The End Of MP3 Files Is Here As They Are Being Discontinued

Music, such a fundamental aspect of life. It helps us feel good, it gives us company when we are sad and it definitely works as the soundtrack of our lives. So, in order to make this happen, we take music everywhere, on our phones, iPods and so on. As we got our favorite tunes on MP3 formats. But it seems that this easy and norm-format is coming to an end, after almost two decades of a total dominance. Since it’s getting replaced by some new and more effective codecs. Something that won’t affect too much most streaming and music companies, since they already use these newer and better formats.

Without a doubt, the impact the MP3 had on the music and audio industries were huge. As it led to the digitalization of music and allowed Apple Inc. to become the dominant force in music distribution that it’s today. Even though they’re established nowaday as Apple Music. Allowing hundreds of persons to download and stream music, carrying it on their iPod, iPad or iPhone. Making music much more accessible to the masses. While also helping hundreds of artists to get noticed in an easier way.

Counting the days

The widely used digital audio coding format that has been very prevalent over the last couple of decades or so has its days counted. The developers have officially terminated its licensing program. The clever digital audio coding format, changed the way we listen to music forever, changing even the music industry. As it made us create and use countless new devices, widespread music beyond the usual CD, cassette or vinyl. Allowing us to take music literally to everywhere at any time.

The developer of the format, The Fraunhofer Institute announced the symbolic “death” of the MP3 a few days ago. They’re the main organization responsible for licensing the encoders and decoders who has the right to patents to software developers who want to “distribute and/or sell decoders and/or encoders,” said they had officially terminated its licensing program late last month. As the “obituary” for the format was accompanied by a statement.

“Although there are more efficient audio codecs with advanced features available today, mp3 is still very popular amongst consumers. However, most state-of-the-art media services such as streaming or TV and radio broadcasting use modern ISO-MPEG codecs such as the AAC family or in the future MPEG-H. Those can deliver more features and a higher audio quality at much lower bitrates compared to mp3.”

This decision is quite symbolic, due to the huge impact the MP3 had on a modern day culture and way of living. But it’s how technology, and society, works. As it evolves changing and developing a more effective substitute or a newer way to satisfy something. Like when manufacturers start installing CD-ROMs instead of floppy drives, and then moved the DVD-ROMs, that currently are practically obsolete. Due to the digital revolution that the MP3 was part of.

Still breathing and kicking

Logically this doesn’t mean the format will stop existing from the night to the morning. It will still be around for a number of years since the format is still used in many existing devices until it begins to slowly discontinue. Until the newer formats to become the standard and supported platforms and devices stop existing. Sadly the MP3 will unlike have a nostalgic hipster revive, like the vinyl or the cassette. Not only due to its digital format but because the modern and newer audio formats trash its predecessor’s quality.

Along with that, Apple Inc. played a huge part in the digital music revolution. Since the release of the iPod, being filled by iTunes transformed the music business and the way we listen to it on 2001. But Apple moved on and started offering support for the superior AAC (Advanced Audio Coding), that was also developed in part by The Fraunhofer Institute in 2003. Making it easier to download audio files and improving the quality and features, while keeping similar bit rates.

The AAC has been standardized by ISO and IEC, as part of the MPEG-2 and MPEG-4 specifications. Allowing technical newcomers to join the cyber age. Also, the AAC format is pointing out to become the new standard for the digital audio format. This change of format really means little to the music industry, who has already figured out how to cash out the digital format. So they won’t have to adapt to anything new, or anytime soon.

Along with that some researchers, at the Audio Engineering Library, have even suggested that its compression of the MP3 can make music sound “more depressing”. Since its compression reinforces neutral and negative emotions and characteristics of songs, and even in musical instruments. Also having detriment of positive emotional characteristics.