MP3
Internet Audio & the Digital Music Revolution
by Dean Hampton
When you go to the store to purchase a CD, you probably expect the recording to contain somewhere between 10 to 15 cuts. And you expect to pay somewhere between $10 to $17. Experience tells you that you will like most of the tunes, but not all of them.
This seems to be the norm for most people buying jazz today. And, just like in the "old days," you may put several CDs on your player and listen to them, one after another. If you are really into the age of digital devices, you might even take the time to program your player to play tunes from several CDs in a specific order, to the limited extent that your player allows.
The MP3 music revolution promises to change many of these habits. First, in the very near future, you may not drive to that store, but instead go online just like you would to buy a book at Amazon.com. Where MP3 music differs is that with the book (or CD) from Amazon.com, you receive a tangible portion of a dead tree covered with print. With MP3, all you get are bits -- a digital file. The closest it gets to "tangible" is when you store the file on some kind of medium that you can hold in your hand.
Next, you may decide to purchase just one or two tunes from an artist's online compilation (referred to in the last century as an album, record, tape or CD). Instead of storing music on a shelf or album rack, it will exist on your computer's hard drive, a zip disk, a self-produced CD, or a "flash card."
And remember how you used to painstakingly catalog every recording? And how you tried to keep them all in a specific order, alphabetically by album, artist, song titles, or maybe by genre, style or label catalog number? That, too, is now on your computer, or one of its peripherals. Your list can be easily sorted or searched by just about anything you chose to load into the database.
What's Old Is New Again
As you begin to see value in this new digital form of music, you may decide to convert your old collection to the new MP3 format, not only for convenience but also for posterity. So, you begin to "rip" all of your CDs into the new MP3 format and store them on your hard drive. As you do that, the "ripper" reads the header data from the CD and catalogs the information for you.
As you are converting your CDs into MP3 format, you discover that a tune in MP3 format is only about 10% as big as its digital size on the CD; and it sounds just as good as it did on the CD. You then realize that if you could "burn" your own CDs, you could get 120 MP3 tunes on the same size CD that you bought with only 12 tunes on it. This is getting more exciting all the time!
You then start thinking about all of those old records that you seldom listen to -- including the ones that have a few scratches and/or can't be found on re-released CDs. Using one of several inexpensive software packages, you can not only preserve the good ones, you can clean up the ones with the scratches. All of them can then be "mastered" by you -- into an MP3 format.
If you are a collector, you are now saving the original recordings and enjoying the music, too.
MP3 For Every Occasion
Remember those times when you wanted to record "specialty tapes" with a specific type of music? Maybe it was a "best of" your favorite artist, or a "favorite ballads" tape for that romantic, candle-lit evening with your "significant other." You spent hours making that tape and finally got it as good as it was going to get -- which was probably a long way from what you really wanted it to be.
But now, you have discovered that with MP3, all you have to do is open the MP3 player software on your computer, use its wizard to make that special play list, and start listening. (And turning down the lights!) You have the choice of listening to the sound system built into your computer (standard equipment on today's computers), or you can run the music through your home sound system, which can be easily connected to your computer.
When you used to do this the "old" way, you may have had the same tune recorded once for each specialty tape. In MP3 format on your computer, that tune occupies only one space but can be listed on every play list without eating your digital storage supply. The play list merely points to the tune and selects it like a juke box selects 45 rpm records.
Like to take some MP3 music with you on your morning jog? Or in the car for your daily commute? You can do that, too. Plug your portable MP3 player into your computer, load it and hit the road. (If you drop the player or bounce it around, no problem; they are skip-free with no moving parts.) By Christmas time, you will be asking Santa for an MP3/CD player for your car.
But: your thirst for jazz is never quenched. You want more. And it would take years to listen to your existing music collection.
Enter the Internet.
The 'net is loaded with web sites that feature MP3 music. And most jazz by major artists that is available in MP3 format on the web is not free. You will find the going price seems to be about a dollar a tune or a reduced price if you purchase and download all the tunes from a CD in MP3 format. You will not be paying for a jewel box, liner notes or packaging. Your music will be stored on your hard drive, and while you listen, you will find the liner information on the web.
You will find much MP3 music on the web that is free. And it won't take long for you to discover the sites that offer free downloads. You will probably try some of the sites that offer two or three tunes of a CD for free. If you like them, you can go ahead and buy the whole CD.
MP3 & the Unsigned Artist
While it is nice to be able to do all of these wonderful things, there's much more to the MP3 story. It appears to be great for the listener who likes to "play" with his or her music, but let's examine some of the other aspects of this new frontier and its impact on other facets of the music world.
MP3 music is becoming more and more available on the Internet. There are literally hundreds of MP3-related web sites where you can find MP3 files ready for downloading. This raises some obvious questions.
Whose music is available on the web? At this time, most MP3 music is from lesser known artists rather than major super stars. Many of these artists fall into the "unsigned" category, or they have signed with small independent labels who support the MP3 digital music revolution. Others are with "Internet only" labels, and those are blossoming daily.
The unsigned musicians appear to have everything to gain by joining the MP3 parade. And there are many advantages for them. First, it is an opportunity for the unsigned artist to compete head-to-head with the major labels. In a matter of hours, they can have their music for sale online to the largest audience in the world. The online labels are not as particular as the major labels, so there is virtually no question about "getting a deal" with them.
Next, distribution problems are solved. Many signed artists complain about poor support from their record company. With the online label, there is no distribution problem. The tunes are online and in a file at all times. There is no such thing as running out of stock like there is at the brick and mortar music store.
Third, it pays better. Many online MP3 music stores are splitting the profits 50-50 with the artist. While a signed artist might make a dollar of two on each brick and mortar store CD sale, the possibilities are much better for the online artist. The "song at a time" factor plays heavily here. If you purchase four tunes from an online CD (or compilation) for the customary 99 cents, the artists has just made more than he or she would on a whole CD being marketed by the major label. The unsigned or Internet signed artist who is in the middle of a recording project has an opportunity to start the payback process early. Many CD recording projects take a year or more to complete depending on a lot of factors, with funding at the head of the list. As soon as a tune is completed, it can be uploaded to the web site. Exposure and sales begin immediately and could potentially pay for completion of the project.
Another significant advantage for the unsigned or Internet signed artist is copyrights. Most of the Internet labels are not interested in owning the copyrights to original music. The artist usually retains complete ownership of the music they produce.
Major Artists, Major Labels
There are thousands of MP3 tunes available on the web by major artists and the major record labels. And the trend is growing at an unprecedented rate. The number of tunes available by jazz greats is increasing rapidly. For example, you will not have a hard time finding plenty of Miles Davis, John Coltrane or Louis Armstrong on the web in MP3 format. Especially available are the recordings of the older cats, many of whom are no longer with us. Some of these tunes are the rare ones that you will have a hard time finding in the racks at your local retail outlet.
Many of today's major artists have their music online in an MP3 type format known as Liquid Audio. Liquid Audio files are not compatible with MP3 players and require the Liquid Audio player on your computer. The files are based on Dolby Digital and MPEG ACC which is a step beyond today's MP3. The primary advantage of Liquid Audio files is its encryption and copyright protection methods. Also, Liquid Audio files typically contain more data such as liner notes, links to artists and label web sites. Liquid Audio appears to be too far behind the power curve to emerge as the standard for the web.
The obvious losers in the MP3 music revolution at this point are the major labels. They are finding that they must adapt to Internet marketing and distribution. While digital audio online will not replace conventional methods in the near future, the transition has begun. The recent announcement of merger plans between AOL and Time Warner is perhaps one of the first signals to the industry.
In a January 11, 2000 report, Wired News attorney Peter Dekom, who has represented some of Hollywood's leading artists, was quoted about the signs of change.
"The music model predicated on album sales is going to vaporize. This merger is all about Warner Brothers throwing up its hands and recognizing that it has to change the way it sells music."
Prior to the Internet and MP3, music distribution was dictated by the record labels, their distributors and the radio stations. You listened to what they presented to you, when they presented it to you. Music consumers and musicians have had little ability to influence what would be heard or when. MP3 and the Internet are tearing down those barriers. Wired claims, "It's not the death of the music business as we know it, but the funeral isn't far away."
MP3, Copyrights and the Law
Perhaps the most significant wake-up call caused by MP3 is the opportunity for copyright infringement and digital music piracy. Such piracy is not new to the recording industry. Legal battles over taping have been with us for several decades. The difference is that this time, it will be so much easier for things to get totally out of hand. Frequent reports of college students passing MP3 files over school and dorm networks show a frenzy of illegal copying and distribution. Numerous court cases have already resulted in victories for the consumer and the developers of MP3 software and portable players.
The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) is a major force challenging MP3. While they have lost several important battles in court, they are holding fast to the best interests of the recording industry and to those who produce copyrighted materials.
But MP3 is not going to be stopped. So now, the emphasis is on developing secure formats, including encryption. The details of what is legal and what is not regarding MP3 copies of music are far beyond the scope of this article. For the best reading on this subject, you would be wise to purchase The MP3 and Internet Audio Handbook by Bruce Fries. This all-inclusive "manual" has many sample cases that will serve as guides for the consumer. Most of the laws on the books now regarding MP3 are covered and many recent interpretations of the laws by the courts and Congress are also included. The book is available at Amazon.com and will be on the shelves in most bookstores in early February.
Getting Started (the Techno Side of MP3)
MP3 stands for MPEG Audio Layer-III. MPEG or "Moving Picture Experts Group" is a committee charged with establishing audio and video standards under the International Standards Organization (ISO).
MP3's compression capabilities are the single most important factor in the new digital audio phenomenon. MP3 files are compressed to about one-tenth the size of CD audio files without quality degradation. CD audio files are about 10 million bytes (digits) of data per minute of music. The primary compression methodology used to build these files is called "Lossy." In oversimplified terms, lossy compression is achieved by removing digits that will not produce sounds that can be heard by the normal human ear. Examples are sounds at frequencies either too high or too low for us to hear.
Then, a compression method called "lossless" is applied to the file. Lossless compression uses various equations and coding symbols to produce the same information in fewer digits. For example, in a stereo recording some of the sounds are meant to be heard in the middle so they are coded on both channels in the CD audio format. The lossless compression equation may encode only one of these digits in such a way that when converted back to sound, the result is identical to the original.
Quicker is Better
Downloading is the process of transferring a digital file from one computer to another -- your computer, if you are receiving the file. MP3 files are stored on the computers that host web sites. When you click on a downloadable file name, the transfer process begins. The speed at which this transfer takes place is largely limited by the modem speed on your computer as well as the "bandwidth" available through the telephone or cable lines where the data must flow. Most computers today come with 56.6K modems. Some older systems still use 28.8K or 33.6K modems. Using a 33.6k modem, one should plan on an MP3 file of four minutes of music to take about 15 to 20 minutes to completely download to a computer's hard drive. In CD format, this would have taken over three hours. Using high bandwidth (big pipes instead of little pipes) Internet connections, this time is significantly reduced.
MP3 Players and Your Computer
In order for you to play MP3 files on your computer, you will need MP3 Player software. There are a number of quality MP3 players available for both PC/Windows users and Macintosh. Each comes with its own bag of tricks. Common to all of them will be the normal controls: volume, balance, start, stop, rewind, fast forward, advance to next file, and so on. All that I have used come with a play list utility. Some will come with a complete package for recording as well as listening. The first product developed specifically for MP3 music on PCs was WinAmp. Its developer, Justin Frankel, added many advanced features such as equalizer presets, plug-ins and skins -- custom covers used to personalize the look on your monitor. Justin, a 20-year old college dropout, sold his company, Nullsoft, to AOL in June 1999 for $80 million is stock. WinAmp is free and may be downloaded from www.winamp.com.
Music Matchbox Jukebox comes with four modules: Player, Library, Recorder and Track Info. The player may be downloaded free from www.musicmatch.com or you may purchase the "deluxe" model for about $30. My personal favorite package is AudioCatalyst Workshop from Xing Technology Corporation. With this package, you can do just about anything you would like to do in the world of MP3. In addition to playing music, you can rip (copy digital audio information from audio CDs onto your computer), encode (convert data from one format to another such as WAV files to MP3), and edit files (customize music by copying, cutting, or cropping, cut or copy parts of files and insert them in other files, create music files by combining selections from multiple files). This product is available for both PC and MAC computers and may be purchased from computer stores or downloaded from the Xing web site at www.xingtech.com. The price is around $30.
Portable MP3 Players
Portable MP3 players are on the shelves in most computer hardware and software stores. Over 1.3 million of them were sold in 1999. Most stores in Kansas City have a hard time keeping them in stock. If you are going to purchase a portable MP3 player in the near future, expect to pay between $150 and $300. While prices will probably drop this year, may features and capabilities will be added. The most important improvement will be increased storage capability such as "flash cards." Players on the shelves in Kansas City are:
- Diamond Rio500, about $270. MP3.com rating: 4 stars
- I-JAM, about $180. MP3.com rating: (not rated)
- NOMAD, about $300. MP3.com rating: 5 stars
- RCA Lyra, about $250. MP3.com rating: 3 stars
Learning More About MP3
There are few better ways to learn more about MP3 than on the Internet itself. Go to your favorite search engine and you will see hundreds of thousands of MP3 site hits. Some of the better search engines will have their own MP3 sections. A few sites are worthy of special mention.
- MP3.com -- www.mp3.com -- features software, hardware, live events, webcasts, affiliate program, E-Zines, message boards, chat rooms and more.
- Emusic -- www.emusic.com -- is the best site for jazz downloads.
- MP3now -- www.MP3now.com -- is the best instructional site for beginners.
- CDNOW Cosmic Music Network -- cosmic.cdnow.com -- is the best site for musicians to consider for an Internet label.
Several books full of pertinent information are also available. The Complete Idiot's Guide to MP3 is just about what it says it is. While it contains accurate information that will get a beginner started, the detail person will be left wanting more. A CD included with the book includes several MP3 players and recorders. Watch for newer versions online. Also, many sample MP3 files are included.
MP3 Power with WINAMP is the bible on the WinAmp player and provides a good level of detail for using the PC/Windows platform. This book also comes with CD including the software and sample MP3 files that most jazz lovers will simply hate!
And The MP3 and Internet Audio Handbook by Bruce Fries is the bible on MP3 and all things related. While it is a primer for the newbie, it covers the details that will also interest the techno guru. This is the MP3 manual most likely to be current at the end of the year 2000. While not directly quoted in this article, this is the book that was used to validate all other MP3 information. It is available at most major bookstores, Amazon.com and at the publisher's web site -- www.TeamCombooks.com. Buy it!
RETURN TO FEBRUARY 2000 MAIN INDEX
------------------------------------------------------------------------
© Kansas City Jazz Ambassadors 1996-2001. All rights reserved.
|
