Let me explain and at the end I give you a step by step procedure
What does MP3 mean ?
It is the term given to a file format used
when saving music in your computer. It is not the only type of storage
possible... there are other file formats than .mp3.
Let's use an analogy:
Text documents can be in 'Word format' which ends with a '.doc' such
as 'text.doc'. This is the extension (.doc) used by the software 'Word'.
Photos can be in .jgp format or .gif
or .bmp etc.(just different formats) such as river.jpg or river.gif
or river.bmp etc.
You can compare .mp3 format
for music files to .jpg which applies to photos or pictures.
Both are highly compressed files. Which
means that they take much less space - they are smaller files - than
the original.
It is important on the Internet, because
a small file will be downloaded faster than a bigger one, and the
faster the best.
MP3 format for music files offers excellent
quality of sound AND excellent compression level as well. It is currently
the best format but sure someone will find even better soon...
You can save your music in Hi-fi quality,
or CD quality, or Radio Quality or Stream Audio quality. In fact there
are 16 levels of audio quality, from audiophile quality at the top to
telephone quality at the bottom.
The level of compression varies accordingly,
so the speed of transmission varies accordingly.
But How do I do to compress my music
into a MP3 file?
To compress the file, you use a program
or (software). There are loads of them. The main graphic software such
as Adobe Photoshop or Corel Draw, gives you the option of saving a file
in many different format including .jpg
. But I prefer using Ulead SmartSaver which usually does a better job.
When you save a photo into a .jpg
format, you are offered several level of compression.
Same applies when you want to save a music file into a .mp3 format,
as explained above.
For my music files I use XingMP3
Encoder. I do not know if it is the best, but I am quite happy with
it.
Ideally, buy 'AudioaCatalyst 2.1' at the
same address. It is a bit more expansive (less than $30), but it takes
the music on your CD and turns it into MP3, plus gives you an MP3 player
as a bonus! Ido not know, whether or not it can cut a song, though.
But if it does, then go for it.
(I do not get any commission from this, but my generosity has no limit...)
It is very easy and very fast to use. Just
read the 'help' section once you have downloaded the program. If you
cannot do this,
E-mail me for help.
Intermediary step.
But, with most MP3 encoders including XingMP3
Encoder, you need first to have saved your music file from your CD to
your Hard Disk in a .Wav format (Argh!)
I use 'Creative Wave Studio' for that purpose,
from 'Creative'.
Once I have my music file in Creative Wave
Studio, I save it
into a .Wav file. THEN, I open XingMP3 Encoder, and turn
the file into MP3. The advantage is that you can process
your music file with Creative Wave Studio: add effects,
get rid of 'noises', alter the volume, and 'normalise' it to
have an even dynamic throughout the whole song. AND you can choose and
cut whatever part of the song that you want to send me, fad-in and fad-out,
and use after XingMP3 to save this 'cut' into MP3.
How can I play MP3 files from my
computer?
Use the 'AudioCatalyst' software above
or download Winamp.
Winamp is 100% free (I never understood why), and it is the best. Looks
good and has many features. so, download it anyway!
How long must be the song(s) for
my web site?
You need to have short samples of your
song(s). Ideally, 30-60 sec maximum. For this you may be able to use
AudiaCatalyst, but I have never used it myself.
Or use Creative Wave Studio or a similar
program.
You can choose whatever part of the song that you want to send
me, fad-in and fad-out, save it as a .wav file. Then use XingMP3 to
turn this 'cut' into MP3.
It is now ready to be sent to me via E-mail.
How do I send my MP3 files to you
via E-mail?
You take the MP3 file and you put it in
your E-mail as an attachment. That's all.
If you have difficulties doing this, E-mail
me.
But send only ONE music file per E-mail,
otherwise it will take me too long for me to download your E-mail, and
it may very well never arrive to me. Try to keep your music file at
a maximum of 1 MB if possible. If you have loads of music, that you
want in your web site, send me the CD(s). You can put files of 2-5 MB
(full songs) in your web site if so you wish. These files will take
too long to download by E-mail though, so send them to me in a ZIP disk
or on CD.
My music is already online at MP3.com...
Peoplesound.com.... Vitaminic...
Great! I can pick it up from there directly.
E-mail me.
Can I send you music files via E-mail
in another format than MP3?
No. Please don't. See below.
I do not want to bother with this.
How can I send you my music?
Mail it to me at:
Musician Site, 17 Belle Vue Court, 122D Devonshire Road,
London, SE23 3SY, UK.
I have my music on tape only...
Mail the tape to me. But the processing
takes much longer, so see our pricing list
first, and E-mail me.
What about 'Streaming Audio?'
The quality is not as good as MP3. but
I can do it if you want.
I do not personally recommend it since you want people to hear something
that sounds GOOD. And many people do not want to suddenly hear music
coming out of their computer without their permission - especially if
the volume of the speakers were set accidentally very loud. My advice
is keep it simple and efficient.
STEP BY STEP
(assuming that you do not have the proper software in your computer)
1. Download from the Internet 'creative
wave studio.
2. Install it (just follow the instruction after download).
3. Download XingMP3 Encoder or Audiocatalyst.
4. Install it.
5. Download Winamp and install it.
6. Open creative Wave Studio and open into
it a song from your CD rom.
7. Process your song with Creative Wave Lab; effects, noise reduction
etc... if you wish. But certainly, shorten your song by choosing a piece
of it that you want in your web site (30-60secs maximum)
8. Save it as a .wav file.
9. Open XingMP3 Encoder
10. Open in it the sing you have just processed with Creative Wave Studio
11. Turn your .wav file into MP3.
12. E-mail it to me as an attachment.
Repeat step 6-12 with your other music
files.
That's all.
Any
other question.
