Chip Rosenthal
Unicom Systems Development
<chip@unicom.com>

• The basic hardware you need to playback music.
• A sound card.
• Speakers.

• Included with most computers.
• Price range: from $20 to $200.
• Example: Sound Blaster PCI 512
• Basic Connections: line in, line out, microphone, game/MIDI.
• 3D Sound - adds rear speakers, good for gaming.
• Dolby Surround - for home theater.

• Price range: from $20 to $2000.
• Computer speakers are powered.
  • Built-in amplifier.
  • Requires wall power.
• Or, just use headphones.
• The speakers that came with your computer stink (probably).

• We'll discuss three sources for music:
  • Music CDs
  • Audio Files
  • Streaming Media
• For each, we'll discuss:
  • The Media - how the music is packaged
  • Additional Hardware
  • Software Required
  • Where to Find Them Online

• The Media: Music CDs can be played on a computer CD drive.
• Additional Hardware:
  • Requires a CD reader, also called CD drive.
  • Included with most computers.
  • Costs under $50.
  • Example: 56x IDE CD-ROM Drive
  • Next step up: CD writer, DVD
• Software Required: Windows Media Player (or similar)
• Software Features: CD database lookup, visualization, ripping.

• Where to Find Them Online:
  • New, at Online Stores, example: http://www.amazon.com/
  • Used, at Online Auctions, example: http://www.ebay.com/
  • Specialty Retailers, example: http://www.texasmusicroundup.com/
  • Direct from Artist, example: http://www.slaid.com/product.htm
  • Comparison Shopping, example: http://pricingcentral.pricegrabber.com

• The Media: "Digital data" stored in computer files.
• Additional Hardware: None!
• Software Required: Windows Media Player (or similar)
• Where to Find Them Online: Not likely, files too big.

• The Media:
  • Compressed "digital data" stored in computer files.
  • Compression means smaller files but loss of fidelity.
  • MP3 data rates: 128kb listenable, 192kb better.
• Additional Hardware: None!
• Software Required:
  • Windows Media Player
  • Winamp, http://www.winamp.com/

• Where to Find Them Online:
  • Free Sites, example: http://www.mp3.com/
  • Subscription Sites, example: http://www.emusic.com/
  • Peer-to-Peer networks, example: http://www.limewire.com/

• The Media:
  • not saved to file, played as received
  • can be live or pre-recorded
• Additional Hardware: None!
• Software Required:
  • Different formats require different players.
  • Windows Media Player
  • Real Player, http://www.real.com/realoneplayer.html
  • Winamp, http://www.winamp.com/

• Where to Find Them Online:
  • Radio Stations, example: http://www.kut.org/
  • Radio Networks, example: http://abcradio.com/
  • Internet Radio, example: http://www.shoutcast.com/

• Ripping CDs - pulling audio off CDs and creating digital audio files.
• Burning CDs - making your own CDs from digital audio files
• Download Audio Software: http://download.com.com/2001-2025-0.html
• Digital Music Players - download digital audio files from your computer

• You should be able to listen to the music you buy when you want, where you want, and how you want.
• You do not have the right to give away copies of the music you buy.
• The entertainment industry is trying to take away your rights to the former, because they are afraid of the latter.