MP3 Archives - Alan Cross' A Journal of Musical Things

Happy 25th birthday to the MP3

July 20, 2020July 20, 2020 Alan Cross 0 Comments MP3

Back around 1996, I heard about this new thing called an “MP3” from a guy who was working security at

Ongoing History of New Music

The Ongoing History of New Music, Encore Presentation: Music Questions That Almost No One Seems to Ask

December 30, 2017December 31, 2017 Alan Cross 0 Comments DX-7, Front 242, Gated Reverb, MP3, Nickelback, Nirvana, Phil Collins, Power Station, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Sex Pistols, Suzanne Vega

I think one of the greatest gifts humans have is a sense of curiosity. That ability to question things around

Explaining the Headline “The MP3 is DEAD!”

May 15, 2017 Alan Cross 0 Comments Fraunhofer, MP3

The MP3 is dead. Long live the MP3. The Fraunhofer Institute of West Germany–yes, that’s how far back this story

According to Its Creators, The MP3 is Dead. Long Live AAC!

May 12, 2017 Alan Cross 2 Comments AAC, Fraunhofer, MP3

It’s impossible to imagine today’s music universe without MP3 technology. Developed at the Fraunhofer Institute in West Germany (that’s how far

Music History Ongoing History of New Music

The Ongoing History of New Music, Episode 784: Music Questions That Almost No One Seems to Ask [Music and Podcast Embedded]

April 14, 2017April 23, 2017 Alan Cross 3 Comments Billboard, Close miking, Collective Soul, Denmark Street, DX-7, Front 242, Gramophones, MP1, MP2, MP3, Nickelback, Nirvana, Phonographs, Power Station, Record Players, Ticketmaster, Tin Pan Alley, Turntables, Yamaha

I think one of the greatest gifts humans have is a sense of curiosity. That ability to question things around

A Handy Guide to Which Music Storage Format Sounds Best–and Why

November 10, 2016 Alan Cross 1 Comment 7-inch single, 8-Track, Cassette, CD, FM Radio, iPod, MP3, Vinyl

I’m currently working on a children’s book for Kids Can Press which traces the evolution of the gadgets we’ve used

Geeks&Beats Podcast, Episode 116: Space, Sex and Stiles

July 22, 2015July 22, 2015 Alan Cross 0 Comments Alan Stern, aliens, Foreskin, Harry Stiles, Lightyear.Fm, Marshall Amplifiers, Matt Damon, MP3, Rolling Stones, Star Trek, Star Wars, Taylor Swift, The Martian

“Stiles?” Did Michael misspell Harry Styles last name? After all, we do talk about his junk late in the program

Happy 20th Birthday, .mp3!

July 14, 2015July 14, 2015 Alan Cross 2 Comments 20th Anniversary, Compression Algorithm, Fraunhofer, Institute, Karlheinz Brandenburg, MP3, Society

The history of attempts at squishing audio goes back more than a hundred years but we really didn’t get serious

Let’s Have a Listen to the Stuff MP3 Compression Leaves Behind

February 19, 2015February 19, 2015 Alan Cross 6 Comments MP3, Sonic Artefacts, Suzanne Vega

Back in the 1980s, boffins at the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany were looking for ways to make digital files smaller

Geeks&Beats Podcast, Episode 82: Help Me Clean Out the Basement

November 26, 2014November 26, 2014 Alan Cross 0 Comments Bob Marley, Elvis Presley, High-Res, MP3, Refreshtek, Uber

There are a couple of things about American Thanksgiving I really like. (1) Football all day Thursday; (2) Canadian retailers

Reflections on the MP3

November 15, 2014 Alan Cross 0 Comments Compulational Culture, Jonathan Sterne, MP3

MP3 files first started creeping into mainstream consciousness about twenty years ago, although it wasn’t until the late 90s (97-98-99)

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