The book begins by showing you why MP3 is one of the best digital music formats. For one thing, most MP3 encoded music is legally free of charge. And because it's completely digital, an MP3 file loaded into a handheld player won't skip while you exercise the way CDs can. On the software side, the book focuses on playing MP3s with Winamp. It also covers Virtuosa Gold and MusicMatch Jukebox for ripping, i.e., encoding music files into the MP3 format.

The book devotes more space to the Diamond Rio PMP300 than any other piece of MP3 hardware, but it does an evenhanded job of exploring the other MP3 players available. Perhaps more importantly, the book explains little hardware hacks, such as using a cassette-deck adapter to connect your MP3 device to your car stereo (though it might also have included information on connecting a PC's sound card to a home stereo). About a third of this book is a directory of musicians who have given permission for their MP3 music to appear on the book's companion CD-ROM. --David Wall

Product Description

You've recently found the Stratocaster you had for your garage band in high school. Uncle Jed's banjo and strumming talent have been passed down to you. Puberty has ended, and your once-shrill voice has turned into an angelic, swooning lullaby-maker that you want the world to hear. Or maybe you've just been unsuccessful at getting your tape heard by recording executives who can't even tap along with chopsticks. Get even. Get heard. Get electronic. Get The Complete Idiot's Guide to MP3: Music on the Internet. This light-hearted guide not only shows you the best way to listen to countless artists and their tunes on the Internet, but also reveals the best ways to get your own opus on the market.

Also too, there's a long section on MP3's and the law, what's legal and what isn't about them. The author makes a good case for why "pirating" MP3's are not a good idea, but points out the music industry isn't making any attempt to hold down prices for music to the consumers, hence the popularity in downloading MP3's off the 'Net. There's also a glossary of terms in the back of the book, a reference card in the book's front listing MP3 reference sites, MP3 software sites, and sources for MP3 recordings.

This book although now a bit dated offers a good introductory look at MP3's.


Worth the 20 bucks, for sure. But don't stop here!   November 30, 2001
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

[...] This book is written by TWO authors: Rod Underhill of MP3.com, and Nat Gertler (who has written many other Complete Idiot's Guide and computer books). They each have their own slant. The book is DEFINITELY a big plug for MP3.com as an internet entity on the world wide web for online music (...). ... There is a lot of information in the book about MP3s in general as well as MP3.com - the company - in particular. So, in this case, it's a cool plug. There is also a good deal of REPETITION in the book. For instance, what it says in the "ROD SPEAKS" box on page 160 about LYCOS falling into Copyright Trouble is almost EXACTLY stated in slightly different wording on page 172 in the "JAM ON THIS" box where the heading is called: "Lycos Moves into Tricky Waters."

... The authors also have included a humorous and healthy dose of democratic debate between each other as is evident on page 170 in the "NAT SPEAKS" box called: "THE ACT STINKS" where Nat Gertler CORRECTLY, I believe, clarifies the corporate unfairness of the 1992 AUDIO HOME RECORDING ACT of favoring big corporate interests over the consumer. Nat says: "My beloved co-author Rod, who wrote most of this chapter, isn't nasty enough towards the Audio Home Recording Act. This new tax (signed into law by Mr. "No New Taxes" himself, George Bush) has ugly causes and ugly effects: ... New taxes, weaker copyright, crippled and expensive technology, all in the name of funding international multimedia conglomerates. This act is a loser all around." ... BRAHVO, Nat! ... Spoken like a true Sociologist! ... YOWZA! - The Aeolian Kid


Good book for begginers....   April 11, 2000
 1 out of 1 found this review helpful

This book, I would recommend to a musician or just someone wanting to know about mp3's. The book has enough information, while the reader not needing to be a super - geek.

The book covers most issues on mp3's, like, legal info, hardware, software (as the book comes with a CD, with all the major mp3 software), how to get you music online, were to get music, why to bother with mp3s, and a good history of mp3's.

The book also devotes 60+ pages giving musician's opinions, and how mp3's got the musicians success and with their music, on the CD.

I found this book to be very helpful, but not for any professional recording use.


Some good info for musicians but a little hard to read   December 18, 1999
 2 out of 5 found this review helpful

This book has lots of good information for musicians and novice users. Unfortunately, the "Idiots" format makes the book hard to read.