The MP3 is a digital sound wave file - usually downloaded from the internet off of a home computer. MP3 first burst upon the music scene just a few years ago, but its beginnings were shaky due to its initial design, marketing and legal issues that cropped up about making cost-free, perfect audio duplications of copyrighted material. The early equipment made was ugly, bulky, not user-friendly and limited at best with its functions as well as its storage capacity or playback abilities. More recent models have been greatly refined for use by the general (non-computer savy) public. Greater storage capacity is available in current models. Today's models are now much more portable (comparable to a "Walkman" style), lightweight, stylish, cost-effective and extremely easy to use. Some models even come with am/fm receivers built-in, much like the "Walkman" and others have combined features with digital cameras, allowing you to take pictures or record audio on the same unit. MP3's are even being made for car audio as well as home stereo systems and some marketing analysts predict that they (MP3) will replace all hard-copy recorded media in the future - that remains to be seen. Many different software programs exist for the MP3 - programs for downloading, editing, mixing, remixing and just about anything that can be done with digital music are now available for the Mac and PC. Disc Jockeys, whether professional or novice, tend to be the main consumers of the MP3. Its universal appeal to music lovers in general, however has brought the MP3 to a whole new market for the consuming public. Students, doctors, lawyers, homemakers and many others are becoming fascinted with the MP3 technology and it is no longer confined to just computer geeks and disc jockeys, although they are its biggest proponents. Almost anyone can now digitally record and share live recordings of their own musical compositions, rely upon the millions of MP3 files that currently exist on the internet or download new songs from an exterior audio source such as a CD or a live mix. Many web sites exist for the downloading and sharing of MP3 files - some are free of charge while others are on a cost per download basis. People can download new files or songs and remix them or just save them as is to complete their very own personal music library.
The MP3 is now virtually a mini music store and recording studio.
