Homespun catalog on the Cafe

**bobsault** · Jan-02-2011, 4:53pm

This is very interesting why would mandolin cafe version users not get this discount ? Is this a lesser version and we are not getting discounted already that I know of. We are ordering from the same program are we not ? I downloaded this program from Mandolin Cafe.
Bob

**Scott Tichenor** · May-11-2011, 7:21am

Some changes for those using this system for accessing lessons. We've undergone a name change. Since other companies are joining in the on demand or instant access arena (Homespun, Mel Bay, AcuTab) affiliates such as the Cafe are getting their own branded versions of the catalog download software. Really, all this means is that there's a fresh coat of paint on the software, different look, but all else remains same. Only real change is they're asking us to provide our own name but not allowing the use of "Instant Access" which some of us had become used to. So I selected "Mandolin Cafe On Demand." Next time you launch the software all of the same titles will still be there but it'll look like the screen shot below.

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In other news, Homespun continues to add to their catalog and Happy tells me they're getting ready to release two new titles from Butch Baldassari: Appalachian Mandolin (with David Schnauffer) and Mandolin Hymns. In addition he told me: "There will be more coming in the next few weeks/months, which I'll let you know about when they happen. We have a great Sam Bush 6-CD set, which we originally recorded with him in the late '70s, as well as sets by David Grisman and Andy Statman!"

**pickinpete** · May-11-2011, 8:39am

Heres what I would like, Dont know if you can do this or not, I started doing this when it first came out and the homespun stuff and the acutab stuff was on thier own software, it would be nice if We could import the acutab stuff into the cafe software along with the homespun so I could have it all in one place instead of two different programs, specially since now you can get them both on the cafe software. Probly to much to ask but it would be great!

**Scott Tichenor** · May-11-2011, 9:28am

Originally Posted by pickinpete

Heres what I would like, Dont know if you can do this or not, I started doing this when it first came out and the homespun stuff and the acutab stuff was on thier own software, it would be nice if We could import the acutab stuff into the cafe software along with the homespun so I could have it all in one place instead of two different programs, specially since now you can get them both on the cafe software. Probly to much to ask but it would be great!

If you purchase it with the Mandolin Cafe's software it should all be accessible from the same. Are you saying you downloaded different software from different locations and used it to make purchases--like you used AcuTab's Instant Bluegrass software for one purchase, Homespun's from their site for another and ours for a third (by example)?

**pickinpete** · May-11-2011, 10:33am

sort of..when I started downloading, the cafe didnt offer the software and if it did it didnt offer from both companies.........I dont think. I ordered some from homespun and some from acutab. When I downloaded the cafe software it picked up the homespun files and grabbed the homespun lessons because it still used the leaping brain folder but not the acutab stuff

**Scott Tichenor** · May-11-2011, 10:49am

Originally Posted by pickinpete

sort of..when I started downloading, the cafe didnt offer the software and if it did it didnt offer from both companies.........I dont think. I ordered some from homespun and some from acutab. When I downloaded the cafe software it picked up the homespun files and grabbed the homespun lessons because it still used the leaping brain folder but not the acutab stuff

I'd recommend checking with Leaping Brain's technical support on that question. I'd think it might be possible to combine the contents of where those are stored and get it to work, but I'm not sure enough to recommend it. On their support page right under the title "Tech Support FAQ" is a link to send them an email inquiry. If you find out, it'd be great if you'd post their answer for all to see.

**pickinpete** · May-11-2011, 6:40pm

Leaping brain support said if the mandolin cafe software carries both homespun and acutab, it should pick them up. When I got home I upgraded to the new version (on demand) and... viola, it picked up the acutab stuff as well as the homespun. Happy now, thanks Scott!

**carojester** · Aug-28-2011, 11:22pm

anyone else having trouble using the On Demand application with their Mac OS 10.7.1 version? I can't launch the software, and I'm not sure if my request for help got through to the leapingbrain tech support folks.
Thanks.
Caroline

**almeriastrings** · Aug-29-2011, 3:37am

Caroline,

Yes. Noticed this just after installing Lion. The "contact tech support" box popped up after failing to load the lesson files. What I did:

1) Went to the 'OPTIONS' box on the main screen of the catalog section and made sure I was using the quicktime player.
2) Went to STEP ONE - View all available courses. Catalog refreshed.
3) Shut down then restarted and relaunched program.
4) Everything then worked, but several courses also downloaded updates... same thing exactly noted with the Accutab system, by the way (it uses the same Leaping Brain engine).

No problems since.

**Scott Tichenor** · Aug-29-2011, 7:22am

Originally Posted by carojester

anyone else having trouble using the On Demand application with their Mac OS 10.7.1 version? I can't launch the software, and I'm not sure if my request for help got through to the leapingbrain tech support folks.
Thanks.
Caroline

I sent them a pointer to this discussion. Can't help you myself but rebooting Macs and PCs works wonders for most problems.

**carojester** · Aug-29-2011, 9:53am

Thanks for the suggestions. Still not working for me. This is what happens when I try to launch the application:
"Oops! We're not able to connect to our server network to download some needed components. Please check your internet connection and try again."
So I can't even get into the application to try your suggestions, and restarting my computer makes no difference.
HELP!

Thanks!
Caroline

**gfioravanti** · Aug-29-2011, 12:10pm

Hi Caroline,

Sorry for the trouble you're experiencing!

Can you please email our tech support department at techsupport@leapingbrain.com? It will be much easier to resolve your issue through an email thread.

Thanks!
Grace

Originally Posted by carojester

Thanks for the suggestions. Still not working for me. This is what happens when I try to launch the application:
"Oops! We're not able to connect to our server network to download some needed components. Please check your internet connection and try again."
So I can't even get into the application to try your suggestions, and restarting my computer makes no difference.
HELP!

Thanks!
Caroline

**carojester** · Aug-29-2011, 12:41pm

Will do. Thanks.

**carojester** · Aug-29-2011, 1:13pm

Problem solved! A very simple fix too:

For Mac, using OS X Lion:

Please go to your main hard drive folder, and you should have a
Library/Application Support folder. Within this folder, please create
a folder called "LeapingBrain" (with capital "L" and "B" and no
spaces).

Then, try relaunching the program.

**kirksdad** · Oct-02-2011, 4:22pm

I like the content of Homespun. I own five DVDs and three or four of the download series.

I'm going to hold off on buying anymore from them until they make products available for the iPad. I when I say make available, I don't mean having to pay to download an application so I can watch lessons I already bought.

To me, this is like paying to download the iTunes program after you have already purchased music, movies and books from them.

I have noticed that Leaping Brain has had a lot of technical issues. Reason number two why I won't pay for an application from them that they admit is still in "beta mode"

Again, no gripe with the quality or content of the lessons. Just won't buy anymore until Homespun does right by iPad users

Philip Hobaugh

**carojester** · Oct-03-2011, 10:33am

My spouse works as graphic designer for a mobile app company that is having a great deal of trouble getting their app to work on Apple products such as the iPhone and iPad. It's really unfortunate because we are Mac lovers at home and it would be cool to use their app, among many others. From what I hear developing for Mac is something that developers don't enjoy doing but they do it because of Mac's large portion in the mobile device market. Mac is by no means dominant but it has a significant percentage of the business.

I don't have an iPad yet but that is something I would love to get down the road, perhaps when they release iPad3. Having mandolin lessons on iPad would be so fantastic. I don't enjoy playing in front of my computer. I'd rather sit in the garden or something. I could just perch my iPad on my music stand, or whatever is handy.

I agree that the app shouldn't cost anything if we are already buying their products. I hope Leaping Brain will sort out the technical difficulties getting in the way of making Homespun lessons more accessible in a mobile format.

Caroline

**HddnKat** · Mar-11-2012, 8:22pm

Is anybody else having trouble loading the Mandolin Cafe catalog? I just updated the Homespun MOD software, and it launches the website OK, but when I try to download the catalog, the page loads with an error and I never get to the catalog. I have emailed their Tech Support, so hopefully I will hear something back, but wondered if anybody else is encountering this problem- not using Mac, I have Windows Vista and IE8

**robinson.sam8** · Apr-15-2012, 9:33am

Can you download the videos and watch later off the Internet? Also can you download them to an iPad?

**Scott Tichenor** · Apr-15-2012, 11:00am

Originally Posted by HddnKat

Is anybody else having trouble loading the Mandolin Cafe catalog? I just updated the Homespun MOD software, and it launches the website OK, but when I try to download the catalog, the page loads with an error and I never get to the catalog. I have emailed their Tech Support, so hopefully I will hear something back, but wondered if anybody else is encountering this problem- not using Mac, I have Windows Vista and IE8

I missed this post. Did you get your issue resolved by the support folks?

**Scott Tichenor** · Apr-15-2012, 11:03am

Originally Posted by robinson.sam8

Can you download the videos and watch later off the Internet? Also can you download them to an iPad?

Those lessons are downloaded to your PC so you can watch w/o being connected to the web.
As far as iPad, what I've read is that there's a way to download those to your iPad from your PC. Rather lengthy support discussion about that found here. Still, I'd recommend you contact the support folks at Leaping Brain to be sure. They post in this thread once in awhile and are very responsive. I'll send them a link to this in case I've misspoken.

EDIT: here's another discussion that indicates there's a $1.99 app that allows you to transfer those lessons from your PC to iPad.

**geoffreymbrown** · Oct-26-2012, 9:39pm

I've found the requirement to use a proprietary app to be disappointing. The app is clunky and the lessons -- even strictly audio ones -- are forever tied to an app that is unlikely to survive for the longterm. I can't play the audio on my stereo or use an application like Transcribe! Far better to have mp3's which play easily on any platform. I won't be purchasing any more materials in this form.

Geoffrey

**geoffreymbrown** · Apr-13-2013, 7:26pm

As I follow up. I wrote to Homespun to complain about this way of distributing their catalog. Other than a canned email saying they would get back to me shortly, I never heard from them. I followed up several months later with the same non-response.

Geoffrey

**Happy Traum** · Apr-14-2013, 12:55am

Originally Posted by geoffreymbrown

As I follow up. I wrote to Homespun to complain about this way of distributing their catalog. Other than a canned email saying they would get back to me shortly, I never heard from them. I followed up several months later with the same non-response.

Geoffrey

Hi Geoffrey,
Sorry if your email didn't get answered properly. I try to respond to everyone but it is inevitable that some slip through the cracks, for which I apologize.

We have found that the vast majority of those who download our lessons are very satisfied with the quality and ease-of-use of the MOD software. Like anything in the digital realm, there are occasional problems, but these get addressed by the team at Leaping Brain Labs, the folks who developed the program. They have been regularly updating and improving the experience and have plans to develop it further. The interface is so successful that now most of the instructional companies (our friendly competitors) such as AcuTab, Stefan Grossman's Guitar Workshop, Murphy Henry, Hal Leonard, Rock House and many others are now distributing their lessons through this system, so I feel strongly that it will be around for a long time. Of course, if you have specific issues they are very good at tech support and I welcome you to get in touch with them (or with Homespun).

FYI - The downloaded lessons can be viewed on your computer and there is also an app version - MOD MOBILE - that passes it through to iOS devices (iPhones, iPods and iPads). The material can also be streamed directly to ANY mobile device via wi-fi, so you can take your lessons on the road and play them anywhere there is a connection. I have tested them myself and they work pretty flawlessly for me.

We are working closely with the Leaping Brain staff and expect the user experience to continue to develop and improve. Meanwhile, we welcome your comments and hope you will continue to use our products. Our primary goal has always been to teach, and I think we do it pretty well.

Thanks very much for your input.

Best regards,
Happy Traum
Homespun Tapes