The Blog-Choose Quality Over Quantity

Yikes! Recently I was in the car listening to an oldies station (that shall remain nameless) and was hoping to enjoy some good ole music from back in the day. Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time, but I listened for a little bit and noticed something insidious and 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. The low rate mp3 sounds grainy and edgy (and we’re talking edgy-not in a good way). This would be fine if sound quality didn’t matter, but with music it does!

Now I know I’m proselytizing, 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” says 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. This practice WILL damage your precious hearing. No kidding! And, most hearing loss is irreversible.

I highly recommend:

1.Use at least 128 mp3’s (selectable in your music program). 160 is better and 192 is very good.

2.Invest in a decent headset. (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 probably too loud.

listen: