Showing posts with label music. Show all posts
Showing posts with label music. Show all posts

Music artists are earning less and less

Why does music artists earning less and less?

Because the costs to make an album today is very high
In the end of the 90's there was a lot of illegal MP3 music that could be downloaded and it continue.

Everything has going digital today. All music are streamed and that doesn't pay the artist as much as back in the days when there was no Internet.

Company's like Spotify and Apple music did an effort to let the user pay for what they want to listen to but the profits for the artist are lower than when the user buy an physical record.

Still there is made a lot of music but the music of an artist is sometimes just a hype that doesn't last for more than a year. Back in the days a song could easily survive for more than 2 years in the charts and still be in the top 10. People didn't have that much as now and were satisfied with the little choice there was. Now there is an oversupply of music. And people are changing faster from music taste than ever. Everything goes faster: what's hot today isn't tomorrow. And that's not different for music.

Music file formats and their codecs

As a human being we listen to music on the radio, our soundsystem, our computer and our portable mp3 player. The music comes in various file formats, each with their own codecs. These terms can sound a bit technically, but no worry we explain everything to you. The real question is what file format and codec do we need to choose from? First we need to know for what reason we use the music. Is it to use on an MP3-player or our car? Than we need less quality. Or is it for professional use for example in a studio? Than we need quality.

Some devices like our radio can play CD's full of mp3's. Our cars can now play usb-stick full of music just like our portable music devices. But, because of the format diversity, some of the formats will not be compatible with some devices. We explain the most common formats and codecs that are compatible with almost every device. Also our software and our computers can play a role in what types of formats we want to use. For example: if you use an Apple computer with iTunes and an iPhone or iPod than you have to deal with AAC and MP3. If you have a laptop running Windows than it will be more likely that you use WMA and MP3. FLAC and WAV is for more advanced audio in professional audio studio's. There are a dozen other exotic audio file formats but as common user you will never be in touch with one of these exotic formats. We only mention the most important audio file formats.

MP3
This it the most known format that is free to use. Almost every device can play an MP3 file these days.

What you need to know is that MP3 files are very small files that has a little loss on the music quality after converting CD quality to MP3. There are a various of settings that can be chosen of to convert the music. But there are also a various of codecs available. Some codecs provide you with better audio quality. The Fraunhofer IIS codec by Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the most used because this institute is the main developer of the MP3 file format, so this is the standard you should go for. There is also LAME that claims to have better audio quality but it's less supported.

You can play with 3 settings:

1. The sort of bitrate:
Constant Bitrate (CBR), this is the most compatible.

Variable Bitrate (VBR), this is the most efficiënt, give you smaller files, but sometimes a passage of the music is converted in less quality.

Average Bitrate (ABR), this is something between CBR and VBR.

I prefer the Constant Bitrate for all my files.


2. The Bitrate
This indicated in kilobits per second (this is not the same as Kilobytes per second, see here for more explanation)

You can choose from 8 to 320 kbps. More bitrate, gives you always a better audio quality but gives you also bigger files.

96 kbps – reasonable quality

128 kbps – average quality

160 kbps – good quality

192 kbps – fine quality

256 kbps – excellent quality, almost audio-cd quality

320 kbps – highest quality

3. Mono/Stereo:
If you copy an audio CD than be sure that you choose the stereo option to have 2 audio channels.

Ideal settings
Now we know these things we can make our ideal mix of settings to have the perfect settings that match our needs. In our settings we set everything to stereo. Than we only need to deal with 2 different settings the sort of bitrate and the bitrate itself. I prefer to go with a constant bitrate of 192 kpbs but here you have some more compositions:

reasonable quality: 96 kbps CBR

average quality: 128 kbps CBR

good quality: 160 kbps CBR

fine quality: 192 kbps CBR or VBR

excellent quality, almost audio-cd quality: 256 kbps VBR or CBR, 192 kbps ABR

highest quality: 320 kbps CBR

telephone: 16 kbps mono ABR

short band: 24 kps mono ABR

AM: 40 kbps mono ABR

voice: 56 kbps mono ABR

Notice that if you want good audio quality you need to go for CBR and have at least 192 kbps.

WMA
This is a format made by Microsoft that is used by their media player. It's like the MP3 format and has almost the exact same settings that can choose from. Microsoft claims that WMA offers a better quality to MP3 when using the same settings. The WMA codecs has reached version 10 with a standard and a pro version. The pro version gives a better audio quality but isn't supported by many devices while the standard is more supported. 8 bit, 16 bit (CD-quality), 24 bit (DVD-quality) and 44100 hz (CD-quality) and 48000 hz (DVD-quality) is also supported. A disadvantage is that WMA is still less supported than MP3. But it has been my favorite format for years now. Files can be protected with the DRM to be played only on your devices.

OGG
This format is an open-source format made by the Xiph.Org Foundation. It provides a good compression / quality rate but has bigger files than MP3 and WMA. Because this format is less know and less supported by many devices.

AAC
This format is made by Apple and is used by iTunes that provide music you can buy. Almost the same settings of an MP3 can be made. The format can include a protection inside so it can only be played by your device that is made by Apple like the iPod and iPhone.

FLAC

This format is more like the OGG and has larger files. You can also choose between 8 bit, 16 bit (CD-quality), 24 bit (DVD-quality) and 44100 hz (CD-quality) and 48000 hz (DVD-quality).

WAV
This format can hold the original quality of an Audio-CD and more. It was one of the first audio formats for the computer and is used by professionals and audio studios. You can also choose between 8 bit, 16 bit (CD-quality), 24 bit (DVD-quality) and 44100 hz (CD-quality) and 48000 hz (DVD-quality). It can be buffered very fast. The only disadvantage is that it needs to have many storage capacity: 1 minute CD-audio in WAV-format needs an average of 10 MB in CD-quality. This format can be played by almost every program and device except those who only supports MP3 or AAC.

Related topics:
If you want to convert or play many exotic music formats you can use MediaMonkey on your computer.
Difference between bits and bytes

The perfect MP3 settings and USB format for my Hyundai

I've got a problem with playing MP3 files from my USB-pen on to the USB connection on my dashboard of my Hyundai ix20. After trying all sort of things I found the perfect solution.

Flash-drive format
First I formatted my pen-drive of 16 GB to the NTFS system but that didn't work. After formatting it to FAT32 it all worked fine, the older FAT is allso supported.

The bigger the flash-drive to slower the files are loading. I use a pen-drive of 16 GB with an USB 2.0 connection.

Pick the right MP3 codec
Than I wanted to put some music files on to my pen-drive. First I tough to just copy the audio files from my drive like they are originally in MP3, WMA, OGG, M4A and AAC. Some did work, others where skipped to play. OGG, M4A and AAC didn't work. MP3 and WMA did work sometimes. I found why some did play and others didn't. MP3 and WMA files can be played with many different codecs like there are LAME MP3, Fraunhofer ISS MP3, WMA 9.1 codec and the WMA 10 pro codec. I figured out that the WMA 10 pro codec did not work at all. So I converted all my files to WMA 9.1, stereo, 1 pass at 128 kbps (this determines the quality, the higher the better the quality). After that it all worked fine, and everything was loading fast even with my pen-drive of 16 GB when it was full of WMA files. More about music file formats.

Synchronise music with MediaMonkey Jukebox or another music software
Best way to synchronise my pen-drive by using MediaMonkey Jukebox.

With this music player you can configure my pen-drive in that way, that every file that I want to sync from my PC to my flash-drive, that all types of music files first are converted to the specific format, like I choose the WMA 9.1 codec, 1 pass, stereo, 128 kbps. I sync all my music to the main root on my pen-drive. This method worked the best and fastest for me. If you aren't a fan of WMA you can still choose for MP3. The difference between WMA and MP3 is that WMA has always a better audio quality than MP3 at the same bitrate.

The perfect configuration
  • Use an USB 2.0 pen-drive that is not to big, like 16 GB, the smaller the faster.
  • Check if the pen-drive is formated to FAT32.
  • Convert your music files to the WMA 9.1 codec or MP3 in stereo, 1 pass at 128 kbps.
  • Synchronise the music by the MediaMonkey Jukebox or another music organiser
  • Hope this solution works for your USB connection on your Hyundai.

Hyundai cars that are supported
This solution should work for the Hyundai i10, i20, i30, i40, ix20, ix35 and all other Hyundai cars with an USB connection.

The Chainsmokers - Songs, Albums, Remixes

Country: USA (New York)
Labels: 4AM, Dim Mak Records, 604 Records, Republic
Genre: Electronic
Style: Houes, Electro House, Progressive House
Producer: Andrew Taggart
Real name: Andrew Taggart, Alex Pall
Wikipedia: The_Chainsmokers
Facebook: thechainsmokers
Twitter: TheChainsmokers
Info:

Song TitleYear
#Selfie2014
The Rookie2013
Erase (The Chainsmokers feat. Priyanka Chopra)2012
Habits (The Chainsmokers vs. Tove Lo)

Remixes:


ArtistTitleTimeYear
The Chainsmokers vs. DragonetteLet It Go (The Chainsmokers Filter No. 2)
JónsiAround Us (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Two Door Cinema ClubSleep Alone (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Little DaylightOverdose (The Chainsmokers Remix)
DaughterMedicine (The Chainsmokers Remix)
PhoenixTrying To Be Cool (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Say Lou LouJulian (The Chainsmokers Remix)
ASTROperate (The Chainsmokers Remix)
SmallpoolsDreaming (The Chainsmokers Remix)
The KillersMiss Atomic Bomb (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Fenech-SolerLast Forever (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Cash CashTake Me Home (The Chainsmokers Remix)
The WantedWe Own The Night (The Chainsmokers Remix)
BANKSChange (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Icona PopGirlfriend (The Chainsmokers Remix)
The ColouristFix This (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Mikky EkkoKids (The Chainsmokers Remix)
NONONOPumpin Blood (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Ellie GouldingGoodness Gracious (The Chainsmokers Remix)
BastilleFlaws (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Strange TalkYoung Hearts (The Chainsmokers Remix)
ChromeoJealous (I Ain't With It) (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Adventure ClubWonder (The Chainsmokers Remix)
FoxesHolding On To Heaven (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Neon TreesSleeping With A Friend (The Chainsmokers Remix)
Guy SebastianLike A Drum (The Chainsmokers Remix)

GRP Live at the North Sea Jazz Festival (1995)

Year: 1995
Release date:
Label:
Distribution:
Cat. Nr.:
Barcode:
Artwork:
Country:
Format: Compilation
Medium: Audio CD
Tracks selected by:
Genre: Jazz
Style: Jazz
Official Website: -
Wikipedia: -
My Space: -
Facebook: -
Twitter: -
Info:

Buy and Download from iTunes


Nr.ArtistTitleTimeYear
1 John Patitucci  Searching, Finding 5:06 2014
2 B.B. King  When Love Comes To Town 4:52 2014
3 Spyro Gyra  Nothing To Lose 5:07 2014
4 Chick Corea  Chasing the Trane 9:43 2014
5 Robben Ford  Real Man 5:25 2014
6 The Rippingtons  Curves Ahead 5:30 2014
7 Gary Burton  Going Home 5:50 2014

Total numbers: 7
Total duration: 41m 33s

Download Free Music!

Here are the best Website's to Download Free Music Fully Legal.

GrooveShark is an online service where you can stream almost every song in a music player.

MP3.com has some free music in all sorts of genres.

last.fm offers you to stream music.

Deezer is a platform that streams music to your pc, laptop, mobile phone and smart phone from their servers.

zzongs: A new source for your favorite music!

zzongs, is an online service that provides you very detailed information about artists, songs, versions of a song and releases. Almost everything has a link to more information for example: if the artist is clickable than you be send to a page made for the artist with all the songs, albums and remixes made by that them. If you click on a song than you come to a page with all the possible versions and the length of it. On the end of the page you find the compilations, albums, vinyl's and cd or maxi-singles where you can find the tracks on.

The zzongs is well updated with the newest music available on this moment. By using the search bar you will find the most accurate data you're looking for. There are lot's of music genres and styles included, music lovers of the electronic genre will be very satisfied.

Main changes
The structure of our new website is much more clear than before and works more efficiënt new fully responsive for Smart Phones, Cover images, YouTube clips, links to iTunes, Wikipedia, MySpace, Facebook and Twitter for every artist any more.

Older services The older service 'Music Maestro Library' has been stoped. The full project has moved to zzongs.com where it is updated more frequently it has also a faster layout for better user experience.

New Christmas Songs for 2010 / 2011

Music Note Sol
Now that it's Christmas time we hear Christmas songs everywhere. Some of you want new Christmas songs with their Christmas dinner tonight.

So here's a short list of new Christmas songs for 2010, let's play Chritmas music.

Christmas Songs:
Rihanna - A Child is Born
Lady Gaga - Christmas Tree
Britney Spears - My Only Wish (This Year)
Mariah Carey - All I Want For Christmas is You
Coldplay - Christmas Lights
Train - Shake Up Christmas

Christmas Albums:
Maria Carey - Merry Christmas II You
Susan Boyle - The Gift
Wilson Phillips - Christmas in Harmony
Katharine McPhee - Christmas Is the Time...(To Say I Love You)
Indigo Girls - Holly Happy Days
Celtic Thunder - Celtic Thunder Christmas
Annie Lennox - A Christmas Cornucopia
The Puppini Sisters - Christmas With the Puppini Sisters
Pink Martini - Joy To the World

Christmas Compilations:
Now That's What I Call Christmas! 4
Christmas Top 100 (4 CD)
Christmas Hits (3 CD)
101 Christmas Songs

Grooveshark - a new revolution in the music industry - 170 million songs for free - 100% legal

Grooveshark Logo
Grooveshark is an online music-player with over more than 170 million songs included. They call it a music revolution. And the best of all: it's all free. But is it legal? Yes it is 100% legal.
The artists are paid by the incomes of advertisements (Ads) on the website and this each time their song played by a user. Every song you play is streamed, but you can download it by buying the songs on Amazon and iTunes in a snap. This generate even more income for the artists. But why would you download the song. You can play the songs online for free.

The library is amazing, you can find almost every song on Grooveshark. All songs around the whole world just a click away and... it's totally free! Searching for a song? Just type it in the search box and in less than a second you can play the song. You can even upload your songs to their server and earn money. You can even earn money with tagging songs. Beside its free that's what's made Grooveshark big. Everybody can listen to the songs that others uploaded. In fact it's a sort of online P2P (Peer to Peer) program of an new generation that is fully legal compared to other P2P programs. And of course all songs are DRM free. Still the most amazing for this platform is that it's all for free and 100% legal.

See what I mean on: groovesharks.org
Copyright: byWM