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| MP3About:
MP3 is the file extension for MPEG, audio layer 3. Layer 3 is one of three coding schemes (layer 1, layer 2 and layer 3) for the compression of audio signals. Layer 3 uses perceptual audio coding and psychoacoustic compression to remove all superfluous information (more specifically, the redundant and irrelevant parts of a sound signal. The stuff the human ear doesn't hear anyway). It also adds a MDCT (Modified Discrete Cosine Transform) that implements a filter bank, increasing the frequency resolution 18 times higher than that of layer 2.
The result in real terms is layer 3 shrinks the original sound data from a CD (with a *bitrate of 1411.2 kilobits per one second of stereo music) by a factor of 12 (down to 112-128kbps) without sacrificing sound quality. *Bitrate denotes the average number of bits that one second of audio data will consume. Because MP3 files are small, they can easily be transferred across the Internet. Controversy arises when copyrighted songs are sold and distributed illegally off of Web sites. On the other hand, musicians may be able to use this technology to distribute their own songs from their own Web sites to their listeners, thus eliminating the need for record companies. Costs to the consumer would decrease, and profits for the musicians would increase. [source: webopedia.com] Recent NewsThe Catastrophe, Mute, One Hundred Year Ocean PJ, from Pittsburgh, PA's Punchline, has a new side project called The Catastrophe. The band currently has two tracks streaming on their MySpace page. Quebec, Canada's Mute will be heading out to Europe in April and May of 2009 to tour in support of their new full length The Raven. You can find tour dates on the group's MySpace page. Willmantic,…Scatterbox, Ends Like This, Johnny Madcap and The Distractions Coeur D Alene, ID's Scatterbox have posted a new live track from their recent show with The Misfits on Friday, November 14th, 2008 at the Knitting Factory in Spokane, Washington. The song is part of a full live set professionally recorded, that will become part of a pre-order for the new studio album titled "ENEMIES", which has a street date of February 10th, 2009. The track is available on the band's MySpace page. Karlstad, Värmlands län Sweden's…Little Millionaires, Deadlights, The Seams Toronto, ON's The Little Millionaires are currently streaming their EP DIY Is An STD on their MySpace page. The band is gearing up for a split on Black Pint records. New Haven, CT's Deadlights is streaming their debut EP The Noisy Shore on their MySpace page. The band also announced in a bulletin plans to put a limited number of digital download copies…Hearts Divided, Rebuilt, Valina Bremerton, WA's Hearts Divided has finished recording five songs at Monkey Trench Studios with Mike Herrera ([[MxPx]]). Pictures and videos from the studio are available at the group's MySpace page. Seattle, WA's Rebuilt have set the dates for an extensive new year tour through January and February. The band has also released their debut seven inch through Silly Girl Records. More info, of course, is available at the…Thousandaires, Tellison Brian: Usually, "members of" information doesn't really provide any insight into what a band actually sounds like. However, Thousandaires not only comprise of members from Bridge and Tunnel, Halo Fauna and Get Bent, but they actually resemble a potent, smooth blend of all those bands. Brooklyn videographer punx If You Make It recently posted a veritable wealth of releases for free download, one of which is Thousandaires' three-song demo. Don't let it get lost in the shuffle -- you can download…Hark The Herald, Jason Shevchuk, The Composure Louisville, KY's Hark the Herald has posted a fall tour video montage. Check it out on their MySpace page or on their YouTube Channel. Red Sound Records (formerly Red Star Records) has posted the release of Jason Shevchuk's OnGuard album, "This Has It's Price and That Price Has Been Paid." You can download the album for free by visiting the label's…AOL streaming The Clash, Jay Reatard, Of Montreal, Deerhoof, Annuals AOL has posted the latest set of album streams this week. The entries include new and live albums from The Clash, Jay Reatard, Of Montreal, Annuals, Deerhoof and more.…Frontier(s) (ex-Elliott) post four song demo Lousiville, KY's Frontier(s) have posted a four song demo to their MySpace page. The band is the new project from Chris Hidgon, formerly of Elliott. The new band is currently unsigned, but recorded the demo at The Funeral Home with Kevin…Among The Living, Asinine, Casting Curses, Rain Over Battle Bay Area, CA's Among The Living have posted a five song demo to their MySpace page page. The new band features members of Alcatraz, At Risk, Moria, and Uzi Suicide. Their first show is October 18th for Cruz Fest. Cleveland, OH's Asinine have called it quits after four years of playing. Bass player Kenny had this to say: Yeah we haven't really been doing too much lately, we have a couple shows this fall and that looks…Babylon Party Machine, Mass Panic Kid, Madison Bloodbath Babylon Party Machine (alternate solo project of ska-punk musician Matt Wixson) has uploaded a new song, a drum-n-bass-meets-ska version of the Toasters' song "Don't Let The Bastards Grind You Down". The song can be heard here. Mass Panic Kid which includes Andrew Black of Georgie James and Sam Cave of The Trouble have posted some new music from their upcoming… |