Music Companies Bemoan New High-Cap Portables 347
An anonymous reader writes "New Scientist reports: 'The music industry this week condemned the launch of two recording systems that will let people copy between 30 and 100 hours of music onto a single disc.'" The Sony system is supposed to use "ultra-efficient data compression system used in MiniDiscs" to fit "30 hours of MP3 music" on a CD-R. (I thought MD used ATRAC rather than MP3, and that ATRAC's standard bitrate was 285.3 Kbps -- can some MD gurus bring us up to speed?) Philips' system skips CDs, and instead uses a DVD burner, with the resulting disks playable in a to-be-released portable player. I wonder what kind of DRM features the companies will use to cripple each system.
Mincing words.... (Score:2)
Re:Mincing words.... (Score:2, Insightful)
so.... (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:so.... (Score:4, Informative)
ATRAC3 (Score:5, Informative)
Re:ATRAC3 (Score:5, Insightful)
Before MDLP, minidiscs just used ATRAC, which (correct me if I'm wrong) is a psychoacoustic encoding with a compression ratio of around 7:1. At this point an Minidisc, with a capacity of around 120MB, can store as much audio as a CD.
With the advent of portable MP3 players, Sony realized that minidisc would be drastically outmoded if MD could not store more. They came out with a considerably more lossy codec which extended ATRAC and called it MDLP. This codec was a lot more like MP3, as Sony presumed (correctly) that people would be willing to deal with the quality loss, since MP3 is not a hugely high quality codec. At the lowest quality setting its passable only for Audio Books, but it sounds pretty good (in my personal experience) at higher settings.
This MDLP technology is what Sony is using to make up the statistics on this machine. I also bet they're quoting stats at the lowest, hugely crappy setting.
--
Phil
Re:ATRAC3 (Score:5, Informative)
MP3s encoded at 128kbps CBR (constant bit rate) using an encoder such as Xing WILL result in poor-quality mp3s, easily discernible by the averagle listen using poor quality equipment. However, an mp3 encoded using a recent version of LAME (i recommend 3.90.2) and "--alt-preset standard" will find that the resulting files are virtually indistinguishable from the source CDs (even to audiophiles), at an average bitrate of around 192kbps. This is superiour compression to ATRAC, and the LAME psychoacoustic model is significantly better tuned IMHO.
For more information on ALL lossy and lossless codecs by people who really know their stuff, check out the message boards at Hydrogen Audio [hydrogenaudio.org].
Re:ATRAC3 (Score:5, Informative)
>>>>>>>>
I don't know about that. With my Sony D66's (not quite audiophile quality, but very nice) I can hear a significant difference between a 192 kbps MP3 and the CD. At 256 kbps, I really have to be looking for it, so that's what I encode at. Through my speakers (Klipsch 4.1's, again not audiophile quality, but nice as far as PC speakers go) I can't really tell the difference at 192 kbps unless it's a type of song that MP3 just doesn't encode well. I think the main thing here is that: a) headphones will reveal quality differences much more than comparably priced speakers, and b) PC audio systems suck enough that a good pair of speakers aren't the bottleneck when comparing compression standards. If you go to a pair of really accurate headphones (like the in-ear ER-4's) even non-audiophiles will hear the difference. And at less than $300, it's not like we're talking about some $5000 home theater system here.
So did you do a double-blind test? (Score:4, Insightful)
And those studies say a good mp3 encoding (192k/s VBR / 256k/s CBR) is as good as the CD. Worked on a couple of friends of mine at least... was shitting mp3, but they couldn't tell them apart when I encoded to mp3, decoded to wav and burned in random pairs (original/mp3 pair) on CD.
Also as for b), blaming the PC equipment is very much redundant, as any serious half-audiophile will use the digital out to connect to a much better sound system than a PC audio card. Just don't start talking to me about gold plated radiation shielded bubblewrapped digital sound cables, please?
Kjella
Re:So did you do a double-blind test? (Score:3, Funny)
Did you make sure to use gold plated power cords? That will keep any interference that minor power fluctuations might induce into the amplifier out of the system. Also make sure you have the green dots placed in the proper locations of the listening space. All the sounds that have a harmonic relationship with green light will be properly reflected and enhanced by the dots resulting in a much more realistic listening experience. Of course you can't forget to keep the humidity in the room wit
Where I listen it doesn't matter (Score:4, Insightful)
While walking outside, there's so much background noise and my headphones (either the earbuds or my Koss Porta-Pro juniors) just aren't good enough to be able to tell a "really good" MP3 from an OK one. I have a ton encoded with the Xing encoder (most were done with VBR), and I couldn't tell you which ones were which, they sound fine to me. I can tell *damaged* MP3s (those with skips, bad warble) but not "bad" ones.
It's even more true in my car. My car CDs are audio CDs but made from MP3 files. The car is such a noisy environment, that I don't see how you could tell a "good" MP3 from a "bad" one (again, damaged is another category).
I think you'd have to do some serious, high-quality headphone listening in a really quiet environment to be able to tell the difference. I think the vast majority of people might be able to tell the difference in some places with A/B listening when coached, but if you just put the MP3 on and played it they'd never say "that sounds off, is it a 128k xing?"
Re:ATRAC3 (Score:4, Interesting)
MP3 is not high quality on comsumer electronics (Score:5, Insightful)
But you're missing the point. You are talking about Sony, a big consumer electronics company, not about esoteric command line parameters.
On a regular Minidisc deck, you don't get to manage the ATRAC compression parameters and bitrate, and you get a very good quality and a real "guarantee" that if you are using all-Sony equipment, your recorded Minidiscs are going to sound just great. This is simple, and users love it.
Now, MP3 is a format that almost nobody but experienced people understands. As you said: "MP3s encoded at 128kbps CBR (constant bit rate) using an encoder such as Xing WILL result in poor-quality mp3s". Want to bet how many people sharing their MP3s collections on P2P know that? Popular MP3s on the 'Net are of average quality, at best. Most of them are real crap (well, some songs may not deserve any better).
ATRAC is a format users DON'T NEED to understand. Minidisc is a user-end oriented product, and a really good one at that. ATRAC even has full forward and backward compatibility, meaning you don't need to know which versions of encoded discs and decoder players you have for them to work perfectly.
Now, as other
MDLP and NetMD are there for a reason, it's comparable to the quality Kaaza lusers are used to from their crappy MP3s, while keeping the simplicity of the Minidisc format.
Re:ATRAC3 (Score:5, Insightful)
The problem with sony's codecs is that they're not "open." I'm not one of those zealots here, but ATRAC3 and MDLP have a significant amount of DRM associated with them. The NetMD software absolutely blows. Why? Because you have to "check out" your MP3s. You can only have a song "checked out" twice, then you have to check it in (delete it from an MD) to use it on another MD. There are ways to get around this (use Nero to burn MP3s to an image, mount the image then NetMD treats it like a legit CD) but it's largely a pain in the ass that accomplishes nothing.
Also, there will probably never be a program that will put songs on an MD that's not written by Sony. ATRAC3 and MDLP belong to Sony, and you're almost assured to get sued if you release another program that doesn't allow them to use DRM to protect Columbia records (a Sony holding.) If it weren't such a royal pain in the ass, NetMD would probably own the market, but as it is, it's a bit too cumbersome for most people.
Re:ATRAC3 (Score:3, Interesting)
My solution? I bought an Eiderol UA-5. 96 khz, 24-bit audio. Very nice mic pre's, balanced inputs, optical and coax digital I/Os, phantom power, for abou
Remotely comparable with Vorbis? (Score:2)
Re:Remotely comparable with Vorbis? (Score:2, Informative)
ATRAC, ATRAC3 bitrates (Score:2, Informative)
Codec is used in Sony's Minidisc recorders and the RealAudio 8 compression format.
Versions used by Minidisc:
There are different implementations, they are called:
MDLP (Score:4, Informative)
Re:MDLP (Score:5, Informative)
However, I'd like to clarify that the md and mdlp units use the same media, with the same mechanical recording system - the change is in the bitstream and the playing software.
I would suspect that sony is probably placing ATRAC3 on a CD and playing that. Simply an issue of software which is generally cheaper to develop than hardware.
extra extra read all about it !! (Score:5, Funny)
Printers try to squash the invention of the typewriter.
Music companies try to licence tape recorders.
We used to have fire, but the inventor died.
Re:extra extra read all about it !! (Score:2)
Ultra-efficient ATRAC? (Score:2, Informative)
Comment removed (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:Ultra-efficient ATRAC? (Score:3, Insightful)
Re:Ultra-efficient ATRAC? (Score:5, Insightful)
Yes. High End audio types are hysterical. "Oxygen-free copper cables", indeed.
Now there are even "high end" RJ11 cables for dial-up modems. [monstercable.com] Like the five feet from the wall jack to the computer will be where noise gets in, as opposed to the miles of unshielded wire from the jack to the central office.
I'm an expert! (Score:3, Insightful)
Read: "ultra-efficient data compression system" == ATARC. They're just saying MP3 because it makes people go "OOOOoooo!" and buy it.
In other news... (Score:2, Interesting)
Apple Released a 100 GB iPod, to much fanfare
Re:In other news... (Score:2)
Re:In other news... (Score:3, Insightful)
The poster is just saying that it's non-news, just a new/different/updated way to store music.
"Insightful" may be overstating it, but possibly more accurate than informative or interesting.
But since when did moderation become an exact science?
dvd eh? (Score:3, Insightful)
More importantly than DRM is how much will this cost? DRM is important, don't get me wrong, but no matter how little copyright protection is on the thing, if the DVD audio player costs $250 in addition to the rest of the audio system, not many people are going to buy it unless it sounds better than all else.
Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:5, Insightful)
My favorite quote from the article speaks for itself:
Mike Tsurumi, a president of Sony Consumer Electronics in Berlin, insists that the move makes sense. "The music companies need to change their business model, he says.
This is an executive within Sony talking, mind you. Fucking amazing. Is there any centralized coordination? Isn't there a CEO of Sony corporate who keeps his divisions in line with the goals (i.e. bottom line interests) of the company as a whole?
It actually is (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:5, Interesting)
Isn't there a CEO of Sony corporate who keeps his divisions in line with the goals (i.e. bottom line interests) of the company as a whole?
Japanese companies seem to have a thing for conglomerates. I suppose it helps to diversify, but how can something as scattered as Sony be said to have a coherent vision? The only unifying theme I can think of is tech - Sony makes just about anything that holds a computer chip, but they don't do snacks, and they don't do textiles. Strangely, they do make thermoses.
Re:Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:2)
Re:Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:5, Funny)
"Is there any centralized coordination? Isn't there a CEO of Sony corporate who keeps his divisions in line with the goals (i.e. bottom line interests) of the company as a whole?"
I think this is what is known as "hedging your bets."
Compete with yourself (Score:2, Interesting)
Re:Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:2)
In other news, Mike Tsurumi, a president of Sony Consumer Electronics in Berlin, resigned from his post yesterday, saying he needed to "spend more time with his family".
The president of Sony International praised Mr. Tsurumi as "one of the visionaries of the consumer electronics field. He will be sorely missed".
Replacing Mr. Tsurumi is Mr. Weregona Getyerass, who last worked as a janitor at Sony Records.
Re:Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:2)
Re:Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:5, Informative)
As Slashdotters have been saying for a while now, technological advancements like MP3, etc. will eventually force the music labels to change their business models, no matter how hard they kick and scream. They may win concessions that will piss off people like those here, but at some point they simply will not be able to sell nearly as many CDs at the same high prices they've been pushing, no matter what. Now, here are Sony and Philips, who not only sell creative works, but also sell the hardware needed to play the media. While their music publishing arms might suffer, the overall conglomerates still stand to stay in business even if music sales plummet to zero, since they'll still sell the hardware needed to play it. Suppose they decide to just write off the already-dwindling gravy train from publishing, and instead go all out on the hardware, seeing it as where the real money either already lies or eventually will?
Of course, somebody will figure out a way to make money from the music itself (even if it can no longer generate the kinds of revenues it has in the past). Even so, tech changes should ultimately transform the business; tech changes have always signalled changes in business models, and while some will die, others will arise. I just hope the music publishers don't gunk things up too much with the legislation they'll undoubtedly buy in their death throes as they try to stave it off.
Re:Sony is Schizophrenic (Score:2)
That's exactly the characteristics you want to find in an enemy you want to anihilate.
As usual (Score:5, Insightful)
Re:As usual (Score:5, Interesting)
Because consumer copying, now equals piracy...
AOL (yes I use AOL and I don't care what you have to say on that subject) has on their exit screen an advert for the MusicNet thing.
It says:
"MusicNet on AOL: Burn CDs safely and legally with satisfaction guaranteed."
Erm... since when was burning a CD illegal... or risky (assuming low burn speeds?)
I mean... safely... is that a threat?
Re:As usual (Score:5, Insightful)
No. The real problem is you can't protect against one without restricting the other. Record companies don't really care about backup copies. They're more concerned with downloading 100 songs from Kazaa and burning them, rather than buying the music.
Re:As usual (Score:5, Insightful)
But they are willing to take away your right to backup in order to keep you from using Kazaa. Thats the problem. No matter what they spend, they can not stop it. If they make it impossible to record from disk, then people will make very high quality analog verisons, then digitize. It will still be good enough. But now you have pissed off your customers, who will delight in sticking it to you.
Another problem: Much of the new music coming out on major labels is not much better than private label stuff out of some home studios, and freely available. They can't control that either.
Until they realize that they can't put the toothpaste back into the tube and change their business model, they will have this problem. Someone here pointed me to emusic.com, which has a great model IMHO. Just not the absolute newest stuff. $10 a month for unlimited music.
Really, you just can't win. (Score:2)
> Erm... since when was burning a CD illegal... or risky
Dude, at the speed and heat levels those new CD-ROMs operate at, a flaming, spinning CD could come flying outta there and cut your head clean off! Sure, the heat of the CD would cauterize the wound, but it wouldn't matter
And if that's the case, then you're suddenly in violation of the DMCA - two people sharing one CD - that's piracy! Doesn't matter if one person is a head with spiderlegs and the other is a body (s
Re:As usual (Score:5, Insightful)
Lots of people might want to have massive orgies, too. If you can look at only the upsides of something, and not the consequences, lots of things can come off as quite attractive.
I don't know how the numbers wind up. I don't know whether it's actually the case that record companies supporting this would be good or bad for them. However, I do know that saying that CD companies would make money doing something just because people want it doesn't mean that it's a good idea, if it puts people in a game-theoretic position where music is a public good -- and stealing it is better for any individual, though it screws everyone over long run.
So you can't claim that "people want it" is a good reason for a company to do something (particularly as people don't have perfect information, and tend to be short-sighted about the consequences of this). Think about the article that was run on Slashdot a while ago about what happened to the Chinese music industry because of mass piracy. It's not dead, no, but it's nowhere near as productive as the US industry, either.
Heck, if people didn't want to do things that were stupid ideas, you wouldn't see people doping up.
Re:As usual (Score:3, Insightful)
Productive? In what way? In the sense of generating more forgettable junk than anybody else? There is good music in the US, but, if anything, the US seems to produce less of that relative to its size than other places. And the people who produce good stuff in the US benefit hardly at all
Re:As usual (Score:4, Insightful)
Music? Food? (Score:5, Insightful)
They serve plates with ten things on it.
You get no choice on what food goes on which plate. If you want fries, you get nine more food items as well, whether you want them or not, and pay full price for all.
So you want a burger, fries, and a coke. That's three plates. Fries come on one, the other has a burger on it, and a coke comes with a third. You get a shitload of asparagus, beans, corn, some sort of goo claimed to be edible, along with other unwanted items.
Tell me, honestly, would you eat there?
Sony had an interesting stance. (Score:4, Insightful)
It will be interesting to see if this is the start of a trend, Innovators just saying no to hollywoods ancien regime. Or, if its just a one off fluke.
Crash
Notice how Sony's music division... (Score:5, Interesting)
Mike Tsurumi, a president of Sony Consumer Electronics in Berlin, insists that the move makes sense. "The music companies need to change their business model," he says.
Now if only the "content industry" were to hear and believe this.
Philips (Score:5, Funny)
Sounds like most of the Philips audio products I've bought...
It's a no-brainer (Score:5, Insightful)
"Further, we believe that people that listen to their music too much are also depriving the artists of revenue. If you listen to an album more than 10 or 12 times, you're morally obligated to go buy another copy. Anything else is stealing food from the mouths of starving artists."
When asked whether artists were deliberately kept starving, the spokesman refused comment.
Re:It's a no-brainer (Score:5, Funny)
The record industry is an authority on "no-brains"
Re:It's a no-brainer (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm sorry (Score:2, Funny)
See, the problem is... (Score:5, Insightful)
Mike Tsurumi, a president of Sony Consumer Electronics in Berlin, insists that the move makes sense. "The music companies need to change their business model," he says.
Seriously, if the industry hasn't gotten the hint at this point, I doubt it ever will...
That's not the problem.... (Score:4, Insightful)
You don't seem to get it. The RIAA doesn't acknowledge the _existence_ of legal MP3 files (or any other type of files - divx, etc.). To do so would make people see the gaping hole in their 'proof' that file-trading is the same as stealing a CD. Don't _ever_ expect the RIAA to 'get it'. They get it - and they're lying their asses off (and likely PAYING off) hoping the legislators WON'T get it.
Yes, they could make shitloads more money by making use of new technology - that's not the point. The RIAA know this. Their big thing is CONTROL over the entertainment products (and the artists that create them). This is all about control, not the initial revenue. AFTER they have grabbed total control, THEN they can choke the money out of everyone. It's just like MS - they'll take a massive monetary hit in initial revenue to take over a market and destroy their competition. Yes, Xbox, I'm talking about you.
Re:See, the problem is... (Score:2)
Re:See, the problem is... (Score:2, Interesting)
Unofficial poll (Score:5, Funny)
When you pirate MP3s you're downloading Communism [24.125.76.224]
But I was inspired to update it to reflect the current administration's agenda...
New and improved! [24.125.76.224]
Only, I'm having some difficulty deciding who to put in the background, so I thought I'd let the Slashdot crew help.
Who should star in this new public service announcement?
A) A generic arab
B) Osama bin Laden
C) Saddam Hussein
D) Richard Reid (aka the Shoebomber)
E) Write-in: Please nominate someone
As for the top right symbol, I think that should be up for debate, but to start the ball rolling, might I suggest a flaming jetliner? Or the twin towers?
Thanks, I can't wait to finish it!
PS Please take note, it's a work in progress, so cut me some slack if you notice some minor flaws...
Re:Unofficial poll (Score:3, Funny)
Given America's inability to track down Osama bin Laden's whereabouts for nearly two years, I say leave it as is.
Re:Unofficial poll (Score:2)
As for the symbol, how about "Al Qaeda" in Arabic script?
I don't know if this is it:
Al Qaeda [www.rnw.nl]
Or
Al Qaeda [blueprint-magazine.de]
[From a Google Images search.]
Re:Unofficial poll (Score:2)
Re:Unofficial poll (Score:2)
Re:Unofficial poll (Score:4, Insightful)
These three do pretty well terrorising the US.
If you're a Republican, hit Alt-F4 to reply.
Re:Unofficial poll (Score:2)
"When you pirate MP3s, you're downloading genocide!"
But that's a totally different poster. Let me finish the terrorism one first, then I'll do more of them.
Re:Nice going, thief (Score:2)
Re:Unofficial poll (Score:2)
It's time... (Score:2)
Re:It's time... (Score:2)
Re:It's time... (Score:2)
If it have some kind of media associated, like CDs, cassetes, minidisks
Sony's encoding (Score:5, Informative)
Sony is currently using ATRAC3. It is capable of encoding up to 320 minutes of stereo audio at a bitrate of 36kbps.
To quote from minidisc.org: "[ATRAC3]differs substantially from the original, existing ATRAC system, having twice the transform window size (1024 samples [23.2ms], vs. 512 samples [11.6ms]), encoding tone components separately from other spectra, splitting the input signal into 4 bands instead of 3, and using Huffman coding on the final bit stream to squeeze out redundancy." However, Sony has probably gone to a new version of ATRAC3 for this new application of writing to CDs.
Sony has basically scrapped the idea of using minidiscs as a data storage medium, at least to the genral public. However, Sony did release a digital camera that wrote to MDdata discs, and there are some professional recorders that record multitrack MD data discs. It is interesting that they're only now starting to apply ATRAC technology outside of the MD format.
For more info on MD and ATRAC encoding, i reccomend Minidisc.org
Minidisk cant be dead! (Score:2)
Didn't everybody else?
But I thought...
Nevermind
Face it, sail-makers: (Score:5, Insightful)
You can keep building your clipper ships; we'll admire that intersection of form and function for years to come, to be sure.
Ultimately, smart money will evacuate the market before it is crushed by better technology.
Dumb money will stand around whining, or, worse still for all, attempt to prop up its impotence with lawsuits.
Easy for me to say; it's not my career.
Nevertheless, let common sense and long-term planning be your guide.
What would really rock... (Score:4, Interesting)
Re:What would really rock... (Score:2)
I have no idea if today's DVD burners could handle mini-DVD's, though. Anyone more knowledgeable than I care to share?
I Must Be Missing Something (Score:5, Interesting)
Re:I Must Be Missing Something (Score:2)
Given that most people are fine with 128kbps MP3s, a better codec at 110kbps would probably do fine. The 30 hrs of music on CD is stretching it though.
Re:I Must Be Missing Something (Score:3, Informative)
Re:I Must Be Missing Something (Score:3, Informative)
Some formats that sounds great at 96 Kbps:
AAC-LC (from MPEG-4) (the one in QuickTime 6.1 is pretty good, but not the one from 6.0)
WMA9 2-pass VBR
RealAudio 8 Stereo Music
Ogg Vorbis and a tweaked lame --abr can certainly do more than good enough for workout music at 96 Kbps as well.
Some of the next generation stuff, like AAC-SBR, shoot for "sounds like CD quality" at 48 Kbps or lower.
Three Posts for the Price of One (Score:3, Insightful)
The popular music industry uses a unique business model. Talented (and untalented) people create songs. They then hire a manager or promoter to get them shows and introduce them to and represent their interests with record labels. The manager takes the artist's(') songs and sells them to record labels. Record labels help the artists record these songs onto some form of salable, distributable media. Record labels hire big name producers to assist the recording and creation process. Record labels then enable the artist to receive exposure on television, radio, and whatever format du jour that looks good. This promotion enables artists to sell hundreds of thousands of copies of their songs instead of just hundreds of copies. The money generated from these sales is divided three ways between the record label, the producer, the manager, and the artist(s). Why does the artist, who is creating the product, get the short end of the stick?
Answer: If an engineer creates a product for Company X, and Company X sells this product and makes millions off of the idea, the engineer will not see a large percentage of the money generated from his/her idea.
If an engineer came up with a brilliant product idea, but after one widget was sold, consumers could infinitely copy it... The engineer might be slightly upset if that began to happen.
If an engineer creates a widget that sells millions of copies, and this widget was copied because the original widget broke, the engineer might still be upset. If you broke your widget, then you should have to pay to replace your widget. If you need a backup widget, you should just buy two. If you can't use your widget, then why did you buy it? Remember that if there is enough demand for alternatives to widgets, then someone else could create a wadget and sell to this new market.
The music industry does not like this new technology because now it is not possible for an artist to sell a CD that is full. Have you noticed that some store bought audio tapes can hold up to 90 minutes of music? CDs are a bit of a step backwards. And, even though people recognize the superior audio capabilities of several audio formats, they are not being used or widely sold. Admittedly, that could be due to format wars. But, I would love to go to the store and buy a CD with every single song ever recorded by an artist. This is easily possible with MP3s. I might even be willing to pay more than $20, especially for prolific artists. I could live with the lower sound quality because of the quantity provided. This is not happening. I hate the music industry, which is determined to suicide by means of terrible public relations.
Re:Three Posts for the Price of One (Score:2)
Yes, then I noticed that tape manufacturers came out with *100* minute tapes, which pretty much fit the average CD onto one side.
Supply and demand rears it's ugly head again
You could compare this (Score:2, Insightful)
I'd imagine anyone who was using vynil when they made the push to CDs knows what I'm talking about.
Dirt Nap (Score:5, Insightful)
How about the Billboard Top 100 Singles by year on a single disc. As a huge fan of 80's music, I would rather drop $50 for each disc to get the hits from '84, '85, and '86 rather than several hundred dollars on individual discs or crappy compilations that are 80% filler anyway.
How about releasing a band's entire back catalog on one of these discs, complete with liner notes, lyrics and videos for $100. The Complete Pink Floyd. The Complete Led Zepellin. The Complete Iron Maiden (no snickering).
How about releasing The Essential Tour Compilation. Take the top 25 live shows from a band's previous tour and add travel diaries, interviews, and massive picture galleries. I'd drop a c note on that.
The best part is that this will fit seemlessly into how I already use my music. I curse those stacks and stacks of CDs that take up space in my closet, no longer used because I prefer the freedom a 24x CD-RW drive, dual 100GB hard drives, and a RioVolt that plays MP3 CDs give me.
The music industry has had its collective head up its collective arse for way too long. The technology is there just begging to be used in new and interesting ways, but they're still crunching the numbers with an abacus! Give me a fair price, flush the DRM bullshit and stop calling me a fucking "pirate" and maybe I'll help save your pathetic industry.
Re:Dirt Nap (Score:2, Insightful)
Ah, yes - that may be, but I'm sure the RIAA would much rather you plunk down several hundred dollars on individual discs, than $50 on one disc.
How about a "DVD-Man"? (Score:2, Interesting)
OpenMG (Score:4, Informative)
Expect as least that much hassle with the Sony unit. Do a search for "OpenMG" for the full horror story.
-P.
30 hours on a CD around 58~62kbps (Score:5, Insightful)
30 hours means 1800 minutes, divide 1800 with 74, and you get 24.324324324, so that means 24x times compression. Divide 1411.2kbps by 24.324324324 and you get around 58kbps.
One more try, divide 1800 with 80, get 22.5, divide 1411.2 by 22.5, get 62kbps.
So basically, they use they're saying they're using approx. 58~62kbps ATRAC3 on a CD. Doesn't sound all that nice to me.
Funny, that's what compression is all about.. (Score:2, Interesting)
Lossy compression works by dropping the file size in a way that's meant to be difficult to perceive.
I have no idea what you're trying to say : )
The article is simplistic and un-enlightening (Score:3, Insightful)
--CTH
Just waiting for a meltdown (Score:3, Interesting)
Sony sue's itself due to percieved copyright infringement
Sony uses the DMCA against itself in America.
StarTux
No kidding (Score:5, Funny)
"It's a no-brainer. Anything which lets people enjoy their music on-the-go on their own terms is a good thing," says the general public.
Why Sony should want to launch a recorder that might make piracy easier may seem surprising, as its Sony Music division makes and sells CDs. While Sony Music did not want to comment on its sister company's launch, Mike Tsurumi, a president of Sony Consumer Electronics in Berlin, insists that the move makes sense. "The music companies need to change their business model," he says.
As if that was really news...Mike Tsurumi needs to talk to the head of Sony Music.
Sony portable MP3/DVD Player ($299) (Score:2, Interesting)
Sony has beat them to it [storagebysony.com], this beauty is not only a portable CDR/RW drive, a DVD-ROM, but it also plays mp3's from CD/DVD or MemoryStick.
A single DVD can contain 57 hours of 192kbps mp3, as you can imagine you could just hear the yells from the RIAA 20 blocks away when this beauty was released.
MiniDVD (Score:2)
Portable + MP3 DVDs = Sony MPDAP20U (no DRM) (Score:3, Informative)
Musician's POV (Score:5, Interesting)
Yes, we own all the copyrights. But we don't mind the music being spread around for free. Four words: Word Of Mouth Advertising. Works wonders for any business. The more people hear it, the more people show up at gigs and buy CDs, T's, etc.
A device like this is a musician's dream. When you want to move music around, you're limited to the capacity of CD-Rs and RW's. Well, us po' musicians, anyway. LOL. But I digress. A device like this would save us a WORLD of trouble. All band members record whatever they work on, passing it back and forth via handheld devices such as this, and their computers at home.
The format to record and compress should be open standard, DRM-free codecs, like anything Vorbis. Since I'm the singer, but also something of a geek, I would much prefer Open Source options. Linux-based onboard OS? We know Sony's at least halfway Linux-friendly. They did put out a PS2 kit...
That'd most certainly be something I'd use. Screw DRM. Oh no, I'm going to pirate my own music! Better stop me before I can! I don't want a whole bunch of encryption crap in my music, just the music codec itself. That's just being a pain in the ass, and you know Microsoft is going to lobby for proprietary control. No, no, a hundred times no. Open Source, DRM-Free.
Oh wait. I'm sorry. Everything I stand for isn't what the RIAA/MPAA/MS want. This technology gives me more freedom, allows me to absorb some of the cost of getting a break, and makes things easier all-around. It lessens their involvment, and thus lessens the amount of bucks they deserve. That's bad, isn't it.
I'm just a dumb, awe-struck-by-the-business musician, what do I know...
Automobile manufacturers bemoan new "Interstate" (Score:3, Funny)
Re:Philips incentive (Score:3, Interesting)
That only applies to the existing RedBook audio CD format (or Orange book? Whatever). I'm sure they wouldn't care -- and may even support -- new standards supporting DRM techniques.
What they disapproved of was companies bastardizing a format that Philips helped invent, breaking the established standards and then putting the logo on the disc as though it were compliant.
This would be like the W3C telling Microsoft that they can't