About The Sound Files
Q. What is the bit rate and sampling rate for your MP3 files?

A. They are mono files, 22.05 KHz, 40 Kbs, and approximately 900KB to download. Discographical information (title, performer/vocalist, record label and number, and date) is included in each file in an ID3v2 tag.


Q. Wait, wait, wait! The experts say that the bare minimum rates should be 44 KHz and 128 Kbs - you must be making files with ugly noisy artifacts!

A. Well, the "experts" would be correct if I were encoding stereo high-fidelity files, but the source material simply doesn't require those settings. Remember that in stereo the 44 KHz refers to a left and right channel, each 22.05 KHz. The 78s were recorded in mono, I do noise reduction in mono, and absolutely nothing is accomplished by creating a stereo file with the same signal on both tracks! Also remember that most early recordings fall considerably short of 12 KHz in the top of their frequency range, so I *could* get away with an even smaller bandwidth, but that makes it difficult to upconvert the file if one wants to put it on an audio CD.

After long experimentation, I've found that the 40 Kbs bit rate produces a good-sounding file at a relatively small file size. That's important to you because the files download quickly, and it's important to me because when I release 15 new files (that's 15 files times 900 KB = 13.5 megabytes) and 500 people download the files (assuming each person downloads each file only once), 6.75 *gigabytes* of data flow from my server each month. It can get ugly - and expensive!


Q. My, you do go on about *downloading* the file! When I click on the file, it plays - isn't that downloading the file?

A. No, it most certainly isn't! Well, technically, it is - when you left-click on a file, your browser does indeed download the file, but into a more-or-less hidden directory called the browser cache, whereupon the browser tells whatever player is specified for MP3 files where to find it to play it. At some point, your browser cache fills up and the files get deleted, and so if you click on the file name again, the browser downloads another copy of the file from my server. The file isn't available to any other program you might want to use to play it, you have to be connected to the internet to listen to it, and after two months the file is removed from the server, never to be downloaded again!

It's much better to create a directory/folder on your hard drive and permanently download the files to it. Just create the directory/folder anywhere on your hard drive that's convenient (please don't ask me how to do that - you really should know - do a search on google.com if you must!) and right-click on the link in the pop-up window on the Recordings page. You'll see a menu - choose "Save target as..." or "Save link as...". It will ask you where you want to save the file - choose the directory/folder you created previously. There! You're done! The file is safely saved to your hard drive, ready to be played whenever you want, by whatever program you want - just drag the files to your player. My server, which has had to send the data only once to you, thanks you!


Q. Why is there an MP3 Archive CD?

A. Over the years, I have restored almost 500 recordings, and I can't possibly store them all online for the folks who have just discovered the site. The MP3 archive CD is a means for people to "catch up" and have all of the previous files. If you purchase the archive CD and *download* (see the entry just above) each new file, you'll have everything right at your fingertips - there is no need to buy another MP3 Archive CD at a later date.


Q. Why don't you use Ogg Vorbis, AAC, Windows Media, RealMedia, etc. to encode the files?

A. It's simple - the MP3 format is ubiquitous! There is software to play MP3 files on every major and minor operating system out there. Plus, I'll shut the site down before I use a RealMedia product - I will not allow that bug-ridden spyware on my computer!


Q. I can do anything I want with these files, right?

A. Nope! By downloading any of the files, you agree to the following restrictions: You may not package, repackage, distribute, redistribute or BROADCAST the files in any way, shape or form. You may not edit the files, remove any of the tag information, or decode and re-encode the files. Now, there are some common-sense exceptions to the rules: if you want to put the files on a tape or CD for your Mom to listen to (or for you to listen to), that's perfectly OK. What's not OK is putting the files on tapes or CDs to sell to your record-collecting buddies, or uploading them to another site, or selling them on eBay, or broadcasting them in any way. If I find that someone has violated these rules, I'll shut the site down immediately. These files are for your personal enjoyment only, and if you want to put them to special use, just ask me first, OK?

These files are NOT in the public domain - yes, they are old, but because of my restorations to each file, they are legally considered a new work - *my* work. I have no say over the use of the original recordings, but I have absolute say over any use of my restorations. Yes, I do expect you to play fairly!