History of Computers - MP3
Introduction
MP3, which stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, is a audio encoding software that uses data compression in order to store more music for audio storage. MP3 was developed by the MPEG group, originally a video design group. MPEG also produced MPEG-4, which is the primary consumer digital video storage system. [1].
Overview
Developed in 1992 by the Moving Pictures Experts Group, MP3 works by compressing audio data sent to it by lowering the bit rate (flow of data) by deleting redundant sounds as well as sounds that are deemed too high or too low for human ears. In this manner, the MP3 can usually compress data to 1/10 of it's size using lossy data compression. Lossy compression means that some sounds are deemed 'lost', therefore, there is a slight drop in sound quality if the bit rate is dropped too much. When the bit rate is too low (too much data has been compressed), artifacts are created. Artifacts are sounds that were not in the original audio. Sound audio doesn't only depend on the bit rate. It also depends on the encoder and the actual sounds being compressed. Sharp, unpredictable sounds are also hard to compress, as the variance causes sounds to be blended as sometimes completely deleted. This makes electronic music hard to encode as compared to classical music.
Significance
The MP3 is important to the music world because it enables the download of audio files quickly. Instead of taking hours for one song to download, the data compression system in the MP3 allows music and digital audio to be downloaded extremely quickly. Major online music retailers use MP3 for consumers, but one issue with MP3 files is that music piracy is extremely easy unless the MP3 files are encrypted due to the feasibility of creating and sharing pirated audio files. Also, sharing music over the internet was originally hard, as the download and upload times of music before MP3 files was extremely long, so after the advent of MP3 the internet gained a whole another use, sharing and creating audio files. When the MP3 was developed in 1994 it was spread across the internet at the same time of the advent of Winamp, a audio playing system. In addition, MP3 allows music to be moved portably in portable and small music players.
Resources
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