What is MP3?

MPEG Layer 3, known as MP3, is a digital audio format supported by most computing platforms. So what? Here's what: MP3 reduces audio signals to one-twelfth their original size by cutting out portions that are inaudible to most human ears. That means quick-downloading files that sound almost as good as CDs. Some commentators believe it also means the beginning of the end for CDs--and the companies that prerecord and sell them

Mp3 Equipment

Soon, you'll be able to take MP3 files anywhere you go! Diamond Multimedia's Rio PMP300 is a pocket-sized gadget that holds up to 60 minutes of MP3 music on a 32MB flash card (upgrades are available). Simply upload the files via your PC's serial port--it takes about 1 minute to transfer 10 minutes of music. At this time, the Rio is the only portable MP3 player available in the United States.

Update (11/23/98): We finally heard back from Korean company Saehan Information systems regarding its MP3 player, the MPMan F10. According to a spokesperson, the MPMan F10 will be made available in the United States, in December, through distributor Eiger Labs. It is also possible to order the MPMan F10 directly from Saehan over the Web.

According to reports, Samsung is also planning a portable MP3 player. However, company sources said there were no immediate plans to market the player in the United States.

Also on the horizon: The recently announced CD-MP from NAiAM Corporation is a simple, standalone player that will play both traditional music CDs and recordable CDs (CD-Rs) filled with MP3 files. So, if you have a CD-R drive and MP3 encoding software on your computer, you'll be able to fill a disc up with about 175 full-length, high-quality tunes, and play them just like a regular audio CD! We're also looking forward to the empeg car player the first commercially manufactured MP3 player for your car. It's due out in January for an expected price of $949.

Conflict Over Mp3

Recording industry says:  MP3s encourage copyright violations. It's way too easy for individuals to make MP3s from CDs in their CD-ROM drives, then post these files on the Net for everybody to grab. The artists receive no money for their hard work. Servers with illegal MP3 files are violating copyright laws, and must be shut down. Portable MP3 players will make it even easier to exchange illegal MP3s, and therefore should be banned.

MP3 supporters say: It's almost impossible for musicians who aren't working for one of the big record companies to get radio play, tour dates, or national distribution. Plus, CDs are very expensive to record and produce. MP3, on the other hand, allows low-budget musicians to get high-quality music directly to a huge audience. The record industry is simply scared that it won't get a cut of the profits when MP3 or another all-Net format becomes popular.

My Opinion

MP3 rocks! MP3 files may not sound quite as good as CDs, but for a computer-based audio medium, they're excellent. Of course, the real fun lies in downloading thousands of free files from the Net, creating your own MP3s, and exchanging them with other Net users. Portable MP3 gadgets such as the Rio may help legitimize MP3 as a format and move it beyond the Net, but why wait? Simply download a player, grab some files (an FTP-specific client such as CuteFTP works best), and you'll be hooked--without having to spend another penny.
As fast as the record companies crack down on illegal MP3s, new MP3 providers spring up. But legal MP3s by big-name artists are becoming more common. Some artists (Public Enemy, Prince) have posted free songs online to bypass their record companies. Others (David Bowie, Beastie Boys) have posted tunes with their labels' permission in order to create prerelease buzz. This is an unstoppable flood. It may take a year or two, but we expect that the record companies will eventually offer MP3s as part of their regular distribution. Download a free player for your PC, or buy a portable MP3 gadget, and jump on board!