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MP3 Launchpad
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With all the hubbub around MP3 and the Internet these days, it can be a bit daunting for folks who are just getting into music on the Web. After all, the topic encompasses software, hardware, consumer electronics, the Internet, and legal issues. Music and the Web are an explosive combination, and you'll miss out if you let information overload get the best of you. To stop you from throwing in the towel and going back to CDs, cassettes, and LPs forever, we've put together the following introduction to MP3. In addition, you might want to glance over CNET Music Center's digital audio glossary to brush up on many of the new terms you'll encounter throughout these pages and in your musical ventures elsewhere on the Web.

 
What Is MP3?
MP3 is short for MPEG Layer 3, a file format that compresses standard audio tracks into much smaller sizes without significantly compromising sound quality.
What Can I Do With It?
 
What Is Streaming Audio?
This technology lets you listen to MP3s and other audio over the Internet through your browser, without downloading anything to your computer.
What Can I Do With It?
 
What Is a MiniDisc Player/Recorder?
MiniDiscs are removable cartridges that offer a cheap, easy, and nearly indestructible way to take your music to go. Not only are MiniDisc players/recorders small and easy to use, but they offer the extra advantage of making it easy to create high-quality recordings from a microphone straight to MiniDisc--something you can't do with MP3 or CD players. Field recorders, concert bootleggers, and musicians take note: MiniDisc is fast replacing the DAT recorder as the digital recording device of choice. Not only that, but you can also record music to and from your MiniDisc player/recorder.
 
What Is the Legal Deal?
MP3s can be used in ways that illegally infringe on copyrights, but that doesn't make them illegal in and of themselves. Under the Fair Use Act, you are allowed to make copies of any music you own, as long as you keep them within your possession. But when you start disseminating music in a digital form that's infinitely copyable, as MP3s are, you and the people you give the music to are technically breaking the law. Very few individuals have ever been prosecuted for this, despite the fact that many corporations get sued for doing the same thing on a larger scale. You're pretty safe if you play around with trading MP3s, but if you like a band, you might want to take such measures as sending around single songs as opposed to complete albums. That way, people will still have an incentive to buy albums.

Just use your common sense. Bending the law is OK at this point, as long as you don't take it too far. Of course, all of this might change now that Metallica is going after individuals who pirated their music using Napster. For more on Napster, check out this superb News.com interview, where two experts explain the situation really well.

 
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Get Started

Before You Start

  • Connect your PC to your home stereo
  • Brush up on the lingo
     
    MP3
  • Choose a software MP3 player
  • Choose a portable MP3 player
  • MP3 rippers/encoders
  • Encode your own MP3s
  • Encode your own MP3s on a Mac
  • Grow your digital music collection
  • Search for MP3s
     
    MiniDisc
  • Record MP3s and more from PC to MiniDisc
  • Browse MiniDisc players
     
    Streaming Audio
  • Find streaming audio stations
  • Choose your free audio player
     
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