Audio and Marketing Fun

[filkertom]

Okay, we're all going to become a little more expert at audio codecs today.

I'm looking at increasing the bitrate for downloadable MP3s, as some folks have indicated that they'd like the increased fidelity. But several of those same people have put in votes for FLAC (Free Lossless Audio Codec) or Ogg Vorbis formats, having higher fidelity with smaller file sizes. (VBR, variable bit-rate encoding, sounds as if it's too much trouble on both sides to be worth it.)

(I actually can create Ogg Vorbis right now -- Acid Pro and Sound Forge save to that format. And it doesn't look like I'd need much to create FLAC, but you've always known that. ;) WinAmp plays .ogg files out of the box, and .flac files with just a simple plug-in [at the FLAC site].)

So, a little survey here:

1. Dial-up or broadband?
2. Do you purchase, or have you been considering purchasing, download music from Tom Smith Online?
3. What, if any, is your preferred music format for purchased downloads?
4. If MP3, would you pay more for higher-bit-rate MP3s?
5. Would you like the option for multiple audio formats?
6. If so, please indicate all audio formats you would be interested in. The big three here are MP3, OGG, and FLAC, but I'm open to suggestions.
7. I can write AC3 files, which are basically surround sound. Do you have surround sound on your computer, and, if so, would you be interested in that as a download option?

Update: Keep it coming -- this is fun and useful. To clarify a couple of things -- Acid Pro and Sound Forge are Sony/Sonic Foundry's high-end audio programs. Frankly, the best audio software I've ever found. And they happen to not do AAC/MP4. I have other programs that do so, but it's not worth the time, trouble, or results to go back and forth between them -- I'm trying to get the best sound I can here. :)

Comments

Info of questionable usefullness from me.

[aiela.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Yes to both.
3. As long as itunes can play it, I'm happy. Probably prefer mp3, see below.
4. Probably not
5. So long as itunes can play at least one of them, I'd be happy.
6. mp3, and I know Winamp can play OGG, because that's what phone posts are, but I have no idea what itunes does with them.
7. No, I don't have surround sound.

[ericthemage.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Yes
3. I prefer CDs, but if it's online only, I'd prefer something that I can burn to CD
4. Yes
5. Yes
6. .WAV :)
7. No

[kender42.livejournal.com]

1 - Broadband
2 - I have purchased, and would probably do so again.
3 - MP3 - iTunes plays it and it cannot play OGG or FLAC
4 - Ehh. Maybe?
5 - Yes.
6 - MP3, AAC
7 - Ooh. Yes I do have surround. And that would be cool. :)

[cktraveler.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband.
2. Considering.
3. MP3. I can play OGG but dislike it, and cannot play FLAC.
4. Depends how much more.
5. Yes.
6. Any combination that still contains MP3.
7. No, and I wouldn't for that reason. If I did, I might.

[rsmit212.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband.
2. Yes.
3. OGG
4. No.
5. Yes.
6. MP3 and OGG
7. No.

[ladyjeanetta.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Yes
3. MP3
4. No
5. Yes
6. So long as there are MP3s, it doesn't matter
7. No surround sound, but if I did that would be cool!

[gridlore.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Considered, but current financial situation is very tight.
3. MP3
4. Yes
5. It doesn't matter to me.
6. N/A
7. No surround sound (that would make Madden football rock!)

[johno.livejournal.com]

1. Dial-up or broadband?

Broadband

2. Do you purchase, or have you been considering purchasing, download music from Tom Smith Online?

Considered, Yes
Done, No

I like having the original disks, even if all I do is rip to computer.

3. What, if any, is your preferred music format for purchased downloads?

MP3 is prefered.

OGG & FLAC, while they have their merits have not been widely supported.

4. If MP3, would you pay more for higher-bit-rate MP3s?

Yes,

My ear can hear the difference of anything below 128 and I prefere the fidelity edge of 192, but can't really tell the difference above 192.

5. Would you like the option for multiple audio formats?

If nothing else, it expanes your market for with the simple step of "Save As..."

6. If so, please indicate all audio formats you would be interested in. The big three here are MP3, OGG, and FLAC, but I'm open to suggestions.

MP3, then OGG, then FLAC.

Not WMA, AA3, AA, LMNOP....
DRM breaks and when it breaks you loose your music.

7. I can write AC3 files, which are basically surround sound. Do you have surround sound on your computer, and, if so, would you be interested in that as a download option?

If you did something that used surround sound, Yes,
but just hearing the audience "behind" me, would not be worth it.

[shockwave77598.livejournal.com]

I don't trust noname encoders, due to past experiences. I had one come from Roxio and it had an annoying "Teakettle" effect on the left channel that was very audible. I'd say stick with Fraunhoffer - it comes with the 15$ copy of winamp, you know. There is also MP3Pro which is backwards compatible, playing the same on regular MP3 players but with better fidelity using MP3Pro decoders.

Broadband, 6mbps.
I've purchased before - probably will again as new material comes out.
MP3. I do not dl, save or use anything in WMA or WMV format.
No - a song is a song.
Yes; it would be a nice option, but not critical to my purchasing decision.
Ogg, MP4 (itunes unencrypted), MP3Pro. (what the heck is FLAC?)
No surround on any computer in the house. Not interested.

[metalfatigue]

1.) Broadband.
2.) Yes.
3.) MP3 or AAC/"MP4" (since that's what will play on my iPod).
4.) No.
5.) Yes.
6.) I prefer AAC. If given the option to download that instead of MP3 (for the same price), I would take it. It has slightly smaller file sizes for the same quality, being roughly equivalent to Ogg Vorbis in that regard.
7.) No. Surround-sound adds nothing to a musical performance, where the performers are normally in front of you.

[mrfnord.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Yes to both.
3. MP3
4. No, the increase in audio quality isn't that significant.
5. Sure, why not?
6. MP3, OGG, AAC
7. I have surround sound on my computer, but AC3 doesn't really interest me.

[atalantapendrag.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Considered... what I'd really like and be willing to pay to buy is tracks off the albums you've released on cassette but not CD.
3.MP3
4. Not sure.
5. Options are always good; may not matter to me, but I'm sure it will to someone.
6. There is no answer #6
7. Wouldn't do me a bit of good, but hey, if it's a coolness for someone else, yay.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

I'm working on Sounds Familiar, which will have new studio versions of many of those tracks. I may eventually re-record all of them... but those cassette tracks are owned by Dodeka, which is why they haven't been up for download.

[mrlogic.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband.
2. Have considered. Haven't purchased because I actually prefer to have hard-copy CDs of music, with artwork and liner notes.
3. MP3 or AAC.
4. Not as long as the minimum is 128kpbs.
5. Doesn't matter much to me.
6. The only ones that would not be inconvenient for me would be MP3 and AAC.
7. I don't have surround sound.

[hms42]

Dial-up or broadband?
Broadband

Do you purchase, or have you been considering purchasing, download music from Tom Smith Online?
Yes, more please.

What, if any, is your preferred music format for purchased downloads?
mp3 (or a format CDEX can convert to mp3 for my traveling CD)

If MP3, would you pay more for higher-bit-rate MP3s?
probially.

Would you like the option for multiple audio formats?
Sure.

If so, please indicate all audio formats you would be interested in. The big three here are MP3, OGG, and FLAC, but I'm open to suggestions.
Whatever Winamp can handle.

I can write AC3 files, which are basically surround sound. Do you have surround sound on your computer, and, if so, would you be interested in that as a download option?
No Suround sound at this time, but the sound card handles it. Maybe in the future on the suround sound.


Hope this helps!.

Harold

[ixias.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Yes
3. MP3
4. No
5. No. MP3 and CDs are good. I only listen to the MP3s until the CD comes out.
6. MP3 is fine.
7. No surround sound

[colinmo.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband.
2. Heck Yeah.
3. MP3.
4. Doubtful.
5. I'm happy with MP3 really.
6. -
7. I don't have surround sound.

[netpositive.livejournal.com]

1. Kinda broadband (leased line, not DSL).
2. Considered.
3. Higher-end MP3s.
4. Hmm, not sure. Depends on song and performance type - not sure I would want to pay more for higher-bit rate versions of live performances, for example.
5. Yeah, sure.
6. MP3, maybe OGG. (Never even heard of FLAC.)
7. No surround sound anywhere in the house, so obviously not interested. :)

[dubheach.livejournal.com]

::sniff::
I'm feeling so ungeeky right now.

I wouldn't mind paying more for your music if I knew how to download it.
Surround sound in my house is two kids yelling while the TV is on :)

[shadowcat48li.livejournal.com]

1. DSL
2. already purchased, will purchase more
3. mp3
4. I'm very happy with what I've purchased so far, so I am not worried about
higher bitrates
5. yes, but I'm not sure I would use it personally
6. mp3 and maybe ogg
7. I dont have surround sounc capability currently, but might be interested in the future.

[beige-alert.livejournal.com]

I have broadband and have purchased music from you.

If it's going to be compressed in a lossy format, MP3 has the big advantage that just about everything, including portable players, can play MP3 directly, without transcoding from one lossy formate to another. If you offer FLAC files, those can by played on the computer directly and transcoded to whatever lossy format the portable device likes. Magnatune offers just about everything, and I always just get the FLAC and make MP3 from that for the little player, but the less geeky or less bandwidth-endowed can download whatever format they like directly. FLAC, mind you, is big, only about a factor of two smaller than uncompressed.

Higher bit rate is probably good, though it depends on the quality of the original recording, too. My limitation is not the download but the mere 128 meg on my portable MP3 player.

I wouldn't mind if you switched to offering FLAC (plus others for those who prefer them) and used it as an excuse for a price increase, but I don't think that offering bad MP3s for one price, good ones for a higher price, maybe FLAC for even more, and so on is worth the confusion. Offering the free stuff only at fairly low bit rate is entirely reasonable.

I don't have any surround sound in my life yet, other than that provided by people sneaking up behind me.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

It's actually not that hard. :) All you do is click the link in the download e-mail. I'll send you a copy of Talk Like A Pirate Day, as I know you already have the album, so you can see how it works.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

Another clarification: Ain't nobody gonna pay for bad MP3s. :) The only reason I'm looking at any of this is filling out options. Finding out what people have and what they want is vital if I'm gonna make the site a success, and I'm getting some good info here.

If I did have a choice of higher quality MP3s, it would likely be only a dime or so more, enough to cover the bandwidth cost. However, it's looking less likely. I may just bump up the audio quality some overall; I'll have to experiment. There will never be any DRM involved, and I am trying to consider how much room a file takes up on your iPods and other MP3 players as well.

[jedilora.livejournal.com]

Keep in mind, I don't use Winamp at all. I use Musicmatch Jukebox. I like the organizational options in the library.

1) T3 at school, wireless cable at home. So broadband, I'd suppose.
2) I've purchased quite a few things, both downloads and CD.
3) MP3.
4) Mm...not too much more, to be honest. I'm in college. I've been unemployed for six months, and have only just managed to get a job. If the option was there, I'd probably buy fewer MP3s total, but I would get the higher quality.
5-7) I'm really fairly clueless about other formats. I can't play Ogg Vorbis, I know that. I have no idea about FLAC. I have surround sound on my laptop when I hook in my speakers, but I haven't a clue about AC3.

[filkertom.livejournal.com]

And, if I do try other formats, there will not be any translation through MP3. Direct save to the format from the highest quality source or nothing. Which is why I mentioned above that I can already save in Ogg Vorbis. I can also save in downloadable and streaming Real, Windows Media, and about a dozen other formats (and I may go to Real for the streaming, but that's another issue for another day), but I'm going for maximum compatibility and file size/audio quality tradeoffs here.

[ruisseau.livejournal.com]

1. Dial-up or broadband? Broadband

2. Do you purchase, or have you been considering purchasing, download music from Tom Smith Online? Yes

3. What, if any, is your preferred music format for purchased downloads? I can listen to all of them and while I like mp3 because it makes the mix cd easier, it's not hard to switch formats in Linux.

4. If MP3, would you pay more for higher-bit-rate MP3s? See, I can't TELL the difference, so probably not.

5. Would you like the option for multiple audio formats? I think my husband would.

6. If so, please indicate all audio formats you would be interested in. The big three here are MP3, OGG, and FLAC, but I'm open to suggestions. Yep, those are the three. :) He's all about the FLAC's.

7. I can write AC3 files, which are basically surround sound. Do you have surround sound on your computer, and, if so, would you be interested in that as a download option? I don't think any of the boxen have surround sound and it's really not part of our lives right now.

I really liked being able to download "And They Say I've Got Talent" before the CD was available. :)

[r-caton.livejournal.com]

Dial-up or broadband?
Dial Up at home (Broadband at work downloaded to D: (direct CD!))
Do you purchase, or have you been considering purchasing, download music from Tom Smith Online?
I have, and right fun I get getting the emails with the secure links, although you sort it out quick enough usually!
What, if any, is your preferred music format for purchased downloads?
mp3. And I tend to convert those to standard CD format for playing
If MP3, would you pay more for higher-bit-rate MP3s?
Possibly. The mp3s I've had so far have been OK..with my hearing...
Would you like the option for multiple audio formats?
Uncommitted either way. Can't play ogg.
If so, please indicate all audio formats you would be interested in. The big three here are MP3, OGG, and FLAC, but I'm open to suggestions.
I can write AC3 files, which are basically surround sound. Do you have surround sound on your computer, and, if so, would you be interested in that as a download option
Not really. I'm a traditionalist - I prefer standard CD, vinyl or shellac.

[redaxe.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband

2. Have considered purchasing. But money and opportunity have not had a confluence where the site's concerned; to date, all my purchases have been on CD. No bias there, when something cool is on the site and I can afford it, I will buy.

3. I like lossless formats. Doesn't matter which (of the major ones); I can convert them myself.

4. I might pay higher for, say, a 320kbps MP3 than a 128kbps one; I would be harder pressed to justify paying significantly more for 192kbps. (I understand the larger sizes will affect your bandwidth costs. Don't know the actual numbers, but I can see how it could push you hard.)

5. The only sort of multiple formats I think I would prefer is one lossless, one MP3 version. I'm especially not a fan of WMV, and AAC is Right Out. (Both formats being created by hated monopolists, this ought not to be too much of a surprise.)

6. MP3, OGG, FLAC are all good. I can also handle SHN and APE (both lossless) and wouldn't be averse to learning to handle other formats if they have significant advantages.

7. I don't have surround sound on my computer -- today. But when I go buy a new system, I might, so having the files can't hurt (as long as there's enough backwards compatibility that I could listen to them now). But if it causes you ggreat grief to create them, then I'd come in as "not necessary."

More as I wake up further (still on night schedule left over from the weekend; caffeine is imminent).

[jss]

1. Dial-up or broadband?
   Broadband.


2. Do you purchase, or have you been considering purchasing, download music from Tom Smith Online?
   Yes and yes.


3. What, if any, is your preferred music format for purchased downloads?
   MP3 (192).


4. If MP3, would you pay more for higher-bit-rate MP3s?
   Maybe. Would depend on how much more, and whether it was $ for 128 and $+n for 192, or just $+n for 192, etc.


5. Would you like the option for multiple audio formats?
   It's nice to have options, but I'd rather hear the new music on MP3 (the de facto cross-platform standard) than have you spend time saving to multiple formats.


6. If so, please indicate all audio formats you would be interested in. The big three here are MP3, OGG, and FLAC, but I'm open to suggestions.
   Enh. MP3, AAC, and OGG, I suppose.


7. I can write AC3 files, which are basically surround sound. Do you have surround sound on your computer, and, if so, would you be interested in that as a download option?
   No and maybe, respectively.

[mg4h.livejournal.com]

1. broadband
2. Have purchased everything available.
3. mp3, wouldn't mind 168k
4. More than what you're charging now, or just more as an option? In either case, it would matter depending on the price. I wouldn't pay the same for a CD as for higher bitrate mp3's.
5. Not a large preference.
6. I prefer mp3 for music over any other format.
7. I don't, so it wouldn't be worth it for me.

[mikewdotorg.livejournal.com]

1. Broadband
2. Yes, bought everything that's downloadable
3. MP3 VBR 192/256
4. Additional bandwidth surcharge perhaps
5. Options are great, although personally I'll only use the MP3
6. MP3 and lossless AAC
6. Yes, probably not