your video/audio sold, email me and I'll make a note restricting it.
11) What sites can you use to upload audios/videos to?
- There's a few sites that you can use. I would say the best to use are MEGA, Mediafire, Dropbox and Google Drive. MEGA gives you 20 GB for free and you can get up to 50GB in Mediafire by having people sign up for an account with your link. Sendspace and WeTransfer are good too, but the links are only temporary for files. I would recommend downloading anything you get on Sendspace and WeTransfer immediately. 4Shared is okay, but very buggy on my computer. MEGA is the best one for videos because most videos are gonna be a few GBs.
12) How do you track audios?
- For the longest time, I used an audio recorder from a software called Apowersoft. Try to find a premium version if you can. For that one, you just have to listen to the song while it records and then snip it.
- The best thing to use is Audacity if you can figure it out. It's free too! I would explain how to use Audacity here, but it's best to go on YouTube and follow a few tutorials. I recommend version 2.0.3 of Audacity. It's an older version and it doesn't have the new format that the current version has that's really confusing.
13) You say you gift audios on your Tumblr, where can I find them?
- I used to gift out on Tumblr, but have recently stopped. You can still find the old audios that I have gifted on my Tumblr or if you check the tag "Audio Gift" in Tumblr's Search Bar.
14) I want to start trading. Do you have any advice as to what to do?
- If you want to start trading, be warned that it's very time consuming. You have to be VERY organized as well. Here's steps you can take.
1) Start saving links and downloading audios and videos you receive as gifts. I save mine to my bookmarks currently, but making a Google Doc is a good way to as well. Anything you get in, save it and put it on your list. Download if you can. IF YOU WANT TO CREATE A SITE, CREATE ONE EARLY ON (you'll have way less info you have to add at first)
2) Create a site/list/PDF/Excel Sheet where you have information on your audios/videos. Separate audios and videos and make sure to include this information below IN DETAIL. A lot of traders want specific details when it comes to audios and videos. If your list is not detailed and a mess, many may not trade with you. These are some details that should be in your listings:
a) Name of the show,
b) Where the production is from (Broadway/Off-Broadway/West End/Tour/etc.),
c) The month/date/year. Also if the show is Matinee or Evening on Two Show Days.
d) The specific cast information of actors in the show (Huge Pet Peeve of Mine: when someone puts CAST UNKNOWN when they could take the time to find it out),
e) The format of them (MP3/M4a/RAR/WAV) for audios (MP4/VOB/MKV/etc) for videos
f) The master's name (if there is one). I usually link their site/email as well.
g) For videos, the quality of them if possible. Like how it's shot, if there's any blackouts or cut scenes or something.
3) Get your name out there and PROMOTE YOURSELF. I started trading through Tumblr first; then upgraded to my site. Tumblr is a good start, but if you want to be a well established trader, you're gonna have to step away from Tumblr and primarily use an email address.
4) Make some friends through this and even a trading partner to share things with. Cannot stress enough how just being nice has helped me get so far.
5) Start making multiple accounts on MEGA, Google Drive, Dropbox and Mediafire. These sites will be your best friends to upload audios/videos when links die. You can also gain space for free with Mediafire.
15) How did you make this site?
- There's a lot of site hosting places. Weebly is where I first started and the interface was easy. Wordpress is great too (though a bit boring and devoid of color). Wix, Carrd and Google also work great as well!
16) What format for date do you use to list items on your site?
- I use the Americanized format which is Month/Date/Year. All audios and videos on my site are dated by Month/Date/Year.
17) I see that you record audio masters, how do you do that?
- Yes I am a horrible person. Basically if you have a nice phone (iPhone 5 and up/Galaxy 5 and up), use your voice recorder. Throw the phone on airplane mode, kill the brightness, and turn the media volume up and all the other ones down. Hit record, click the phone to sleep mode and place it in your pocket, in-between your legs or under your playbill on your leg or wherever works.
- If the voice recorder sucks on your phone (like it does on my old HTC), download the Voice Recorder app from Green Apple Studios. It is literally the best and super easy to work. Androids always need a bit of help when it comes to their voice recorder app (they take on a lot of bass), but iPhones have pretty great recorders and can pick up audio very well. You don't really need an app with iPhones.
- Or, you know, don't do this at all
18) What if I get your audio master in before its trade date/if you send it to me early on?
- If I send you my audio master early, you're basically a trader I trust very much or you have something I really really want. You can list that you have the audio on your site/list/PDF, but please just don't trade it out until the trade date passes.
19) How do you get masters from shows you haven't seen?
- People being nice essentially. Making friends that record audios from productions they see or getting contacted by people that say "Hey, I'm not a trader nor do I want to be, but I recorded this and wanted a few things in exchange and you can keep the audio and do whatever the hell you want with it."
20) I just purchased and I'm having trouble downloading/opening/viewing these files. I just purchased, but I'm having trouble accessing MEGA/Mediafire. Can you help me?
- Just always give me a heads up before purchase if you're unable to work with VOB/RAR files or have a preference of what site you use to view or listen to files with. I can always make time to
- Convert VOB files to MP4
- Extract RAR files
- Re-Upload audios/videos to a site that you prefer (like Google Drive or Dropbox which are significantly easier to use).
- Please don't be scared to tell me if you can't understand something or if you're having trouble opening/downloading/viewing something. You purchased audios/videos from me that you should be able to hear/see the things you have purchased no matter what.
- I don't want anyone getting screwed out of any money because they can't understand the files.
- I do have guides in earlier questions on how to view VOB files and extract RARs, but I know people may not be able to do this (or are not on a device that is equipped to do these tasks like a phone).
21) What the heck happened to your many tabs of shows?!!! Did you lose your collection of them??
- They're still there! I wanted to clean up my site of the excessive tabs of extra shows because it was hindering access to them. If you look in my audios from A-G, H-P and so on, you'll notice buttons that will take you to the audio pages of the shows not listed. They will also be in separate pages on Google if you’re looking through my Google Docs or my Google Site.
22) You edited your site, but didn't get to my request. What gives?
- Sorry about that! I've been trying a new schedule recently when it comes to editing and answering emails. I like to get the editing/organizing done on one day, tracking done another day and then get to requests the day after It's a new system I've been trying so I manage my time more effectively and prevent any kind of burn out so please be patient!
23) What does it mean when an audio is Soundboard Quality?
- Soundboard quality audios are the best quality audios that you can get from bootlegs. Usually they're taken from the soundboard of the show, but also extracted from video bootlegs/pro-shots.
24) I recorded an audio and would like to trade it out! What do I do?
- Thanks for doing that! Traders always appreciate new audios! So if you want to maximize the worth of your audio and trade with people here's a few things you can do.
a. Boost your audio! There's multiple ways to let people know about your audio.
1. Public Post (if you want to): You can make a public post on sites like Tumblr, Reddit and Musical Exchange or if you're a part of any music theatre group on a site like Facebook or Yahoo.
2. Update your list: If you're an established trader, post the listing of the audio on your site/list/pdf. If people know you well enough, they'll get in contact with you.
3. Private contact: You can also just contact a trader that you either have been wanting to trade with or know will want the audio. For example, I LOVE new audios of Hamilton, Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, Hadestown, Rent, Come From Away, Beetlejuice, Heathers, Anastasia, Frozen, and Mean Girls. Always contact me if you have an audio master of these shows and would like to trade.
b. Master your audio! (If you want to). It's the best way for people to find you and contact you to trade for your audio. You can use your site name, a trading email or a username if you're on a site like Tumblr or Instagram.
25) Do you ever feel overwhelmed and stressed out from all of this?
- Yes I've been stressed out and overwhelmed by trading numerous times (especially when I'm behind on requests). I just have to remember and remind myself of a two things. The first is that this is a hobby and it's supposed to be fun. The second is that trading does not come before mental health and if I need a break or a hiatus, I will take it.
26) I'm confused about your listing of UnrulyHearts audio masters. They're listed as NFT except through you, but they're also listed as NFT and to contact other traders? Who do I go to?
- UnrulyHearts is a wonderful trader who is kind enough to release their audio masters through their trading partners. Their ruling is that the audios are NFT through other traders and you must contact a trading partner of hers for the audio.
27) I noticed you don't have any Cursed Child or Stranger Things items on your site. Why?
- I don't collect these productions. Their producers have gone after traders before with Cease & Desists (plus JK Rowling is a piece of shit in general). So I don't collect these shows whatsoever. I have no items of them whatsoever. You'll have to find items from these shows in other places if they do exist.