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Cyberfolk Fall 1999 - Audio on the Internet

If you're finally feeling caught up with technology because you've retired your vinyl collection in favor of CD's, you'll soon have another new form of recorded audio to get familiar with. Audio with CD quality that you can download from the Internet and play on your computer, or record onto a CD, or loaded onto a very small, lightweight player that will fit in your pocket. I am referring to MP3 files, which can be found on hundreds of internet sites. Just try searching on "MP3" and you'll see what I mean. "MP3" is the most is the most popular term searched for in internet search sites today.

Some MP3's are free and others can be purchased. Just about every genre of music seems to be available in this format, and the software needed to play it can be downloaded for free.

There are some copyright and piracy issues surrounding MP3, so you might want to search for "MP3 piracy" in your favorite search tool to get familiar with this issue.

While this new format seems to be for more mainstream, commercially popular music, I did locate some folk/acoustic recordings.

A good place to start is MP3.com, who says that its mission is to connect new and developing artists-- as well as established acts--with you the consumer, in order to create a worldwide community built on democratic access to music.

It has a good introduction to MP3 technology, and a section on folk/world music. You'll find lots of Roger McGuinn recordings here. Check it out at http://www.mp3.com.

Another great music site to try is http://www.spinner.com. It uses Spinner software, downloadable from the site, to play music from a huge number of categories. I recommend the folk, celtic, Chicago Blues, Americana selections. While you're listening to the tunes, it gives info on the song, the artist and how to buy what you're hearing.

If you're shopping for CD's check out http://www.tunes.com. This site lets you listen to 30 second clips from each selection on a CD. You can listen to clips from the entire Flying Fish catalog here!

If you have any favorite sites or topics you’d like to see mentioned in Cyberfolk, please let us know. Write to me care of Common Times, or email me at chrismac@wwa.com. See you in