First Anniversary Column or
How Many Are You In Internet Years?
[ No. 12 - October 1997 ]
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Things That Are New
LiquidAudio successfully launched the 2.0 version of their
electronic distribution technology which is now being used by a
small number of companies securely selling music in digital
form. Yes, Virginia, it *is* possible, and the music you pay
for isn't all plastic and cardboard! <www.liquidaudio.com>
Sure, it's not purely an audio company, but we thought
Microsoft's outright purchase of VXtreme, a streaming audio and
video technology company, certainly warrants mention as it
further shows the claim that the "big kids" are staking in this
emerging space. <www.vxtreme.com>
Progressive Networks announced a partnership with MCI to form
RealNetwork, to remove some of the limitations on how large an
audience can be reached with live broadcasts. This issue is
critical to netcasting taking a step into the big media
leagues. Guaranteeing access to large audiences will assure
corporate sponsorship of events and the money will roll right
in. This doesn't have to overshadow the efforts and impact of
the home studio person, it merely creates another mainstream
validation for our "industry". <www.real.com>
Rumors abound of a new version of VDO Live incorporating
improved audio quality with their existing video streaming
technology. We'll keep you informed, of course! <www.vdo.net>
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Since the beginning of time (which for our purposes here is
measured from our first column), we FezGuys have strived to bring
you, to the best of our passionate musical appreciation, simple
truths, forthright common sense, and an understanding of The
Internet Way. Luckily, this "Way" has no "right way." Benevolent
anarchy (doesn't) rules! We're all FezGuys, OK? We've all made it
through the last twelve months and here we are at our Big Bang
Anniversary Column! Woo! Congratulations to you for sticking with
us, and to misquote Bill Cosby in "Fat Albert", "you might have
even learned something along the way!" We know we have.
Over the past year we've covered a sometimes bewildering array of
subjects hovering around the central theme of Audio on the
Internet. Some of the topics we've looked at include: the history
of audio on the Internet; how to configure RealAudio; how to encode
and place your music online; optimizing tips to improve the quality
of your soundfiles; connectivity and codec resources; an online
distribution critique, brief explanations of current publishing and
copyright issues; financial transfer using the Internet;
netcasting; a short description of the cast of characters and the
too-often underestimated importance of your involvement in the
medium. All of the past years' columns are available for reading
and downloading at <www.fezguys.com>.
Last year we perceived a general unawareness of what the Internet
meant to the project recording studio. Perhaps some of you hadn't
realised the possibility of being able to sidestep the existing
oligarchy of the music business. Most of the organizations
involved in this medium at the start were not necessarily
money-makers, and the big companies hadn't made common use of the
Web a priority. There were some standard codecs (MPEG, to name
one) but no standard technological protocols. With the exception
of a few online CD stores, the major labels tended to treat the
Internet as a promotional and marketing tool.
The FezGuys felt it would be useful to those using the Internet as
a distribution and sales tool to provide educational resources and
production tips. We have attempted to provide some clarity in what
is often a confusing mishmash of technologies, protocols and
jargon. We encourage you to contact us, to interact with us and
each other. We're starting to get a lot of email concentrating on
the technical "how-to" side of audio on the Internet. Please
continue to let us know if this is useful to you. The sharing of
ideas and techniques easily and simply is what sets our community
apart. We cover a lot of evolutionary ground by sharing. Another
lesson from the school playground proves its lifelong usefulness.
So where are we (and audio on the Internet) going? Some observable
indications can provide intelligent conclusions. As usual, new
questions get raised as soon as those conclusions get reached.
Giants like Microsoft are now staking their claims in streaming
media (buying into Progressive Networks, VDO and the now-confirmed
reports of relocation packages to Redmond, WA, delivered to people
at VXtreme). The music business is preparing to acknowledge that
digital distribution is "coming" (a cautious acceptance if there
ever was one). The self-described "collection societies" (BMI,
ASCAP, etc.) and industry trade groups have begun to agressively
litigate their positions (the last resort of the fearful and often
the moment of profound change) and technology continues to do its
exponential dance of advancement. At this point it's safe to say
more musicians then ever are creating their own music at home and
putting it online. Many established artists are using the Internet
to sidestep the existing physical distribution infrastructure by
promoting mail-order CDs from websites. Very few organizations or
individuals currently use streaming technology to digitally
distribute their music. The industry is watching closely.
Over the next year we plan to devote space to the following
topics: more about legal issues and your rights as an independent
artist or producer to buy, sell and publish on the Internet (who's
suing who and how it affects your online presence); audio
technology comparisons (recommendations to be based on ease-of-use,
overall aesthetic, underlying code, inter-operability and audio
quality); online record company and electronic distribution system
profiles; online broadcasting (netcasting); more useful techniques
for optimizing your soundfiles; some geeking out (perceptual
coding, psychoacoustics, compression); the evolving state of the
Internet audio community (examples of artist/listener relations);
the universal question "Can you make a living making music and
promoting yourself on the Internet?" (with some examples of how
musicians are making money now); "fulfillment" (read: encryption
methods that really, securely, work); and "electronic
distribution", removing the need to ship versions of music in the
physical domain.
The FezGuys hope that we continue to be useful. The accepted
reader feedback equation seems to be that one letter equals a
thousand people. We do some math and come out with a possible
figure of over a hundred thousand humans that we may have bent the
ear of.
The FezGuys pledge to keep you informed about Audio on the Internet
using these priorities: Does it sound good? Is it easy to use?
Is it equitably priced? Does it benefit the main links in the
chain (the artist and the listener)? And, after these questions
are answered, the most important question: does it make sense?
Upon this course of common-sensical real-world usefulness we will
not sway!
Thank you for your continued feedback. Everybody is invited to
contact us with suggestions, complaints, comments, and photographs
of yourself wearing a fez. The relevance of this medium is defined
by our participation in it. Make history!
hello, im bix bix lives oh yes, he does. really i appreciate yor columns,
and net stuff. the candor with which you speak is music to me ears and the
article with thomas d. was essential. ima wannabe recording engineer sans
education under belt in no mans business land hawaii. thankyou and also for
representing if i dare say us in the orgs for the fcc, saw that sight very
educational. reading between lines id say the fcc is still a little naive
about how people want the air waves, but as i usually say i could be wrong.
thanks again. bbarker
Dear bbarker, thanks for your thoughtful stream of consciousness on our
columns and Thomas Dolby cover story (EQ June '97)-- you let us know
we're making a difference. Though you may be geographically removed in
Hawaii, it can't keep you from getting set up with a home studio and
taking it online! If you find the FCC (and many other established
organizations) a bit naive (who'd think it!), realize that now is the
opportunity to act and set intelligent precendences. Educate them
before they issue any more silly edicts.
May the Fez be with you!
The FezGuys encourage participation in the Internet audio community.
Please stop by:
<http://www.fezguys.com/>
