Re: [ARSCLIST] MP3

["Steven C. Barr(x)" <stevenc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Mike Richter" <mrichter@xxxxxxx>
> Steven C. Barr(x) wrote:
> > ----- Original Message ----- 
> > From: "Mike Richter" <mrichter@xxxxxxx>
> >> The essential thing to remember is that they are files just like any
> >> other files one might deal with. The fact that they represent audio and >
with
> > proper hardware and software reproduce sound is interesting but
> >> irrelevant.
> > <snip>
> >> Again, you will be doing the best for/by the format when you ignore that
> >> the files may be interpreted as audio. Of course, if someone wants to
> >> listen to the audio on conventional hardware, provision should be made
> >> to prepare a copy in an appropriate form. That may be as MP3 files, as
> >> another compressed format of file, as DVD-A, as CD-DA, as magnetic tape >
> > Is the gist of this, then, that digital audio or image files
> > should be the same as other digital files (databases, spreadsheets,
> > alphanumeric documents, programs, etc.) unless/until they are
> > saved in analog form using the common formats for such?
> >
> > And, if so, should migration to analog form be ENcouraged or
> > DIScouraged...?
> >
> > Steven C. Barr
>
> Files is files is files ...
>
> CD-DA is *not* made of files; that's why the issues differ there.
>
> Migration to other forms is neither desirable nor undesirable; it's done
> when the occasion arises. But when the analogue form derives from the
> digital, the digital remains the better reference. The inverse may also
> be true but may not be: capturing a cylinder digitally means playing it
> implies degradation of the master and *may* therefore mean that a
> subsequent playing will be inferior to the digital copy.
>
Side thought...since all analog reproduction so far relies upon
mechanical contact with the recording, does not that mean that
ANY playing of an analog recording would involve some measurable
degredation of the object (recording) being played?

Steven C. Barr