LD Resources

© 2000 Bill Lynn
switchedon@hsj.com

What is MP3?
MP3 is a quick way of saying MPEG-1 or MPEG-2, Level III”, an audio compression process developed primarily by German technology group Fraunhofer & Thompson.

What does MP3 do?
The MP3 encoding process takes large audio files, like those found on audio CDs, and compresses them to less than 1/10th their original size while retaining “near CD quality” sound.

Why is MP3 so popular?
MP3 is popular because files can be shared readily over the internet. In the best of circumstances this allows sites like http://www.cdnow.com to offer music clips so you can sample CDs before you buy them. It also provides artists, both signed and unsigned, an avenue for making their music available to a worldwide audience.

Why is MP3 controversial?
Since MP3 files are so small millions of people have found it easy to send files to one another over the internet. Napster, a free system for sharing MP3 files, is very popular because it allows MP3 collectors to search for and locate other collectors who have specific MP3 files available for download.

Macster and Rapster are programs that allow Mac users to access the Napster system http://www.hitsquad.com/smm/mac/top20/. MP3.com and it’s http://www.My.MP3.com service allows users to register (beam up) their own CDs and then listen to them via streaming MP3 audio directly from MP3.com instead of actually having the CD in their CD drive. Both Napster and MP3.com have been the targets of lawsuits by individual recording artists like Metallica and by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) charging that the act of sharing MP3 files or allowing them to be shared is a violation of copyright. The final outcomes of these lawsuits are yet to be determined but there is a good chance that the MP3 file format and it’s ease of transfer will change the way music is commercially distributed.

What do I need to play MP3 files?
There are a number of free and commercial programs for playing MP3 files. Perhaps the most popular is Casady & Greene’s SoundJam MP Free and SoundJam MP Plus http://www.soundjam.com. QuickTime 4.0 or later also plays MP3 files http://www.apple.com/quicktime/. A comprehensive list of MP3 players for the Mac is available at http://software.mp3.com/software/featured/macintosh/player/.

What do I need to make my own MP3 files?
There are several MP3 encoders (rippers) for the Mac. SoundJam MP is capable of encoding and if you are connected to the internet it will automatically contact gracenote.com (formerly CDDB.com), a disc recognition service to get the track names and times for the CD in your CD drive. You’ll find a list of other rippers at http://software.mp3.com/software/all/macintosh/ripper/.

Where can I get MP3 files?
One obvious source is your own collection of CDs. An MP3 encoder will allow you to store entire CD collections on your hard drive for easy access. There are many other sources for MP3 files. Napster (i.e. Macster, Rapster) is one, although the jury is still out on it’s legality. http://www.MP3.com and http://www.MP3machine.com are other good sources for quality MP3 files. There are many other web sites and public FTP sites that contain free MP3 files.

Can I make audio CDs from my collection of MP3 files?
Yes. But you’ll need to convert them to a file format that your CD player can read. The Audio Interchange File Format (AIFF) is one example. Use QuickTime 4.0 or later or any other MP3 to AIFF converter to prepare your files. Then use Adaptec’s Toast software to burn a CD containing your converted files.

What is an MP3 digital audio player?
MP3 digital audio players allow you to take MP3 music with you just like a portable CD player. They usually run on one AA or two AAA batteries for anywhere from 10 to 16 hours. They have no moving parts. These players include software that transfers MP3 files from your computer to the player. The amount of music that a player can hold depends upon it’s available storage space. 32 megs of storage space will support about an hour of CD quality music. Most models are expandable using SmartMedia cards. One popular model is S3’s Rio 600 http://www.riohome.com/. MP3 digital audio players are currently in the $150 – $250 range.

Can I play my MP3 collection in my car?
Yes. MP3 CD players will play standard audio CDs and CD-R/CD-RW discs with MP3 files. A CD-R can hold 10 or more hours of MP3 encoded music. MP3 CD players come in the traditional “Walkman” style portables and in-dash car players. http://www.mp3car.com.

What is MP3 streaming?
MP3 streaming is a method of receiving and listening to live internet broadcasts. It does not require the the user to download complete MP3 files. Instead, a small file is downloaded that contains information about the source of the broadcast. This allows your MP3 player to locate and begin receiving (buffering) the ongoing broadcast. Since high quality MP3 streaming requires very high high bandwidth, streaming broadcasts are typically of lower fidelity than MP3 downloads. The MP3 data sent by the broadcast server is usually down-sampled to a lower frequency, encoded at a lower-than-normal bit rate, or sent as a mono rather than a stereo stream.

So what does all this mean to me?
If you enjoy listening to music on your computer, you can rip your favorite CDs, store them on your hard drive and listen to them anywhere, at any time with the aid of MP3 player software or an MP3 digital audio player.

Where can I find out more about MP3?
Some of the more technical information in this handout was taken from “MP3 – The Definitive Guide” by Scot Hacker. Available from http://www.amazon.com. This book contains everything you would ever want to know about MP3 and I highly recommend it.