ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION:
AUDIO/RADIO: NEW TOOLS FOR DELIVERY
Friday, March 27, 1998, 1:30-2:45 p.m.

FACILITATORS: ELIZABETH COHEN, President, Cohen Acoustical Inc., Los Angeles, and CAROL PARKINSON, Executive Director, Harvestworks By: Claude Meyer

This roundtable discussion focused on music distribution on the Internet, technology for sound delivery, and standards for audio delivery over the Internet. Cohen, who is a past president of the Audio Engineering Society as well as an acoustics expert and concert hall designer, noted that while the Internet is currently a great advertising medium for individual producers, the technology for sound delivery still compromises much of the work. General discussion around this point revealed general agreement on this point, but underscored the potential of such work to be delivered over the Internet in an acceptable – if less than perfect – way. Cohen also noted the importance of producers’ having a voice in how Internet 2 (available mostly to University users) is being developed for sound/audio/radio. Insisting on the highest standards now, she noted, will have a long-term positive effect.

Carol Parkinson, executive director of Harvestworks, cofacilitated this session for Don Druker of the U.S Department of Commerce’s Telecommunications Information & Infrastructure Assistance Program (TIIAP), who was unable to attend. Discussion focusing on this agency’s work highlighted TIIAP’s role in developing new standards for Internet broadcast. The Program was characterized by Cohen as “Keeper of the Bandwidth” and she noted that the Program’s grants were focused on community development on the Net.

A detailed discussion about the development of standards for sound reproduction on the Net followed. Cohen pointed out that audio traditionally takes a backseat to video, and while Digital Video and HDTV is developed with consistently higher emerging standards, “digital” audio quality remains a myth. In fact, she noted, the bandwidth for audio is still far less than what is actually needed to maintain the integrity of most work. The question, which emerged from this point, was, “What can artists do to insure that audio work is of decent quality?” TIIAP is among the organizations interested in addressing this issue and is committed to helping shape the dialogue around it. Parkinson underscored that this is an especially critical moment in the development of new distribution models.

Archiving is another important area that needs careful attention. The quality of work produced today will be important as the technology is developed. There was general agreement around the room that it’s important to make the highest quality masters to insure that the work will be playable in the future.

“Audio is happening on the Net” said one participant. It’s not perfect, but it’s happening.” There are 400 radio stations on the Net right now.

The facilitators suggested several relevant sites, including: the Federal Communications Commission (start at http://www.newspage.com and then dig); the Acoustical Engineering Society (http://www.aes.org); Massachusetts Institute of Technology (http://www.mit.edu) for a list of Internet radio stations; TIIAP (http://www.ntia.doc.gov; netpeople@ntia.doc.gov); also check TIIAP grant recipient Charlotte’s Web’s site(http://www.charweb.org/home.html).