Reply-To: david@weekly.org From: update@david.weekly.org Subject: 8 Comparisons, 2 Writings, 1 Redesign, 1 Link To: update@david.weekly.org m a y 2 2 , 1 9 9 9 ----------------------------- Update #4 ----------------------------- -----<< CODEC COMPARISONS >> I'm working hard on the second set of codec comparisons, and I just confirmed that I will be able to evaluate EPAC in about a week. This will be very exciting as it could very well be the first set of public, independant tests on EPAC. I'm working hard on writing some code to automate the display of the second round of tests -- I'm making a backend database with the comparisons so on the web page you will be able to pit two formats head-to-head with a given sample or at a given bitrate. Included in the review should be: MP3, AAC, AC-3 (just a touch), VQF, RealAudio G2, EPAC, MS Audio 4, and QDesign Music Codec Version 2 (in QuickTime 4). If I manage to crunch through all of this, it will be the most comprehensive comparison on the web. Please pray that I don't flunk my classes. =) -----<< THE MP3 ARTIST >> A short piece that I wrote for PLUG.COM geared towards explaining to artists why and how they should put their music on the web and get plugged in. http://david.weekly.org/writings/mp3artist.shtml -----<< WHY SDMI WILL FAIL >> I'm not sure that trying to protect music through cryptography is a viable idea. Work on a special format that the RIAA has been trying to create, called "SDMI" (The Secure Digital Music Initiative) is going slowly and, in my opinion, won't make it. http://david.weekly.org/writings/sdmi.shtml -----<< SITE REDESIGN >> I'm at the drawing boards conceiving of a new site layout that should bring more useful information to you in fewer clicks and make the site more of an integrated whole. Feel free to ping me with ideas! -----<< FREE EXPRESSION >> I've started to involve myself with the "Free Expression" project. They're working on a new client-server infrastructure for audio delivery, effectively replacing RealNetworks' proprietary system with one that is free and OpenSourced. http://www.free-expression.org/ ---------------=+*[{( FIN )}]*+=-----------------