Yikes! Recently I was in the car listening to an oldies station (that shall remain nameless) and was hoping to enjoy some good music from back in the day. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but I listened for a little bit and couldn’t help but notice something really annoying! They were playing mp3’s apparently made at the lowest rate you can get away with. Now, I understand the practical thinking involved here. They want to store as much stuff as they can in as small a “footprint” as possible. I have one big problem with this though. It sounds awful!

Music is all about the auditory/sensory thing: what the lyrics mean, how the melody winds it’s way through the song and the textures they both create together. The sum total of all of that forms the conscious reactions as well as some unconscious ones that we get as listeners. A low bit rate mp3 sounds grainy and edgy (and we’re talking edgy-not in a good way).

Now I know I’m preaching here, but music is my religion. I really believe in it and I know it is as important to us as water, air and food.

(“if there were no music, then I could not get through”, to quote Shawn Colvin).

I’m concerned, too, about people (kids especially) who listen to low rate mp3’s on their iPods using those nasty little ear buds. Aside from the fact that there are now many nice choices for headphones for every day use, this practice will damage your precious hearing!

I highly recommend:

1. Use at least 128 mp3’s (selectable in your music program, ie: iTunes). 160 is better and 192 is pretty good. Simply choose the highest rate possible, 320 is the highest.

2. Invest in a decent headset, which thankfully are much more accessible now than they were a few years ago.

    (You don’t need to spend a lot but this is as important as getting good eye glasses.)

3. Don’t blast it! If I’m standing next to you and I can hear the music, it’s too loud.

Call Jim @ H-562-856-1192, C-310-200-4227 or email me and let’s talk about your project!

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