Acts of Volition Radio: Session 22

Acts of Volition Radio: Session Twenty Two

This, the 22nd session of Acts of Volition Radio, was recorded the the safe-harbour of my office on a Saturday night. Meanwhile, back at my house (from which I was temporarily banished), my bride-to-be and her friends celebrated the waning days of her life as a single woman. The songs don’t really have anything to do that, but I thought I’d give you some context.

Songs from last stand of the bachlor. Recorded Saturday, July 16, 2005 by Steven Garrity. Run time: 53min.

Session Twenty Two Playlist:

  1. Mew – Am I Wry? No
  2. MxPx – Heard That Sound
  3. Coldplay – Fix You
  4. Pearl Jam – Baba O’Riley
  5. Catherine Wheel – Broken Nose
  6. Self – Sophomore Jinx
  7. Doves – There Goes The Fear
  8. U2 – Van Diemen’s Land

For more, see the previous Acts of Volition Radio sessions or subscribe to the Acts of Volition Radio RSS feed.

Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio: Session 22
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Live 8 in my Living Room

Every once and a while I get an insight into just how extraordinary much of the technology we take for granted actually is.

This Saturday morning in my living room in a small city in the northeastern tip of North America, I was walking around with my little laptop. The speakers on the laptop were playing the live audio of Bono and 200,000 people singing Unchained Melody in Hyde Park in London.

 

The Catch-22 of Open Format Adoption, Part 1: Music

We’re all familiar with the MP3 file format. As far as most people are concerned, the format implies free music. The software required to play MP3 files is usually free as well. That said, neither of these things necessarily follow from use of the MP3 format.

What most people don’t realize is that the MP3 format itself is not free. If you want to create a device or a piece of software that plays back or creates MP3 files, you have to pay Thomson Consumer Electronics for a license to do so.

Companies that sell products that support MP3 are paying Thomson for each sale. That means Microsoft Windows, Apple’s Mac OS X and iPod. This even applies to software that is free for the end-user to download, such as Apple’s iTunes or Winamp. That’s right – Winamp had to pay for a license for every copy of the player that all of us got to download for free.

What the heck is Ogg Vorbis?

There is an alternative format that is a technical match to MP3 that is not encumbered with patent or licensing issues. The Ogg Vorbis format is as good or better than MP3 and is completely free (both in terms of price and licensing).

Why, then, hasn’t Ogg Vorbis taken off? I see a few reasons for this. The first is that the term “MP3” became a brand name associated with free music. Companies involved in music-related products and services wanted to be able to say “MP3”.

Apple had the opportunity to make the move when they introduced iTunes and the iPod. Both are compatible with MP3, but the default format is AAC, something Apple presumably used for the ability to control playback (“digital rights management”).

So What?

The most significant reason that Ogg Vorbis didn’t overtake MP3 is that MP3 did what people wanted. End users weren’t paying the license fee. Winamp was free, iTunes was free. Why change?

We see the real problem with a non-free file format when free/open-source software starts to become more prevalent on the rest of the desktop. Completely free/open-source desktop Linux distributions cannot include support for MP3 playback, because they would have to track (and pay for) each download. As a result, Fedora, Ubuntu, Debian, and other popular Linux distributions can’t play a simple MP3 file out of the box. This is because the file is simple, but the lisencing is not.

Why Not Just Use Ogg Vorbis, Then?

What then, is a music publisher who cares about free and open software to do? I produce an amateur radio show made available for download in MP3 format. I would like to publish in Ogg Vorbis format, but a lot of my potential listeners would have to jump through hoops to be able to play the show.

Consider John Q. Listener. He’d like to listen to my radio show on his new iBook. However, iTunes doesn’t support Ogg Vorbis playback by default. A plug-in is available, but is he really going to go install it just to listen to my dorky little show? Even if John does find a way to play the Ogg Vorbis files on his laptop, he won’t be able to play them on his iPod. The same goes for overwhelming majority of computer users who are running Windows.

I want to support the open file format, but I also want people to listen to my show. I want people walking around with my favourite songs on their iPod. What am I to do? I have three options:

  1. Publish only in MP3 – This works for everyone but a small number of Linux users (most of whom know how to get MP3 playback for their Linux computers anyhow). Free file format be damned, John Q. Listener is walking around with my show on his iPod.
  2. Publish only in Ogg Vorbis – People learn about the format. Some may even find the software required to play it on the Mac or Windows PC. However, many (most?) people won’t bother listening since they don’t have support for the file format already installed. No one with an iPod can listen to it (unless they convert it to MP3, and it’s not that good of a show to be worth that kind of time and effort). The world is a better place, but I’ll never get famous this way…
  3. Publish two versions, one in MP3 and one in Ogg Vorbis – many online media outlets go this route with streaming formats (publishing simultaneously in Real, Windows Media, Quicktime formats) to ensure the widest possible reach. However, this adds a new layer of complexity for my John Q. Listener. Now, instead of just downloading and listening, he has to choose between two formats. He doesn’t care, he just wants to rawk. Also, much of the benefit of publishing in Ogg Vorbis is now lost, since only those who are already familiar with it and using it will bother choosing it as a format.

I went with option . I’m still not entirely comfortable with this, but I want as many people as possible to hear by show. Obviously, I’m not writing here with a clear recommendation. Rather, I hope to highlight the benefits and issues surrounding the move to free/open formats.

I’ll be writing more about the catch-22 of open formats, and with a bit more optimism, in the coming days.

The Catch-22 of Open Formats mini-series
  1. The Catch-22 of Open Format Adoption, Part 1: Music (you are here)
  2. The Catch-22 of Open Format Adoption, Part 2: Instant Messaging
  3. Part 3: Coming soon
 

Acts of Volition Radio: Session 21

Acts of Volition Radio: Session Twenty One

Many of you have likely seen the many weblog posts entitled “A Musical Baton” over the last few weeks. The chain-letter-like post asks the author to share a bit about the music they are enjoying, and pass the duty on to five more people. Having been passed the “baton” myself (thanks Garrett), I’ll let this, the 21st session of Acts of Volition Radio be my reply.

A Musical Baton. Recorded Saturday, May 29, 2005 by Steven Garrity. Run time: 55min.

Session Twenty One Playlist:

  1. Matt Mays & El Torpedo – Cocaine Cowgirl
  2. Stars – Your Ex-Lover Is Dead
  3. Nada Surf – Treading Water
  4. Simon & Garfunkel – The Only Living Boy In New York
  5. MxPx – Kings of Holleywood
  6. Mystery Machine – What I Want
  7. Pilate – Melt Into The Walls
  8. Extreme – Tragic Comic
  9. Ben Folds – Late

For more, see the previous Acts of Volition Radio sessions.

Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio: Session 21
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Acts of Volition Radio: Session 20

Acts of Volition Radio: Session Twenty

The 20th session of Acts of Volition Radio is a collection of hard rock and punk songs. This session runs a bit longer and rocks a bit harder than previous sessions. It may rock your ass off.

Music that rocks hard. Recorded Saturday, April 24, 2005 by Steven Garrity. Run time: 1hr11min.

Session Twenty Playlist:

  1. The Living End – Prisoner of Society
  2. Billy Talent – River Below
  3. Chevelle – The Red
  4. Deftones – Change (In The House Of Flies)
  5. Poor Old Lu – My World Falls Down
  6. Radiohead – Palo Alto
  7. Catherine Wheel – Lifeline
  8. Jimmy Eat World – A Praise Chorus
  9. Rancid – Ruby Soho
  10. Decendents – Lucky
  11. P.O.D. – Boom
  12. MxPx – The Theme Fiasco
  13. Extreme – Flight of the Wounded Bumblebee
  14. Extreme – When I’m President
  15. Extreme – Play With Me

For more, see the previous Acts of Volition Radio sessions.

Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio: Session 20
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Acts of Volition Radio: Session 19

Acts of Volition Radio: Session Nineteen

The nineteenth session of Acts of Volition Radio includes some new songs I’ve discovered recently, and some older material that you might not have heard before. I had a cold when I was recording it, so pardon the nasal tone.

Newly discovered and recently rediscovered songs. Recorded Sunday, March 20, 2005 by Steven Garrity. Run time: 40 min.

Session Nineteen Playlist:

  1. Snow Patrol – Run
  2. Bright Eyes – Arc of Time
  3. Mir – So Perfect
  4. Our Lady Peace – Naveed
  5. Copyright – Transfiguration
  6. Mike Knott – Deaf and Dumb

For more, see the previous Acts of Volition Radio sessions.

Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio: Session 19
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Music licensing keeping shows from DVD

A few years ago, I started a small petition on this site for the release of the Northern Exposure television series on DVD. I am mocked to this days by my friends and co-workers, and justifiably so, for having undertaken a cause of such massive dorkitude.

Since then, completely unrelated to my embarrassing crusade, Universal has released Season One and Season Two of the show.

Fellow die-hard Northern Exposure fan, Art Pattison, posted an update after the second season DVD release in a reply here Acts of Volition:

“The latest word on commercial releases by Universal is that since they did such a poor job on Season 2, by substituting much of the music which needed (expensive?) copyright approval by the artists with elevator muzak, many fans are complaining to Universal about what they call “fraud” (since the music is such an integral part of the story lines). As a result, Universal may not issue any more releases of our beloved Northern Exposure. Too bad! We would all lose if this happened!”

Another disappointed fan writes:

“Something was vaguely dissapointing about it and then I realised it was the annoying music which quite often simply fails to synch with the scenes in a convincing manner. Now it is hard to enjoy watching it once you realise what has been done.”

Apparently, the issue of licensing music for DVD releases of TV series’ goes far beyond Northern Exposure. Wired News writes about how Copyrights Keep TV Shows off DVD.

It’s sad to see a copyright issue holding back the release of shows that people want to watch and own. I’m not sure if it’s the television studios, the record companies, or both that are most to blame. Regardless, they’ll all lose out when they realize that fans will go underground and get copies of the original shows, soundtrack and all, without paying a cent to the record companies or studios.

 

East Coast Music Award winners on Acts of Volition Radio

As I watched the East Coast Music Awards (ECMA) on CBC Television tonight, it occurred to me that I should put together an ECMA themed session of Acts of Volition Radio. Then it occurred to me that I’ve already played most of the songs that such a session would include.

  • Gordie Sampson won five ECMAs last night. I played his song, Sunburn, which he played last night and for which he won Songwritter of the Year in Session 15.
  • The Trews won Group of the Year and performed with Big Sugar singer/guitarist Gordie Johnson, who produced their record. I played their song Tired of Waiting in Session 13.
  • Joel Plaskett performed and won Rock recording of the Year. I played his song Work Out Fine from the winning record, Truthfully Truthfully in Session 10. I also played a song by Joel Plaskett’s old band, Thrush Hermit in that session. Thrush Hermit were nominated for Alternative Recording of the Year in 1995.
  • I’ve also played quite a few former ECMA winners:
    • I played Sandbox in Session 16 and Session 4. They were nominated in 1996 for Album of the Year (Bionic) and Song of the Year (Curious – played in Session 16).
    • Sloan wasn’t up for anything this year, but Chris Murphy introduced his old friend Joel Plaskett. Since 1993, Sloan has won 5 ECMAs and have had 31 nominations. Sloan are featured in Session 11, Session 3, and Session 2.
    • Matt Mays, who I played in Session 7 was also not up for anything this year, but had 6 nominations and won New Artist of the Year in 2004.
    • The Inbreds, played in Session 10 were nominated for Alternative Recording of the Year in 1998.
    • Buck 65, featured in Session 9, has had four nominations and won Urban Recording of the Year in 2003 and Alternative Recording of the Year in 2004.
    • Eyes for Telescopes were nominated for Alternative Recording of the Year in 2003 and 2004 Session 3. This session also included The Rude Mechanicals, who haven’t had any nominations (yet), but have played at ECMA showcases.

One band I haven’t played yet, but will probably include in my next session is Mir. They have had three ECMA nominations and did a fantastic performance at last night’s ECMAs. Also, Tim Chaisson, who’s track I played in Session 12, hasn’t won any ECMAs yet. I’d be willing to bet that he’ll have a mantle full of them in a few years.

 

Acts of Volition Radio: Session 18

Acts of Volition Radio: Session Eighteen The eighteenth session of Acts of Volition Radio is a collection of some old songs, some new songs, and an appeal to help me track down the composer of one of the songs.

A collection of songs old and new. Recorded Thursday, January 13, 2005 by Steven Garrity. Run time: 47 min.

Session Eighteen Playlist:

  1. My Morning Jacket – One Big Holiday
  2. Pure – The Hammock
  3. The Innocence Mission – Lakes of Canada
  4. The Dell Griffiths – Annakin
  5. Joy Electric and Starflyer 59 – Blue Collar Love
  6. Joe Christmas – Scrabble Girl

For more, see the previous Acts of Volition Radio sessions.

Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio
Acts of Volition Radio: Session 18
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