Product Description

Co-authored by the creator of Winamp, MP3 Power with Winamp is the most complete guide to understanding and using MP3 technology effectively. You'll learn how to find, create, and optimize MP3 files yourself using the tools and software discussed and included on the CD-ROM with the book. Geared for beginner to experienced user, this title steps you through the history of MP3 technology, how bands and musicians can take advantage of it, and more. Besides focusing on Winamp, you'll learn how to use the Xing tools to create MP3 tracks, create your own MP3 radio station with Shoutcast, and get detailed information about MP3 and Winamp high end information.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1594083 in Books
• Published on: 1999-05
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 320 pages

Review
Now here's a title for anyone interested in knowing more about MP3 technonogy and the music revolution that's currently taking place in the industry. Justin Frankel, along with Ben Sawyer and Dave Greely have produced a book that details the whole scene as of April 1999 in an interesting and informative manner.

Until now there has been very little documentation on how to configre and use WINAMP; however MP3 POWER is right from the man who wrote the program and is probably the best authority to do so.

In addition to very detailed coverage of the WINAMP player itself, this book covers many other subjects including plug-ins and skins for the program, the MP3 format, history, interviews with musicians, etc. as well as information on how to optimize your modem using TweakDUN and MTU Speed, both readily available online.

Another area that I found quite interesting are the chapters dealing with Internet broadcasting containing information on how to set up your own on-line broadcasting station using SHOUTcast technology.

This is another book that needed to be produced. Michael Crestohl -- posted on the Internet; June 1999

There is a reason lightning bolts were emblazoned across the front and inside cover of the penultimate MP3 book by WinAmp founder Justin Frankel. MP3 Power is not only a book but a revolution in Music. It is designed to hit you over the head like a charged bolt and wake you up to the future.

This amazingly detailed book shows you how to get the most out of MP3 technology as a user, musician, and technical expert. It will teach you how to create, distribute and promote MP3 files with easy detailed instructions within the hallowed covers of this book.

Author Justin Frankel introduces you to skins, plug-ins, filters and MP3 enhancements you can't find anywhere else. This was my favorite part of the book as I had no idea of the capabilities of the burgeoning technology and the ways you can utilize it to your best advantage.

By the time you finish reading this book, you will feel like somewhat of an expert on MP3 technology and be able to wow the average digital music listener with your MP3 knowledge.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in mp3 technology. After all, what better place to educate yourself than by learning from the Master. -- MusicDish , October 1999

This book is an excellent guide to how to make full use of Winamp's capabilities.

Beginning with a brief history of MP3 and Winamp, the authors review how to download and install the player on a Windows based computer with step-by-step instructions (Instructions are also provided for the MacAMP player for Macintosh computers). They devote an entire chapter to Winamp's basic controls for listening and provide information about designing your own look for Winamp (called "skins"). There is an outstanding chapter on where to look on the Internet for MP3 files.

The authors include information for creating one's own MP3 files and webcasts. The discussion about computer sound cards and getting good sound from live performances is outstanding and includes links to relevant products. They also review how to get and use encoders for making MP3 files and how to create your own CDs from MP3 files.

I strongly recommend this book for anyone who wishes to make full use of Winamp's considerable capabilities. I also highly recommend it for those considering webcasting using SHOUTcast. -- Mike Powers, Internet Radio Guide, September 1999

About the Author
Justin Frankel is the creator of Winamp and an early MP3 software pioneer. He is a major player in the MP3 software arena and one of the world's leading experts in this technology. Co-authors Ben Sawyer and Dave Greely have written numerous and have a track record of writing about exciting and innovative new computer technologies.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
From Chapter 1: What Is MP3? MP3--short for MPEG Layer 3--allows you to store music or other audio files on a computer disk so that the file size is small but the quality is near that of a compact disc. Without the compression of MP3, a one-minute CD-quality recording would take up more than 10 megabytes of disc space. MP3 compresses most sound files 10 times or more. In other words, you can download music files from the Internet and listen to them while taking up a fraction of the space otherwise required with little or no injury to the sound quality. Playing MP3 files requires a player such as Winamp (www.Winamp.com) or MacAmp (www.macamp.com).

Customer Reviews

It's actually a manual...
This book is essentially well-written and informative, but the title is somewhat misleading - this is not an introduction to MP3s in general but rather a manual for Winamp, the popular freeware Windows player.

There's nothing wrong with that - Winamp is really cool and should take pride of place on your desktop. Because Winamp is freeware it doesn't come with a manual, and while there's nothing in here you can't glean from the winamp.com website, it's handy to have a real-world reference book - more practical, let's face it, than its virtual counterpart.

Apart from the how-to stuff, there's a short history of the MP3 format, and the basics of MP3 technology are glossed over. There are a few references to competing players, but only really to affirm Winamp's superiority over the rest of the pack.

Ultimately, the best reason to purchase this book is if you use Winamp already - Winamp is free, so think of it as your contribution to the continued development of this rather fine product - a sort of round-about shareware fee!

Some Good Stuff But a Little Too Much Drivel
The book has a lot of good stuff on Winamp, SHOUTcast and the MP3 file format. Some nice details on configuring Winamp plug-ins and the ID3 Tag format. My only complaints were that the writing is a bit awkward and often tends to "hype" MP3 and Winamp. Also, about 10 percent of the book consists of mostly useless interviews with people from the MP3 community. All in all, it's a decent book if you are a dedicated Winamp user, like me, or a SHOUTcast DJ. But I definitely wouldn't recommend it to someone completely new to MP3.

Excellent!
The best mp3 book I've ever red. Very complete