The very same geeks behind the development of the mp3 back in 1993 have just pioneered a new file format for music players and it’s more than a bit cool.
MusicDNA as it is called will include tracks with lyrics, as well as social networking sites, videos, band tour dates, and much more. It will update automatically each time an internet connection is present and will apparently be backwards compatible with all existing mp3 players and Apple iPods.
The new file format was unveiled by Norwegian based company BACH Technology at the MIDEM music industry and at the head of the company is Dagfinn Bach who also worked on the development of the first mp3 player.
“Twenty years on from the initial development of the MP3, it is time for digital audio to once again evolve. Just as vinyl gave way to the CD and the CD to MP3, it is time for the MP3 to pass the baton on to MusicDNA,” said Mr Bach at MIDEM.
If he sounds confident then I suppose he’s every right to, this is exciting stuff.
“We can deliver a file that is extremely searchable and can carry up to 32GB of extra information in the file itself” said Bach.
“And it will be dynamically updatable so that every time the user is connected, his file will be updated”.
Record labels who have already signed up or who intend to in the very near future include Tommy Boy Entertainment, Beggars Group, Delta Records and Amiata Records but more are sure to follow, it’s early days yet.
As soon as the word was out the company website was swamped with tens of thousands of music lovers eager to know more and you know what happens if you get too many site visitors don’t you.
“Sorry, but due to the unprecedented number of hits we have received following the MusicDNA launch this weekend we have had to move our site onto another server” it says on the website.
“We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused, but we expect to have the site back up and running very shortly” they add.
BACH Technology, founded in 2007 is one of the leading providers of technology and applications for the digital music industry.
They plan to beta test the MusicDNA file format in the next few months and will officially launch it later in the year.
The cost of the file will be up to the retailer but Bach say they expect it to be around the same as current MP3s.
