iPod Forum An
introduction to MP3
If you haven't heard of the MP3 format - where have you been?
This compression algorithm, which can pack CD-quality audio into
files of reasonable size while maintaining a high level of
quality, has been the darling of Internet audio enthusiasts
worldwide.
The MP3 format has generated much controversy in the recording
industry because of its near-perfect digital music
reproductions. With the right tools, users can create MP3 files
from audio CDs on their own computers.
Music pirates have been placing these "ripped" MP3 files on the
Internet for download, much to the dismay of artistes and
recording companies.
However, the fledgling legal MP3 industry has been making great
strides of its own. Numerous independent artistes have
mushroomed on the Internet, fully utilizing this medium to
distribute their songs. Web sites such as GoodNoise and MP3.com
also provide countless numbers of free MP3s for download.
The MP3 format is not limited to just music - virtually any form
of audio can be encoded into MP3, such as audio books, news
broadcasts, speeches, and recordings.
For the listener, the format means new artists who can never
seem to get accepted by record labels but turn out to be big
hits with the public, can gain exposure for their music on their
own Web sites.
The file can be played by an MP3 player (WinAmp is a popular one
on the Internet, available from
www.winamp.com) on a computer.
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It can be transferred to a CD, but CD players can't recognize
the MP3 format. (However, there are some CD players now being
produced that can decompress MP3 files on the fly and play them.
The advantage: A CD, instead of holding 60 minutes of music, can
now hold about 150 to 200 songs.)
Small wonder, then, that MP3 is the second-most-frequently used
search word on most search engines.
What is MP3?
Developed for movie audio in the early '90s by German
researchers, it's a compression technique that shrinks digital
audio files to less than a tenth of their original size with no
sound degradation.
What does MP3 stand for?
It's short for MPEG (Motion Picture Experts Group) Audio Level
3, which probably explains why it's shortened to three letters.
How do I use it?
A. Find a Web site with MP3 files, then click on the song you
want. It'll take about five minutes to download using a 56K
modem, provided you have the required new version of Microsoft
Internet Explorer and MP3-playing software. (The latest Windows
Media Player will do, and is offered for free at some legal MP3
sites.) Each song requires about 3.5 megabytes of hard-disk
space.
MP3.com (
http://www.mp3.com/): Features downloadable songs and
MP3 players, along with answers to frequently asked MP3
questions. Since it's legal, artists either post here because
they're unsigned or because their record labels have agreed to
let them. Such corporate tolerance usually means the artist
needs exposure, so you probably won't find the most popular
songs.
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