MP3 Format Not Lost in Windows XP
Question: I’ve been reading that the new Windows XP operating system doesn’t support the MP3 format. I use the MusicMatch jukebox as my player, and I’m curious--what’s going to happen when I buy a new computer in a few years and I want to transfer my MP3s onto the new computer?
Answer: First, let’s assume you acquired all those MP3s by converting songs from your own CDs, tapes and LPs, not by downloading them off the Net. Otherwise, we’d have to lecture you about copyrights, starving artists and the record companies’ right to make a buck.
It’s true that Microsoft’s digital jukebox, called Windows Media Player, won’t convert CDs into MP3 files. But it recognizes and plays existing MP3 files just fine. In addition, the latest version of MusicMatch’s jukebox software is designed to run on Windows XP, so you could continue to use that program to make and play MP3 files.
By the way, there are at least two reasons Microsoft doesn’t include MP3 recording in its jukebox. Doing so would require Microsoft to pay Thomson Multimedia, the company that controls the patent on MP3 encoding, a couple of dollars per jukebox program. And Microsoft, which doesn’t charge for any version of its jukebox, can’t afford to be so generous. Umm, on second thought, yes it can. But it chooses not to be.
More strategically, Microsoft is trying to establish its own format, WMA (for Windows Media Audio), as the de facto standard for compressed audio files. If more people use MP3, it will be harder for WMA to replace it.
The nice thing about MP3, though, is that a huge and growing number of portable devices, living-room disc players and car stereos support the format. In a nod to this massive user base, Microsoft enabled other companies to develop MP3 recording plug-ins for Windows Media Player on XP. Three are available through Microsoft’s Web site, and by some remarkable coincidence each costs $9.95.
The not-so-nice thing about MP3 is that it’s not the most efficient or best-sounding technology for compressing music. The creators claim to produce CD-quality sound when MP3s are recorded at 128 kilobits per second, but music lovers usually can detect a loss in fidelity. That’s why many digital-music aficionados record their MP3s at 160 kbps or 192 kbps, consuming 25% to 50% more space per song.
The latest version of WMA is twice as efficient as MP3, delivering top-quality sound at 96 kbps, and Microsoft is constantly working to improve the performance. Other improvements over MP3 include MP3 Pro by Coding Technologies, which Thomson is pushing; AAC, which Liquid Audio includes in its jukebox software; and RealAudio 8 from RealNetworks, which is based in part on Sony’s ATRAC3 technology.
The latest, free version of the Liquid Audio player is compatible with XP. The RealOne jukebox, which can record files in Real’s format, MP3 or WMA, sells for about $10.
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Jon Healey covers the convergence of entertainment and technology. He can be reached at jon.healey@latimes.com.
