MPEG-1 Layer III, or better known as Mp3 is the technology that has revolutionized the music industry like no other. It was invented in 1991 by a German research firm called Fraunhofer and Thomson. Since it was introduced, it has been the leading form of audio compression technology available to the public. “By drastically reducing the size of digital music files, it makes it easier for people to transfer songs over the internet much faster.� (Hacker.S, 2000:2). Mp3 compresses file size by providing a means of analyzing patterns in an audio file and then discards huge amounts of information, keeping only the data needed to reproduce an intelligible signal. “Mp3 works by compressing packages of digital information, such as computer programs, video clips and songs to approximately one-twelfth the size of a normal audio CD file (in the case of songs) while losing only negligible audio-quality fidelity.� (Mewton.C, 2001:25). The tools or software needed to encode or decode Mp3 files are readily available on the internet for download. The tool used to compress the files is known as an encoder while the playback software or decoder is called an Mp3 player. Although Mp3 technology is so widely available and used, there are many legal issues surrounding it. The main one being copyright and piracy and the threat it poses to the way the recording industry does business; which is covered in one of the other subtopics. In the case of music, the advantages of using Mp3 technology clearly outweigh the advantages of using the traditional form of music. Sound files are reduced to one-tenth the original size and storage space is very much saved as each compressed song only need about 3mb of storage space on a users hard drive. Making it the easiest way to download and archive thousands of Mp3 files or songs. As Mp3 is an international standard, being Windows and Mac friendly, and capable of being read by the endless amount of software available on the Internet; it has gained support from all users and is the choice format for music fans all over the world. Since Mp3 is known as an open architecture format, not only is it an ideal way to send music files back and forth across the Internet, but once it is downloaded, the information is freely “copyable�. One person can then upload a previously downloaded song from an mp3 file and then make it available to millions. Although many arguments can be presented to counter the claim that downloading music equates loss of music sales to the recording industry, many analysts believe that it may actually improve the sales of records sold over the counter. Also if a new way to encrypt music files is invented, it will reduce the problem of piracy and copyright issues faced today.
"It is predicted that the impact of the Internet will mean that the
recording industry will be receiving extra profits of $180 million a
year by 2003, rising to as much as $500 million if an encrypted format
for delivering downloads emerges as the industry standard instead of
Mp3’s."
Back to Mp3 and digital music
Zinesh gavin 18:19, 21 Oct 2004 (EST)