Re: Found it! - MP3 hardware add-on

["Brown, Andy [Infrastructure]" <AndyB@xxxxxxx>]

....although, I've just been to the web site and it says it's currently
only
available in the US :(

I've requested more info about getting one in the UK and will let you know.

Andy

> -----Original Message-----
> From:	Brown, Andy [Infrastructure] [SMTP:AndyB@xxxxxxx]
> Sent:	Monday, January 31, 2000 11:42 AM
> To:	'ukha_d@xxxxxxx'
> Subject:	[ukha_d] Re: Found it! - MP3 hardware add-on
>
> Found this review in the mp3 newsgroup.  Think I'll try and get one!
>
> Andy
>
> ---------------
>
> it arrived last week.  but without linux drivers so it sat here,
unused,
> waiting patiently.
>
> today I finally received an email from the lp3 folks with the driver
> sourcecode attached.  it didn't build successfully out-of-the-box on
the
> latest redhat 6.1 linux - but it only took 15minutes of hacking to fix
> things up.  I can provide the patches to the 1.0 driver dist for those
who
> are interested.
>
> after the build, you end up with an actual kernel loadable module and
a
> device (/dev/lp3-0).  you had to have configured the lp.o device
properly,
> first (parport and lp devices, etc).
>
> there's a client interface to this device.  it takes commands like:
>
>  -------------------------------------------------------------
>  % ./lp3client 0 -h
>  Usage: lp3client portnum [options]
>    portnum is the parport number to use.
>    [options] are one or more of:
>    -vol <x>      -bal <x>      -bass <x>    -treb
<x>   -play <file>
> -stop
> -pause        -resume
>    -seek <x>    -id          -kill        -help
>
>    "-id" prints the lp3 ID string.
>    "-kill" kills the daemon process.
>
>    All options may be abbreviated.
>  -------------------------------------------------------------
>
>  so to play a file, you'd do something like:
>
>  % ./lp3client 0 -play
> /mp3/Rock/Grateful_Dead/GD/First_Album/Morning_Dew.mp3
>
>
> like they say on their web page, this seems to incur next to zero load
on
> the host cpu - the hardware device handles all the real work of mp3
> decoding.  in case it wasn't clear, this is ONLY a decoder.  it
assumes
> you
> already have an mp3 encoder of your own and/or a bunch of .mp3 files.
>
> according to the manuf., 192k is the highest bitrate they can handle.
I
> tried a 256k file and it played for a few seconds then started
skipping
> ;-(
> so I'll trust that they're right and that 192k is the highest they'll
> handle.  but the sound quality at 192 with this device is simply
stunning.
>
> the audio quality is the best I've heard to-date.  no noise/hum to
speak
> of,
> very clean and crisp treble range with ultra low distortion all
around.
> without doing more quantitative testing, I would assume the only way
to
> better the sound would be to use a digital audio
interconnect/soundcard
> and
> an outboard hi-end DAC.  and for $99 for this little lp3 unit, you
can't
> beat the sound quality.  I think that 192k via BLADE encoder and this
> little
> dongle will keep me happy for quite a while.
>
> the only system requirement that is hard and fast is that you need a
> parallel printer port to connect this thing to and a spare AC outlet
to
> connect its pwr supply to.
>
> I predict this little box will be the engine of many hobbiest mp3
systems.
> the pricepoint is a bit high but considering its somewhat of a
specialty
> item (not mass-market focused like a Rio player) its not too
unreasonable.
> if they ever get the price point down to $49 or so, I bet they'll make
a
> serious dent in the mp3 decoder market share.
>
>
> (ob disc: I am not connected with the company; just a customer.)
>
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From:	Paul Gordon [SMTP:paul_gordon@xxxxxxx]
> > Sent:	Tuesday, January 25, 2000 9:58 AM
> > To:	ukha_d@xxxxxxx
> > Subject:	[ukha_d] Found it! - MP3 hardware add-on
> >
> > This is what I was talking about earlier:
> >
> >   <http://software.mp3.com/software/individual/other/plugin/2334.html>
> >
> > Review:
> >
> >
> > Company Hype:
> > lp3 is an add-on for your PC that allows you to play your
favorite MP3
> > music files while running other programs, without the slowdown,
skipping
> > or stuttering of a software-only player. Any PC can now play MP3s
> without
> > slowing down.
> >
> > Since lp3 does the complex MP3 audio decoding on a dedicated
processor,
> > your computer can do other things faster, like browse the
Internet,
> > display documents, calculate spreadsheets, resize images and
compile
> code.
> >
> >
> > How It Works
> >
> > lp3 works as a Winamp plug-in so you can keep using your favorite
> > playlists and familiar Winamp controls as before. lp3 also works
with
> > Linux and DOS.
> >
> > In addition, lp3 has a built-in buffer to keep your music playing
when
> > your computer slows down. No more dropouts or skipping when
running
> > complex tasks.
> >
> > lp3 connects to your parallel port and has a convenient
pass-through
> port
> > for your printer or Zip drive. No sound card is required. It's
easy to
> > install. Just plug it in!
> >
> > Price: $99
> >
> >
> >
> >   _____
> >
> >  <http://click.egroups.com/1/338/3/_/2065/_/948794422/>
> > eGroups.com Home: <http://www.egroups.com/group/ukha_d>
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> > communications
> >  << File: MP3.com Software.url >>
>
>
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