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The Week in
Review: June 19-25, 2000
Last week's features at
3DsoundSurge
Win a full Dolby Digital 5.1 System
Just a reminder that there is a really nice contest at the
end of our MidiLand MK-01 review. There are a few questions that MidiLand is just dying to
get answers for. So much so that they offering up a number of great prizes. Specifically,
just for answering the questions on 3DsoundSurge you are entered into a contest with 5
runner up prizes of MK-01 kits, two second prizes of the MLi-490 4.1 speaker system plus a
MK-01 kit and a great grand prize that consists of an S4-7100 5.1 Dolby Digital ready 100
watt speaker system, an ADS-2000 Dolby Digital decoder and an MK-01 kit! As it
stands right now your odds are quite good so why not take the time and enter the contest.
http://www.3dsoundsurge.com/reviews/MK01/MK01.html
Last week's sound news
Drivers and bugs
New games, demos, patches and bugs
Reviews of soundcards, speakers, headphones and MP3 players.
- Creative Labs SBLive! MP3+
Hardware Central has posted a review of Creative
Labs' SBLive! MP3+. From reading the introduction to their review you might get the
impression that the Sound Blaster Live has been out for several years. The truth is the
card has not even been on the market for two full years yet! The intro also refers to the
original Live as a professional level board, and while it does have some advanced options,
its still considered to be a consumer level board (and not a professional level board) for
several reasons. Moving along, the review complains about the mini-jack format for the
digital output. While I don't disagree that it would be nice to have a mini-jack to SPDIF
COAX adapter bundled with the card, the lack of a mini-jack to DIN adapter makes perfect
sense given that the DIN adapter is bundled with the Cambridge SoundWorks DTT2500 and
FPS2000 which are currently the only speakers that can take advantage of the DIN
connection. It's worth noting that this particular DIN outputs a digital signal and not an
analog signal used by other systems using a G9 DIN input. Its also worth noting that a
switch to a standard RCA output is not practical when you consider that the mini-jack
connector used by the Live is a 3-pole connection and a RCA output is just two (i.e.
digital rear channel support in games for the DTT2500 and FPS2000 would not be possible).
For our own impressions of the card you can check out our dual review of the
SoundBlaster Live! X-Gamer & MP3+.
- Monster Sound MX400
3DAI has posted a review of
Diamond's MX400 and they were quite impressed with the quality. They did note that
there are problems with a few games, but noted that ESS is aware of the problems.
Hopefully we will see solutions in a timely manner.
- Altec Lansing ADA880 and ADA885
Game Basement has
posted a review that takes a look at Dell's ADA880 and ADS885 Dolby Digital speaker
systems. Just a couple minor comments. The review does not mention that the THX
certifications carried by the ADA885, like the certification carried by the Klipsch
ProMedia, is the new multimedia speaker THX certification (i.e. other than the name THX
it's not the same as the other THX certificiations you will find on home theater
components). The other comment is with the new preamp that ships with all ProMedias, the
ADA880 (and so I assume the ADA885) are actually louder than the ProMedia! You can see the
results in our ADA880 review and our ProMedia-Crossfire
comparison article. As we have noted before, watts does not equate to loudness as driver
efficiency has a big part to play in how loud a particular system can play. Regardless, if
you are considering either of these two systems then the Game Basement article is well
worth a read.
- SQ2500
Quantum9.com
has posted a review of Aureal's SQ2500. Worth noting that the EAX support is just EAX
1.0 and that many EAX 2.0 games will not work at all, sometimes (e.g. MDK2) will even 3D
sound fail if they can't detect EAX. Future driver support is as previously mentioned in
doubt but last we checked there was still some work on Windows 2000 drivers and we will
most likely see the next release pretty soon. It probably won't feature any support for
EAX and also lacks some of the other features that are part of the Windows 98 drivers. For
a second opinion on the card (2040 drivers only) you can check out our own review
- Cambridge SoundWorks FPS2000
Daily Radar has posted a very positive review of the FPS2000
Digital 4.1 speaker system. Just one clarification. The review calls the digital
connection a SPDIF connection...it's not. Its a proprietary DIN connection that only works
with the SB Live line of cards and not with any card with a digital output as suggested by
the Daily Radar review. For more on the FPS2000 you can also check out our own review.
Brokenpixel has also posted a review of the FPS2000
system. They found it to be a good system especially for games but complained about
the weak lower midrange.
- Nomad II
Ga-Hardware has
posted a review of Creative Labs Nomad II with 32MB memory. The Nomad II features 32
MB memory, upgradable firmware (allows it to support more than MP3s), USB interface, LCD
display, FM tuner, voice recording, equalizer presets, bass and treble control, wired
remote control and a $220 price tag. It's certainly one of the most well featured players
on the market. This review is quite detailed especially about the software. The found it
to be a really good player giving it a score of 90% overall and sound quality 95% but they
had some complaints about the software.
- D-Link DMP-100 MP3 Player
TargetPC has posted a review of the D-Link DMP-100
MP3 player. This is a relatively standard MP3 player with 32 MB of memory, memory
expansion slot (SmartMedia), voice recording, parallel port connection, tunable equalizer,
LCD display and the standard control buttons. Like most reviews I have seen of this unit,
they were relatively impressed.
- Rio 500
The
Tech Zone has posted a 3 page review of Diamond's Rio 500. The Rio 500 is your typical
MP3 player featuring 64 MB memory, Smart Media slot, USB interface, backlit LCD display,
equalizer presets, bass and treble controls, A-B repeat button and a $230 pricetag.
TechZone found it to be pretty good but complained about the software, that you can only
transfer MP3s to the player and the bundled earphones. For a second
opinion you can check out Electic Tech's more detailed review. They tried the player
using Windows 2000. Just like The TechZone they complained a bit about the software and
bundled earphones but overall positive impression of the player.
You can even get a third opinion if you check out Tech-Review's Rio500 review.
This one also complained about the bundled earphones but they did like the bundled
software.
- Sharp MT-831 Portable MD Recorder
GadgetSquad has posted a
very detailed (7 pages) review of Sharp's MT-831, a portable MD recorder. A pretty
well featured MD player including analog, microphone and optical input, 20 bit DAC and
ADC, Backlit remote control, 40 second shock memory and playback of 14.5 hours. The size
isn't bad either, only slightly larger than two blank MiniDiscs or W: 3.13 in. x H: 0.70
in. x D: 3.22 in and a weight of 163g. All enough to get their editor's choice award. The
$428.80 SRP is probably a bit steep for most though.
- Amacom Baby DVD
Techgrounds have posted a review
of the Amacom Baby DVD drive. This is a portable drive that uses either a PCMCIA
interface or a USB cable and is of course targeted at laptops. Not sure how typical the
test machines are, but the reviewer had lots of compatibility problems and also found the
drive to be expensive at $279.95
Other sound news
- QSound's Q3D Audio Technology In Philips
Thunderbird Avenger
Not really surprising given their prior relationship with VLSI (who was bought by
Phillips) but QSound Labs,
Inc. has announced that Philips is featuring QSound's Q3D audio technology in its
ThunderBird Avenger sound card which is expected to be available by fall 2000. According
to the announcement, the ThunderBird Avenger is the first sound card that transforms the
PC into a home theatre providing 5.1 speaker playback of music CDs and videos, digital
audio and MIDI files. Previously, only 5.1 encoded DVDs and 3D audio games could be
enjoyed in a home theatre 5.1 speaker format while other sources including music and most
games could only be experienced in stereo. I expect that the connection will still be via
6 analog channels, rather than a SPDIF output when it comes to all source other than Dolby
Digital, but the PR is rather vague on the connectivity. We will see if we can get
additional details from either Phillips or QSound. Hopefully, QSound will also be offering
EAX 2.0 support when the card ships this fall. For more details, check out the full announcement.
- New Intel Chipsets Offer Advanced Audio
Intel Corporation last week introduced two new chipsets for Intel® Pentium® III
processor-based PCs targeted at the mainstream desktop market segment. The Intel® 815 and
Intel® 815E Chipsets provide integrated graphics functionality with the ability to
upgrade via an external graphics card for either AGP 4x or AGP 2x graphics capabilities.
From a sound perspective, like the recently announced Intel® 820E Chipset, the Intel 815E
Chipset features a new I/O Controller Hub (ICH2) for greater system performance and
flexibility. Among other features, the ICH2 provides up to six-channel audio capabilities.
The 815E also sports an enhanced AC'97 interface supporting full surround-sound for Dolby
Digital audio. Intel also announced the Intel Desktop Board D815EEA, a highly versatile,
ATX form factor board based on the Intel 815E Chipset that supports an optional on-board
Creative Labs SoundBlaster PCI audio chip. Not sure what chip, but its very likely
something below the Live. For additional details on the graphics, memory, networking and
other capabilities of the new chips, check out the full press release.
HardOcp has posted a review of the Abit SE6 which uses the
815E and had problems with the onboard sound. For more on the board check out their full
review.
- Computex 2000 Report
T-Break has posted a very nicely written overview of Computex 2000. The
overview includes bits on Abit's new sound card and speaker systems. In fact I see that
Abit has updated their
website with info on their new system. T-break also has info on some entry level
speakers from AOpen, a little on their upcoming AW540 based on the AOpen AS9540 audio
processor, as well as the AOpen CDRW/DVD Combo. I know that on the pure sound front, at
least MidiLand was at Computex 2000, but there is no mention in the report. All in all
this is a summary well worth a read.
- PC Show 2000 Highlights
Overclocker's Workbench has posted an article covering PC Show 2000 Highlights that
includes coverage of some new products that Creative Labs is offering to the Singapore
market.
- Mixing the Classics at 24/96 on Emerald's System
5
Emerald Sound Studios, located on Music Row in this home of Country Music, recently
competed its first 24-bit/96 kHz remix session of music from another genre. Working with
recordings of the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra, executive producer Michael Hobson and
session engineer Eric Bickel have remixed two major pieces for release later this year on
DVD-Audio, the new all-digital, multichannel consumer format. All material was played back
from a Euphonix R-1 Digital Multi-Track Recorder and remixed through a System 5 High
Performance Digital Console. Assisted by location engineers Marc J. Aubort and Joanna
Nickreniz, Hobson secured high-quality recordings using a simple, six-microphone array.
``We had a main pair of left and right microphones on the stage, in rear of the conductor,
plus spot microphones located to the left and right,'' he says. ``Plus a rear stereo pair
to pick up reverberation and ambience in the concert halls.'' These six microphones were
connected to high-precision mic pre-amplifiers plus 24-bit A-to-D converters, and thus to
a PC-based, hard-disk recording system that comprised three, two-channel cards controlled
by Samplitude software from SEKD. At Emerald Sound Studios, the edited 24/96 data tracks
were transferred directly within the digital domain to six open tracks on the facility's
R-1 Multi-Track Recorder. Outputs from the R-1 were routed directly via MADI connections
to the facility's new System 5 digital console for remix to the final 5.1-channel
DVD-Audio Format. Control room monitoring was via Mackie HR824 active near-field
systems...
For quite a few more details, check out the full press release.
- Rewritable DVD Featured in Demo of
High-Availability Streaming Video
Emphasizing the enhanced capacity and performance of the recently announced 4.7GB
rewritable DVD drives, the industry's leading DVD-RAM technology participants, including
Hitachi, Toshiba and Panasonic, will train the spotlight on a continuous demonstration of
streaming video in the DVD-RAM Pavilion. In addition to incorporating a 7TB ASACA TeraCart
rewritable DVD library, the streaming video system includes MagnaVault jukebox management
software from Tracer Technologies and Linux clustering technology from Mission Critical
Linux. The hardware and software combine to provide a single, highly reliable solution for
Internet/intranet and audio/video applications such as video-on-demand for training,
education and communications as well as data warehousing, and data mining. For additional
details check out the
press release.
- Sensory Science Introduces Industry's First
Dual-Deck DVD/VCR
Sensory Science Corporation has announced it will introduce the DVR-5000 combination DVD
and VCR with enhanced features and capabilities for the ultimate in convenience and
performance. The world's first combination DVD and VCR in one, the DVR-5000 is the perfect
combination product for consumers who wish to convert their living rooms into home
theaters without having to purchase multiple components, and provides users with the
ability to upgrade to a DVD without losing the compelling features and versatility of a
VCR. This revolutionary home theater solution contains a Dolby Digital® 5.1 channel
surround sound decoder and also has dts digital output for dts-enhanced DVDs. Users can
playback MP3 files on CD-ROM, and the unit is also compatible with CD-R. The DVD also
features a 10-bit video digital to analog converter and 27MHz advanced digital filter for
a superior picture, and component, S and composite video outputs for high connectivity and
optimum performance. The DVR-5000 is scheduled to begin shipping to retailers throughout
the United States in August and will retail for $399. For additional details, check out the press release.
- LG Electronics Selects Kfir MPEG-2 Encoder for
Digital-TV
VisionTech and LG Electronics announced that they will work together to deliver Personal
Video Recording capabilities on future generation of LG Electronics Digital TV products. A
Personal Video Recorder-enabled digital TV set will feature LGE's HD-1 single chip MPEG-2
Decoder and VisionTech's Kfir single chip MPEG-2 encoder. For details, check out the press release.
- New Samsung DVD Players support MP3s
C-Cube Microsystems last week announced that consumer electronics giant Samsung
Electronics has begun volume production of advanced DVD players designed with C-Cube's
next-generation DVD decoder. ZiVA-4 builds on C-Cube's ZiVA-3
solution with higher levels of integration and advanced audio and video features including
MP3 audio decode to play back personalized CDs, x2 audio to scan through movies,
on-the-fly video zoom of movies, and slow-motion forward and reverse. ZiVA-4 also has an
integrated video encoder featuring full support for all major NTSC and PAL standards and
four video-output DACs that support composite, S-video, and component video outputs, along
with the European SCART standard.
ZiVA-4 includes the following advanced audio features:
- Dolby Digital(TM) audio decode
- MPEG-1 and MPEG-2 multi-channel audio decode
- MP3 audio decode
- Dedicated 54 MIPS audio DSP that delivers:
- Home theater effects including WideSound(TM), RealSonic concert hall,
RealSonic dynamic range compression and graphic equalizer
- Professional karaoke functions including key control, microphone echo
and treble, simulated stereo, and vocal harmony, chorus, scoring, flange, reverb
- Spatializer N-2-2(TM) virtual 6-speaker support
- Dolby Pro-Logic(TM) decode
- DTS(TM) digital out
- Bass redirection
You can find the details about the video features in
the press release
- Men in Black DVD Due Sept. 5
``Men in Black'' will be available on DVD Sept. 5 according to an article on Yahoo. A
special double-disc Limited Edition priced at $39.95 will feature editing workshop that
allows the viewer to edit several cuts in a scene in the order of their choosing, with
director Barry Sonnenfeld explaining why he chose to edit the film the way he did.
According to the article this is the first DVD that offer this feature. Other interesting
features includes segments that can be viewed from a variety of angles, Sonnenfeld and
Tommy Lee Jones will provide visual commentary with onscreen diagrams and Sonnenfeld, Rick
Baker and the special effects team provide technical audio commentary. You can read the
entire article for a few more details
- Controversial DVD Website Celebrates One Year on
the Internet
BargainFlix.com is celebrating
its first full year in business. Called the 'Robin Hood' of the Internet, this progressive
Web site accumulates DVD movie coupons, discounts and promotional offerings from online
retailers and distributes them to the individual consumer for free. For more details check out the press release.
- MP3.com Announces Best of Show for MP3 Summit
2000
Highlighting the successes of the country's foremost conference relating to digital music
technology, MP3.com last week announced ``Best of Show'' awards recipients for its MP3
Summit 2000. You can find the categories and the winner in
each in the press release.
- Panja Introduces new Digital Media Processor
Panja last week introduced its new Digital Media Processor, the DMPi, at the third annual
MP3 Summit. With the DMPi, end users can select and listen to Internet audio streams on
their home entertainment systems without using the PC as an intermediary. This single
component serves as a complete multimedia home entertainment gateway allowing consumers to
select, and listen to MP3 files and manage audio playlists on their TV screen. The DMPi
device is expected to be available to consumers in time for the 2000 Holiday Season, at a
retail price under $700. You can find a couple of quotes from Michael
Robertson (CEO of MP3.com) and Joe Hardt (CEO of Panja) in the press release. In a separate
press release Panja announced that it has teamed with MP3.com and Yamaha Electronics
Corporation to offer a special deal on the Panja 1000 Internet Home Entertainment
Gateway. Through this promotion anyone who purchases will receive:
- $500 off the retail price, a 20% discount
- A free Yamaha receiver plus two speakers
- 3 free months of MP3 classical channels
- MiniJam ships with SanDisk MultiMediaCard and
MusicMatch
SanDisk Corporation last week announced that its flash memory MultiMediaCard will be
bundled for sale along with Innogear's new MiniJam(TM) personal digital audio player, a
new device designed for use with the Handspring(TM) Visor(TM) personal organizer. You can find a lot more
details about MiniJam in SanDisk's press release. You can also check out Innogear announcement of
MiniJam from early last fall. Worth noting that the early 2000 introduction that was
planned then has been delayed to sometime this summer. MusicMatch and
InnoGear announced a partnership between the companies. As part of the agreement,
MusicMatch Jukebox(TM) will be bundled with the InnoGear MiniJam(TM) digital audio player.
- MusicStore Jukebox Stores 200 Audio CDs in MP3
Format
DigMedia Inc last week released the $499 MusicStore(TM), a consumer electronics device
that incorporates a CD player, digital jukebox and a portable MP3 player/docking station
that can record, store and manage up to 200 conventional audio CDs using a rights secure
MP3 format. One interesting feature is that you don't need to be computer literate or MP3
savvy to use the MusicStore. As conventional audio CDs are played, MP3 audio is created
automatically and stored to the unit's on board 6.4GB hard drive. You can find more details in
the press release.
- Digital 5 Texas Instruments Launch Jukebox
Platform
The industry's first multiple-format hard disk drive (HDD) Jukebox digital audio platform
was announced last week by Texas Instruments Incorporated and Digital 5. TI and Digital 5's HDD solution supports 340 Megabytes to 10 Gigabytes of
memory. Additionally, Digital 5's operating system incorporates specific proprietary
technology for mobile and non-PC applications, such as sophisticated power and file
management. The new platform also will support special Softmount(TM) shock protection
techniques for rotating disks.
The DSP chip it will use from TI supports: MP3, Windows Media Audio,
AAC, ATRAC3, EPAC and ACELP.NET. It's also programmable which will allow digital audio
player manufacturers to update features and functions with a simple software download,
rather than by upgrading internal hardware.
TI and Digital 5 expects products using the HDD Jukebox platform to
retail below $300 and it will be portable solutions. You can find more details in the press
release.
- Dell to Preview Digital Audio Receiver During PC
Expo
Dell has announced a technology preview of the Dell Digital Audio Receiver. The new
appliance will enable listeners to enjoy near CD-quality music stored on a PC in any room
of the home by distributing audio to remote receivers or home stereo systems. Dell will
demonstrate the Digital Audio Receiver for the first time during PC Expo in New York, June
26-28. The Dell Digital Audio Receiver, using technology from S3, supports MP3 and
Microsoft Windows Media Audio files distributes digital music stored on the hard drive to
other rooms with existing phone lines. The unit offers customers the ability to search,
sort and play their entire PC music collection by artist, title, album, playlist or genre.
For a full list of other features and benefits check out the full press release. S3 also
announced that Dell is
collaborating with Rio on the Dell Digital Audio Receiver. Dell joins Nike and Boston
Acoustics as the first three consumer companies to market products that include the Rio
Audio technology.
- Hanzoom Digital Music Player Features Support for
Secure Digital Memory Card
SanDisk Corporation announced last week that it will supply OPENERS Co., Ltd. of South
Korea with its MultiMediaCard for storage of MP3 audio in the ``hanzoom(TM)'' DMP-2000
Digital Music Player. Hanzoom, which means ``handy'' in
Korean, is an Internet music player featuring two flash memory card slots capable of
supporting both the MultiMediaCard as well as the upcoming Secure Digital (SD) Memory
Card.
The hanzoom DMP-2000 is a MP3 music player packaged in an ergonomic
and user friendly design featuring a rubber cover that doubles as a sure-grip handle and a
shock absorbing jacket for extra durability. In contrast to most digital audio players
available today, the hanzoom supports multiple audio formats in addition to the popular
MP3 including Windows Media Audio (WMA) and soon, MPEG-2 Advanced Audio Coding (AAC). You
can find some more info
and a couple of quotes in the press release
- THOMSON multimedia announces new MP3 players
THOMSON multimedia has announced a series of new mp3 digital audio RCA entertainment
products.
The new RCA digital audio products were shown last week at the ``mp3 Summit'' in San
Diego. Coming soon from Thomson is an mp3 personal CD player, an mp3 5-disc CD bookshelf
audio system, a hard-disc drive Digital Media Manager for the home that utilizes mp3
technology, and two new portable mp3 players that will appeal to both feature-conscious
and budget-conscious consumers. The Digital Media Manager will also play DVDs. You can find detailed specs
in the press release.
- Thomson Multimedia Increases Investment in
MusicMatch
MusicMatch, Inc., makers of the award-winning MusicMatch Jukebox, and THOMSON multimedia
(NYSE: TMS), co-developer of the popular mp3 music format, last week announced a second
investment by Thomson in MusicMatch at the mp3 Summit in San Diego. Thomson also announced
a new lineup of mp3 digital music players that will integrate MusicMatch Jukebox software
for digital music management. The additional investment from Thomson will enable
MusicMatch to bolster product development and marketing efforts as well as add crucial
headcount in the areas of marketing and software development. This is Thomson's second
investment in MusicMatch, the first of which was announced in April 1999. For more
details, check out the
full press release.
- Kenwood's New Audio Enhancement Technology for
Compressed Audio
Kenwood has developed a new audio enhancement codec that they claim will more accurately
reproduces high-frequency data lost during the playback of compressed audio formats (not
limited to MP3s). Their algorithm analyzes the compressed data using correlation with
recorded audio data and interpolates the harmonics, especially for high frequencies. They
also says this technology can be used to improve the fidelity of FM playback. You can check out the press
release for a bit more info and some pictures. I have some doubts this will actually
turn out to be a significant improvement to the best MP3 encoders available today since
they are very close to the original CD audio even at 128 kbps with most music.
- S3 Partners With Dolby for AAC Support
S3®'s Rio Division announced that it will license Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) technology
from Dolby Laboratories for use in its third-generation of Rio digital audio players,
including the Rio 600. In addition, Dolby will work with S3 to optimize AAC for the Rio
platform, ensuring that consumers benefit from the high fidelity audio the AAC format
provides. AAC is the latest audio format standardized by the International Organization
for Standardization (ISO) as part of the MPEG specification. For some additional details, check out the press release.
- MP3.com: Payback For Playback
MP3.com has announced compensation figures to illustrate the success of its innovative
Payback for Playback program (www.mp3.com/payback/).
MP3.com made available $1,000,000 in the month of May alone to digital artists who post
music on its site and announced that the $1,000,000 Payback for Playback program will be
extended through June and July. Employing an advertising-based revenue model similar to
network television, the Payback for Playback program utilizes a portion of advertising
dollars raised on MP3.com to pay content owners for their music. The program is designed
to compensate the more than 74,000 digital artists who post music on MP3.com, based on the
popularity of their music. In the month of May, the top ten Payback for Playback earners
at MP3.com combined to receive over $135,000. Encompassing a wide range of styles, the May
top ten includes artists from Electronic, Easy Listening, Comedy, Hip Hop and Latin
genres. For additional details, check out the full press release.
- MP3.com Unveils MSP Platform 1.0
MP3.com, Inc. has unveiled its new MSP Platform 1.0 at the MP3 Summit 2000, in San Diego.
The Platform will allow the company's MSP Partners to generate increased revenues by
offering customers a suite of personalized music content and services. MSP Platform 1.0 is
a set of products and technologies that allow for the delivery of music and music-related
services that create new revenue streams for companies. MP3.com MSP Partners are able to
capitalize on a wealth of tools and utilities that extend music services directly to their
customers via both hardware and software. For lots more details you can check out the full announcement.
- MP3.com Announces Partnership With About
In a move designed to increase the company's online presence, MP3.com has announced a
partnership with About, Inc., the leading network of comprehensive vertical sites and 7th
largest web property. The MSP partnership will allow MP3.com to integrate its music
services and content into About's targeted topic-specific environments, providing users
with the ability to access and manage digital music directly from destination sites that
appeal to their interests. You can read the press release if you want
more details.
- MP3.com, Dell hear the music
News.com has posted
an article with some analysis of MP3.com and Dell's announcements last week. News.com
has also posted
an article by Sujata Ramnarayan, Dataquest Analyst, that takes a look at MP3.com's
future. Pretty interesting read.
- Earjam.com Launches New ARC Service
Earjam.com announced the Earjam ARC(tm) (Artist-Retailer-Consumer) service last week at
the MP3 Summit in San Diego. The Earjam ARC service is a combination of a custom software
application and a sophisticated database service that directly connects consumers to
specific on-line sources of media-rich content. The desktop application, an Internet Music
Player (IMP) with an embedded Media Agent, allows consumers to easily download and play a
personalized selection of music and video from artist sites and participating retailers.
The IMP software is pre-loaded on music CDs and distributed via participating retailers.
Once a user plays the enhanced CD on their computer, the IMP provides a direct connection
to online content, communication and promotions provided by the featured artist, and
personalized for each individual retail partner. You can check out the press release for more details
if you think this sounds interesting.
- S3 Partners with Hollywood Records
S3 announced a marketing partnership with Hollywood Records to pre-load songs on
third-generation Rio digital audio players, giving music fans who buy the new players an
instantaneous music experience. As part of the agreement, the third-generation family of
Rio players will feature ``Karma'' by Diffuser and ``Immune'' by Tinfed, tracks from the
hit movie soundtrack ``Mission:Impossible-2'' and their forthcoming debut albums. Also
featured will be pre-loaded songs ``I Don't Wanna Break-up,'' by Tsar, and ``Basic
Breakdown,'' by Apartment 26. For details, check out the press release.
- Napster and Its Users Not Violating Copyright
Infringement Laws?
Well, according to a new survey from InsightExpress, the majority of online consumers
don't believe Napster, or its users, are guilty of copyright infringement. Reaction to the
lawsuit filed by the Recording Industry Association of America against Napster - the
Internet software community that allows music fans to swap and download music for free -
was contingent upon the respondent's relationship with Napster and similar download sites:
the greater the use the more avid the support of the technology. In addition, the greater
the use of Napster-like sites, the greater the impact on the recording industry. Only 19
percent of those not currently using Napster believe that software-trading Web sites like
Napster and MP3.com, will have a negative effect on their purchase habits. Conversely more
than a quarter (28 percent) of Napster users say their purchase of music, videos, and
books will decrease as a result of the technology. Also, 64 percent of Napster users and
60 percent of general online respondents say they will not pay to download music. For more
details of this interesting survey, check out the press release.
- Rock Band Launches StopNapster.com
Stepping up the war against Napster Inc. and an unprecedented wave of online-music piracy,
an independent rock band from Oakland, Calif., last week launched StopNapster.com and
issued a comprehensive call to action in support of recording artists and other music
professionals. Sponsored by the Tabloids,
whose upcoming CD ``Train of Thought'' continues the band's history of songs with social
commentary, StopNapster.com makes clear that online piracy is not only illegal but
tramples on the constitutional rights of musicians, publishers, producers, scientists,
authors, lecturers, actors and inventors. For lots more details check out the full press release and the StopNapster.com. In a separate
announcement, StopNapster.com named Metallica's Lars Ulrich ``Artist of the Year'' for
personally kicking some 300,000 Napster users off the service and MP3.com's Michael
Robertson ``Executive of the Year'' in part for recently signing a statement in support of
a preliminary injunction against Napster Inc., which is being sued by the Recording
Industry Association of America (RIAA) for whosesale copyright infringement.
- California Survey Finds No Harm From MP3 to CD
Sales
The University of Southern California that was one of several colleges that recently
banned students from using song-swap software Napster, released a survey last week showing
the technology has had little harm on the music industry or recording artists. The survey found 69 percent of all students surveyed said they had downloaded
MP3 and 68 percent of those used Napster. It found MP3 usage among students had not
significantly cut CD consumption patterns, with 63 percent of those downloading students
saying they are still buying the same number of CDs and 10 percent of MP3 users saying
they are buying more CDs. I'm sure Napster will find they survey interesting but asking
people if they buy more or less CDs now than before sounds rather unreliable. You can check
out the Reuters story for more info about this survey.
- Major Music Labels Sue MP3Board on Copyrights
Reuters
reports that major recording labels including BMG Music, Sony Music Entertainment Inc.
(7930.T) and Warner Bros. Records on Friday sued MP3Board Inc., seeking to prevent its Web
site from linking users to ``pirated'' music on the Internet.
- Two Popular Music Trends in One Unique Website:
MP3 and Karaoke
Two of the world's most popular music trends become one. MP3, the widely used internet
music compression format and Karaoke, the globally popular singing style, are now combined
into one service provided by the newly launched MP3Karaoke.com website. The service turns any
personal computer or web enabled TV, or wireless device into a home karaoke machine. The
site offers users 24-hour access to a constantly updated library of high quality karaoke
music. For more details, check
out the press release.
- *CD Moves to the Wireless Web
*CD, the revolutionary service that lets anyone with a phone or Web access identify songs
playing on the radio, has integrated audio sampling technology with Wireless Application
Protocol (WAP), making music identification on wireless Web devices a snap. If you happen
to own or plan to buy a WAP-enabled wireless phone you can check out the press release for more
details.
- New SoundFont/Vienna tutorial
Jordi Grącia of The SoundFont Academy has created a SoundFont creation
tutorial using Vienna.
- PC Gaming Music, or a Funeral Oration over MIDI
That's the title of an interesting editorial posted over at
GA-Hardware. Here's a taste:
But what I intend to rant about here is that almost all of us,
PC gamers, have a completely luxury piece of hardware in our rig. And this is the MIDI
part of our sound card. Today even the lowest-end sound chips feature some wavetable caps,
not to mention the excellent hardware MIDI support of the most widely used Yamaha, EMU
10K1 (the heart of the SB LIVE! series) and Aureal DSPs. While 3D positional audio is
quite justly gaining ground, the well-nigh 17-year-old laddie of MIDI standard (Musical
Instrument Digital Interface) seems to be more and more neglected - at least as far as PC
gaming goes. (Game consoles are still a bit more MIDI-oriented, especially in Japan, where
such game soundtracks as that of Final Fantasy often end up at the top of the charts).
However, despite our sound cards' excellence in MIDI playback, game
developers focus much more on visual and audio reality. Photorealism is hovering before
the software gurus' eyes, and as an accompaniment an audio experience is targeted that
ensures the most real-life-like effects. Music has proved for sw developers to be an
unwanted but still necessary burden needed only to serve as a supplementary means of hype
and enticement. A well-chosen (and hopefully licensed) popular rock or techno song
digitized into either MP3 or wav etc. formats, or just simply put on the game CD in CD
audio format, may well win a great deal of customers for them. This is surely not the most
cost-effective solution to add music to a game, but definitely one that needs the least
effort and time.
Near the end of the editorial they conclude that its (as in MIDI)
compositions need for talent and time seems to have dug its grave. I think that a fair bit
of work and talent is still going into today's non-MIDI original soundtracks. I wonder if
the very wide variation in MIDI quality offered by sound cards, and not the time and
talent required to use it, is the biggest part of its demise. MIDI play back is just one
more thing out of a developers control compared to MP3, CD audio (redbook), or other
digital formats (which still depend on speaker quality but...). On the other hand,
developing MIDI scores for consoles is ideal as you know exactly what everyone is going to
get. Having said that, I would love to see a resurgence of quality, original, interactive
MIDI sound tracks for games and I wonder (is it hope?) if it's not too early to right off
DirectMusic's interactive ability.
For more news from last week check out our news archive.
Upcoming features at 3DsoundSurge
- Altec Lansing's ATP3
- DigiTheatre DTS
- MidiLand S4 7100
- A review of PowerDVD 2.55
- Monsoon MM-1000
- Turtle Beach Cancun
As always if you have any ideas for products we should review or
features we should do, please let us know.
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