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Getting started on MP3
Sunday, March 12, 2000 By Tracy Collins, Post-Gazette Staff Writer
To play MP3 on your computer:
1. Excellent MP3-playing software can be found easily for free. The standard for PC is Winamp (don't forget to get the AudioStocker plug-in at www.users.one.se/liket/mp3stock, which automatically adjusts the volume of individual songs so they play at the same loudness), while Sonique is another good player. The standard for Macintosh is MacAmp.
2. If you don't have the ability to create your own MP3, you can download them from the Internet. Many lesser-known artists -- and some who are well-known -- offer MP3 for free, or for nominal $1 or $2 download fees. Many popular artists are waiting for the legal smoke to clear before jumping into the marketplace.
TOTAL: Free
To convert your CD titles to MP3:
1. CD-ROM drive: Standard on computers sold within the last three years, if you don't have one, you can buy a good one -- 24x or above -- for $50 to $160. If you buy a CD burner ($190-$800), it can double as a CD-ROM drive.
2. Extraction, editing and converting software (a one-time cost): The best and most intricate are Opticom's MP3 Producer Professional for the PC ($199) and Macromedia's SoundEdit 16 for the Mac ($299). For most users, medium-level programs like RealJukebox Plus for the PC ($30) and SoundJam for the Mac ($30) will do the job.
TOTAL: $80 to $1,100. If you already have a CD-ROM and CD burner, your costs are $30-$299.
To burn your own high-quality CD of MP3:
1. CD-ROM drive (see above): $50-$160.
2. CD burner: $190-$800.
3. CD labeling software, with label templates and artwork, and a device for applying the labels onto the CD: $30.
4. Scanner for adding pictures to your labels or disc jackets: $100-$300.
5. Ink jet printer for printing labels: $180-$600.
TOTAL: $550 to $1,890
To create your own CD jukebox, and going portable:
1. 16-20 gigabytes of hard drive. If you need to buy it, you can either add internal ($150-$450) or external ($470-$620) storage.
2. Quality stereo speakers for your computer: $80-$300
3. Portable MP3 player: $175-$270.
4. Car adapter for portable: $30.
5. Flash storage cards for portable: $100-$160.
TOTAL: $535 to $1,380
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