MP3Pro, the new version of MP3, tunes in

The creators of the original MP3 format, now a decade old, have launched an updated version of the codec which promises more CD-like sound quality in a smaller file.

Thomson Multimedia and the Fraunhofer Institute, the companies responsible for creating the most popular music storage format on the web, yesterday released MP3Pro.

The updated format claims to offer near perfect sound quality in a file half the size of current MP3s.

Although the release is limited, with full functionality available to companies licensing the codec at around $7.50 per device, it includes a ripper for users to play with, allowing songs to be pulled from CDs.

MP3Pro claims to offer "parity or better" in terms of quality with Microsoft's rival music encoder, Windows Audio 8.

Like Windows Audio 8, MP3Pro records at 64Kbits per second but also allows two minutes of music to be stored in one megabyte of space, about half the size of current MP3s.

Unlike the original codec, MP3Pro also has a second track which includes the high-frequency sounds omitted in the original, allowing for better quality recording.

However, older MP3 players will still not be able to pick up this second stream: an MP3Pro compatible player is needed to hear the better quality sounds.

The new format still doesn't include any form of copy protection, an omission that made the original MP3 format so popular because of tools such as Napster. Thompson has said it is toying with the idea if it becomes the only way to appease the recording industry.

Users have expressed some concern over the MP3Pro format, however, saying it will receive competition from other codecs such as Vorbis.

"It's horribly patent encumbered, and even more expensive than MP3 to licence," said one user.

"At least we have Ogg Vorbis to make up for it. Sure, it may not be quite so small, but at least it's completely free, and storage isn't so much of an issue these days."

The MP3Pro codec can be downloaded here.

See also:

Open source rival challenges MP3

Ogg Vorbis considered by many to be a superior technology.  14 Aug 2001

Microsoft U-turn means MP3 support

Microsoft has changed its mind about not supporting the MP3 format on Windows XP.  16 Jul 2001

MP3Pro hits 600,000 downloads

In the first two weeks of its release, the next-generation MP3 codec, MP3Pro, has been downloaded more than 600,000 times, according to its creators Thompson Multimedia.  28 Jun 2001

'Free' audio compression launched

Hot on the heels of the MP3Pro format, this weekend saw the release of Ogg Vorbis, the free-licence equivalent of MP3 and the open source community's champion for audio compression.  18 Jun 2001

Windows XP may ditch MP3 encoding

It is still unclear whether the final version of Microsoft's flagship Windows XP will include full support for MP3s, as the latest beta has had MP3 encoding removed.  13 Jun 2001

Napster: A musical revolution online

Napster, the website, was built as a central host for users wishing to swap MP3 music files. It has sparked an almighty legal battle over its legitamacy and has changed the way people obtain music.  01 May 2001

Kodak camera plays MP3 music

Is it a digital camera? Is it an MP3 player? Is it a digital video camera? Kodak claims its latest gadget, the mc3, is all three.  13 Feb 2001

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