How do you feel about music attached to episodes?

[nekhcore]

I know that you can attach a soundcloud link to your episodes here and music on webtoons, but from what I understand music on webtoons seems to always auto-play whereas tapas users have to toggle autoplay themselves in settings. Do you notice when an episode has music attached. Do you have auto-play on? Do you guys choose to play music when the chapter calls for it?

The reason I ask is because the comic I'm working on is very music heavy, content-wise, and I think it would help a lot if I managed to get fitting music for ambiance. I've seen a few comics on Webtoons with music attached and it really improved my experience of the comic. Also, my comic is going to be done out traditionally, unless I decide that I'll be able to convert it to webtoon format, if that influences your answers at all.

[laiscnogueira]

If your audience uses the app/cellphone, I think it does not offer the option for music (or at least I never noticed it there myself).

If they use a pc, then I think it would be fine to suggest listening to a song to set a mood. If the reader doesn't want to, he can simply skip it and I don't think anyone would be offended or displeased by you offering them the option.

[ISNEKO]

I've tried to listen to music on episodes but I always turn it off after a few seconds. I don't care for the feature.

[xanedis]

Does the feature work for the Webtoons app? If so, maybe focusing on Webtoons as a primary outlet for your musical story might be a good ide?

[Progg]

I think it may be worth mentioning in the description or something that the option exists, in case some readers don't notice. I sometimes read through an entire comic and realize afterwards that there was a soundtrack I missed out on.

[nekhcore]

yeah, that's fair. i've noticed on webtoons they always have a little reminder like "please turn on your sound for this episode" or something.

[Zaboem]

From what I remember of previous discussions, readers are divided as to whether or not they like this feature. It's correct that app users don't hear anything (in the current version of the app of course).

Personally, I use the heck out of it. My series is supposed to over the top, so powerful dramatic hero music for a scene in which the hero trips over his own feet works. Also, I am not skillful enough of an author to make that work with just words. I do heavily favor instrumental music in the hope that no lyrics equates to less distraction.

[panda3291]

My phone automatically plays audio when it comes to it, but I also prefer the music not to have lyrics when I read because I tend to lose track of what I'm reading if lyrics are also playing...

[nekhcore]

Thank you guys for your responses, if we ever do get music its obviously going to be instrumental and I'll be sure to put a notice at the top of the episode. It's probably going to be more of a Webtoons thing though, since I plan on uploading longer updates there than on Tapas and Smackjeeves. And the music bar is kind of invisible here...

[BlackRoses_RedRavens]

I am hardly ever in a situation where I can actually listen to the music in comics (eg. I'm not wearing headphones and there are people in the room)

[ilustrariane]

i personally don't like it...it just distracts me from the reading

[nekhcore]

even instrumentals? or does it just bother you because it's music.

[Penni]

I think it would be nice to use it during a dramatic scene. Music could really drive that home!

I don't think instrumental music would distract me but music with lyrics definitely would.

[mrtoontastic]

I kinda like the feature actually. Why the ability is only linked to SoundCloud is beyond me since some of the fitting songs for episodes or chapters I write can only be found on YouTube, and that's a little bit of a shame.

[ilustrariane]

because it's music, i don't like reading with music, it's distracting

[Alamino]

I like it, I find it helps hit a scene home sometimes. In my opinion it works best for longer comics/episodes/chapters, and not as well for people who update page by page. But it also depends on the music, if it's a short piece then page by page could work. However if it's a long musical composition... well by the time you finish one page, the music may just be getting started... But both can work if done right
(Plus I also like finding new music, so there's that)
However, Webtoons music has never worked for me... so I can't comment on that one.

[sarimopi]

I personally love it as long as it's only instrumental. I feel like when there's lyrics it can be distracting to the reader who's trying to understand the plot, but instrumentals are really nice and help intensifying the vibe of the ep.

[BlackRoses_RedRavens]

I think if its relevant put it in (eg. a character is listening to a song/ the song is playing in the scene). I'm planning on making a song for a scene in one of my comics which I will put on the page and advise people to listen to because two of the characters are dancing to it.