New Directions in Sound
NELA 2005,
The 1st
presentation by:
Wilbraham
Public Library,
Karen’s handout (MS Word): click here
Wilbraham Public Library iPod Shuffle Project: http://www.wilbrahamlibrary.org/news&events/ipod/index.htm
The 2nd
presentation by:
Gerry Deyermond,
Assistant Head of Circulation
Memorial Hall Library,
Gerry’s PowerPoint
Presentation (MS
PowerPoint, 1.1 MB):
click
here
The 3rd
presentation by:
Scott Kehoe, Consultant
Is downloading music to your public terminals ready for the Library?
… not quite yet, because of …
Licensing & current consumer-based models
To buy & download music, the software (iTunes, Napster, etc.) links to specific user accounts on individual computers. The music is licensed to individual user accounts and individual computers/MP3 players using digital rights management (DRM) software. The DRM is built into the individual audio files knows where it is allowed to play and where it isn’t.
Other technical
considerations for Libraries
Network bandwidth - impact of allowing patrons to download music files (approx. 3-5MB per song).
If you have a public wireless network, patrons are already downloading music files!
Where to save downloads? Will you allow patrons to save music files to your hard drive, or burn files to CDs, or load them to their MP3 player from your public terminals?
The right equipment, computers with the right kind of I/O port, USB 2.0 or FireWire ports (or both).
Exceptions to the statements above … the times, they’re a changin’
... really fast!
South Huntington
Library (
-Music on iPod: http://shpl.suffolk.lib.ny.us/ipod/musiclist.asp
-Books on iPod: http://shpl.suffolk.lib.ny.us/ipod/booklist.asp
OverDrive, Inc. (www.overdrive.com) –classical music from
the
-OverDrive press release on
A quick aside on USB (Universal Serial Bus)
… why they
make all this possible …
USB 2.0 ports are the standard port for connecting everything to a computer, whether PC or Apple. USB ports connect everything from keyboards and printers, to external hard drives, digital cameras, and MP3 players. USB 2.0 is important not only because it is standard, but because it’s fast! This is important as you don’t want to wait all day to load all your old Kiss albums onto your iPod!
Transfer speeds:
USB 2.0 = 480 megabits/sec. (60MB/sec)
FireWire = 400 megabits/sec. (50MB/sec)
USB1.1= 12 megabits/sec. (1.5MB/sec)
Wikipedia article on USB: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Universal_Serial_Bus
File
Formats: CODECS (COmpressor/DECompressor software):
AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) – audio format used by Apple iTunes for downloads and only playable on iPods. Created by a consortium of AT&T, Dolby, Fraunhofer IIS, and Sony.
MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer 3) – the most popular compressed audio format, commonly assumed to be a public-domain or open-source format (no copyright /no licensing), but the format was developed, patented, and is licensed by a little known German research firm Fraunhofer IIS.
WMA (Windows Media Audio) - audio format developed by Microsoft, used with many portable players and the download format used at Napster and many other fee-based sites.
OGG (Ogg Vorbis) – new open source audio format, popular with the Linux crowd, few sites offer this as an alternative yet …
The hardware - MP3 players
MP3.com – also offers a handy guide to and reviews of MP3 players and iPods.
http://www.mp3.com/hardware.php
iLounge - more than you ever wanted to know about iPods: industry gossip; how they work (or don’t); how to fix them; hack them; and take them apart … http://www.ilounge.com
Online Regional Databases - use InfoTrac General Reference Center Gold, ProQuest eLibrary, NewsBank Boston Globe, try a search using a specific MP3 player model and add the word “review.” Examples: “ipod mini” and review / “creative zen micro” and review
http://www.nmrls.org/reference/dbases.shtml
Manufacturer
websites:
Apple - http://store.apple.com
Creative - http://us.creative.com/products/
Dell - http://www.dell.com/
iRiver - http://www.iriveramerica.com/
SanDisk - http://www.sandisk.com/
Samsung - http://product.samsung.com
The Great
Divide!
Audio device
formats: iPod vs. MP3 players
|
The
following devices will play these audio formats: |
|
|
AAC & MP3 |
WMA* & MP3 |
|
Apple iPods* Shuffle Mini Nano Photo iPod Video iPod *Note: iPods work on both Windows and Apple
computers. |
Creative: MuVo, Zen |
Consumer Online Music Stores & Free Music Software:
Apple iTunes www.apple.com/itunes / Easy to use, free internet radio, share music over a local network, free music previews, free “Track of the Week,” audiobooks from audible.com, and you can conveniently keyword search (other music services limit by artist/album/song).
Napster www.napster.com / it’s got name recognition! They have pioneered music subscription services, you pay a monthly fee and get unlimited downloads, but you do not own those downloads, when you stop paying, so does the music. You get free music previews and a free internet music magazine, but few other freebies (even the internet radio is a fee service).
Real Player www.real.com / free internet radio, free video clips, a fee-based music store (a version of the Real-owned site called Rhapsody http://www.listen.com/ ), and the Real Player gives you the added “bonus” of colorful ads and that silly flashing blue icon on the lower right of your screen!
Audio Lunchbox http://www.audiolunchbox.com/ a web-based site. Small, indie, and alternative labels, all genres from folk to hardcore metal. Downloads in MP3 or OGG formats.
Yahoo! sites
Yahoo! Music http://music.yahoo.com/ the latest (May 2005) entry into the online music maelstrom, features unlimited downloads with a monthly access fees and customized online “radio.” Some features are web-based, others require proprietary software download.
Musicmatch http://www.musicmatch.com/ been part of the digital music scene from the beginning, known for offering streaming music in addition to downloads, must download their software and use their player to access this service.
Microsoft MSN music http://beta.music.msn.com/ Downloads conveniently available through their website (using Internet Explorer)and via the ubiquitous Windows Media Player (if not already installed on your PC, a free software download at: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/mp10/). Links to free online “radio” as well as movie and TV promos.
MP3.com http://www.mp3.com – a “music portal” owned by CNET.com. A guide to musicians and their music, complete with short bios, discographies, and web links to the digital services where you can buy their songs. Also a guide to online music services, music download sites (both fee & free!), as well as reviews of MP3 players - http://www.mp3.com/hardware.php
Campus-wide Online Music Stores:
These services provide students access to these various vendors’ music catalogs. Usually this consists of streaming music (playing only, no downloading) and possibly allowing students to download to a hard drive. But if a student wants to burn a CD or load music onto a MP3 player, they must purchase the songs (usually at a discount) and they are then theirs to keep.
***A very informative article on campus-wide music services is in a recent issue of The Chronicle of Higher Education:
Read, Brock. More Colleges Strike Up Music-Sharing Deals, Despite Lukewarm Response: Students have come to expect access to online downloading, even if they don't use it much. The Chronicle of Higher Education Sept. 2, 2005, p. A41. http://chronicle.com/ (for subscribers)
Apple iTunes http://www.duke.edu/ipod/
CIDIGIX http://www.cdigix.com
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rutgers,
FreshTracksMusic http://www.freshtracksmusic.com
Napster http://www.napster.com/napster_on_campus.html
Real Rhapsody www.real.com
Ruckus Network http://www.ruckusnetwork.com/aboutus.php
Babson College, Bridgewater State College, Northeastern Univ., Stonehill College, Syracuse Univ., Wesleyan University
Yahoo! Music http://music.yahoo.com/
Free Online Music!
CNET Free MP3 Music http://music.download.com/ Downloads for all genres of music from Children’s to religious to hip-hop to punk, it’s all there! It’s free MP3 files so they will play on any MP3 player or iPod. The catch? Sometimes the reason why the music is free is quickly apparent to your ears
MP3.com Listening Room http://www.mp3.com/listening_room/ primarily a “streaming” site, you can play but not download to your device, but lots of popular artists.
Apple iTunes load iTunes software(www.apple.com/itunes), click on “Track of the Week.” Also try the music podcasts available through iTunes that feature new artists.
Association of Music Podcasters (AMP) - http://www.musicpodcasting.org/
Portal of sites that provide free podcasts featuring bands and musicians either unsigned, or on independent/small labels. The podcasts are not individual songs, but “shows” featuring particular bands or genres of music. This is the place to discover new artists and music.
Music podcasts: A short listing of websites for music podcasts. Individual shows may be download directly form most sites. Most shows are in MP3 format and will play on any MP3 player or iPod.
Accident Hash - http://feeds.feedburner.com/accidenthash
Bandtrax - http://www.bandtrax.net/
Coverville - http://www.coverville.com/
Insomnia Radio - http://insomniaradio.net/
Rock and Roll Geek Show - http://rockandrollgeek.podshow.com/
Podcasting
An incredibly fast-growing phenomenon of free talk, commentary, and music shows available in the MP3 format for downloaded to your computer or MP3 player/iPod. You can listen whenever it is convenient. The shows range from those made in someone’s basement (and sound like it) to FM radio quality from WGBH.
Podcasting Overview:
Wikipedia article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Podcasting
Podcast program Directories:
Podcast Alley
Directory of NPR programs available as podcasts:
http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_directory.php
iTunes podcast directory - not only a massive directory, but easy to search and free downloads!!! http://www.apple.com/itunes/overview/
Curry.com - the "father" of podcasting and creator of iPodder, former MTV VJ, Adam Curry:
Podshow.com - Adam Curry’s new podcasting media venture – a “how-to” and directory to shows that are part of this "network": http://www.podshow.com/
Music podcasts:
A short listing of websites for music podcasts. Individual shows may be downloaded directly form most sites. Most shows are in MP3 format and will play on any MP3 player or iPod.
Accident Hash - http://feeds.feedburner.com/accidenthash
Bandtrax - http://www.bandtrax.net/
Coverville - http://www.coverville.com/
Insomnia Radio - http://insomniaradio.net/
Rock and Roll Geek Show - http://rockandrollgeek.podshow.com/
The
Association of Music Podcasting
http://www.musicpodcasting.org/
podsafe music network - sign-up to download and use music in your own podcasts:
http://music.podshow.com/index.php
software for downloading podcasts:
iPodder - free software (Win, Mac, Linux), to automatically download podcasts and load them into iTunes or Windows Media Player, then either to listen on your computer or transfer to your MP3 player:
http://ipodder.sourceforge.net/index.php
Apple iTunes – The iTunes software includes free access to their massive directory of podcasts. You can download individual episodes or subscribe to every episode of a podcast. iTunes automatically handles daily updates of your subscribed podcasts and loads them directly on your iPod when it is connected to your computer. Both commercial and amateur podcasts are listed and iTunes allows users to input and subscribe to podcasts not in their directory. It is the most convenient way to load podcasts on an iPod.
More Info & News
Digital Music News –http://www.digitalmusicnews.com/index_html
A great site that aggregates news from various sources on the business and technology of digital music. Email Subscription option (plain text with links).
Wired News –http://www.wired.com/
a great place to get short, easy to understand articles on technology and its effect on our society, often with a humorous edge. Also may subscribe to RSS feed divided by new genre (business, technology, top news, etc.)
paidContent.org - http://www.paidcontent.org/index.shtml
Another site that aggregates news from various sources on all forms of digital content and their related businesses (music, movies, news media, ISPs, etc.). Email and RSS Subscription options.
– a PC Magazine columnist and computer/technology industry pundit, always entertaining and opinionated reading!
-PC Magazine weekly opinion column: http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,3574,00.asp
-PC Magazine weekly Inside Track technology column: http://www.pcmag.com/category2/0,1874,1103,00.asp
-His blog: http://www.dvorak.org
-Hear him on the TWiT (This Week in Technology) podcast: http://www.twit.tv/
Robert X.
Cringely – A computer and technology pundit with a background as an
employee and industry journalist in
-I, Cringely - weekly column on all thing techy and the business of technology. Subscribe to or read at: http://www.pbs.org/cringely/
-NerdTV – weekly online “TV” show, download at: http://www.pbs.org/cringely/nerdtv/
MP3.com http://mp3.com – a “music portal” owned by CNET.com. A guide to musicians and their music, complete with short bios, discographies, and web links to the digital services where you can buy their songs. Also a guide to online music services, music download sites (both fee & free!), as well as reviews of MP3 players - http://www.mp3.com/hardware.php
NMRLS Copyright Webliography - a good starting point to find out the basics about copyright law and how it effects libraries. http://www.nmrls.org/nmdl/copyright.shtml
http://www.nmrls.org/ce/newsound.htm
Updated: 10/21/05
Scott Kehoe, Consultant, NMRLS
978-762-4433 x16 / scott@nmrls.org