Some Basic Background on MP3 Audio

Audio technology and media have developed over the past decades from vinyl records to magnetic tape-based audio cassettes to compact discs (CDs) and now have become fully digitized in the popular MP3 format.

"MP3" is the name of the file format of audio files that can be played on a computer and on portable audio players such as iPods. The MP3 files (*.mp3) are similar to Microsoft document (*.doc) files, portable document format (*.pdf), and picture/graphics files (*.jpg) in that they are all different types of files on computers that need their own software programs to be opened and used according to their various characteristics (i.e. read, heard, viewed).

Hence, in order to read Microsoft documents like a resume (e.g. "resume.doc"), we need to have a software program that is able to open that particular file type, like Microsoft Word. In order to read PDF documents like another resume (e.g. "resume2.pdf"), we need to have a program like Adobe Acrobat Reader. Sometimes, especially when the file format is very common, there are multiple software programs that can open that type of file. For instance, picture/graphic files in the common JPEG format (e.g. "sunset.jpg") can be opened by Microsoft Paint, Apple Preview, Adobe Photoshop, Microsoft Picture Viewer, FastStone Image Viewer, IrfanView Graphic Viewer, and a host of other programs.

MP3 files similarly need to be "opened" (i.e. played) by music software such as the common Windows Media Player for Windows computers, and iTunes for both Windows and Mac OS computers. All computers should have some software for listening to MP3 files.

The substantive advantages to receiving the MHAJ in MP3 format are 1) lower costs for us (and for the subscriber), since we don't have to pay for Compact Disc media and especially inflating mailing costs, 2) less environmental waste from packaging and other materials, 3) increased speed of delivery, as it takes less time to download the ~55MB of content than to receive the content by regular mail, 4) added versatility, as MP3 files can immediately be listened to on a computer, can quickly be downloaded onto portable MP3 players like iPods, and can also be burned onto CD media for listening in car stereos with CD players, and 5) easier backup and safekeeping, as it's harder to lose a computer than to lose a CD! The drawback, of course, is that if one is unfamiliar with this new technology, it can be daunting, and it does require some time to learn how to take advantage of the real benefits of the MP3 format.

How to Receive and Listen to MHA Content in MP3 Format
OUTDATED! See this CAQ for updated information regarding our new MP3 Store and Library system!

So far, we've discussed what MP3 files are, namely just another kind of file that can be played on a computer/portable MP3 player using music software. We've also touched on the benefits of the MP3 format (and thus the reasons why MHA offers the option), as well as noting the need make time for a learning curve. Fortunately, though, we're eager to guide you through the learning process.

When you subscribe to the MHAJ for the first time as an MP3 format subscriber, or if you renew/change over your subscription to MP3 format or purchase other MHA content in MP3 format, you currently provide contact information to MHA by which you receive emails from us.

This is important because "links" (i.e. text that can be clicked to access content through the internet) to download the content are sent to customers via email. That is, after purchasing content, you will shortly receive an email with instructions on how to download and open the content, as well as the links to click to access/download the content.

(Note: this email is different from the automatically generated email that is immediately sent upon order completion simply to confirm the receipt of the order.)

It is therefore important that you take note of emails from MHA and refrain from deleting them until you have successfully used the links provided to download the content from the internet.

Once you have the email, you should read it in its entirety (especially if you're unfamiliar with digital music technology). It contains instructions on how to "unzip" zip files as well as links to download the zip files, which contain the actual content. The content is packaged into zip files in order to reduce the number of files you need to download as well as to organize the MP3 files into sections to be burned onto CDs (if you should so desire). Think of zip files as "shopping bags" which allow easy transport of multiple items.

Windows XP, Vista and Mac OSX all have zip file reading capability built in, so no additional software is required. But if you don't have one of those operating systems, a zip reader software program may be necessary to unzip the zip files. You'll need to install one before you can open the zip files you download. A list of free zip reading utilities is here.

After making sure you have the capability to read zip files, click on the links to download all of the zip files. When the download finishes, double-click each zip file to use the zip reader program to view the contents of the zip file. (Or follow the directions the zip reader program gives you, and take note of the location the zip reader is unzipping the contents into).

In the archive, you should find a number of files with the extension ".mp3" (e.g. "MHAJ_085_5-Lawler.mp3"). Those are the MP3 files that you can listen to using our music player software. Select all the MP3 files, press Ctrl-C for Windows or Cmd-C for MacOS to copy the MP3 files, and then go to the folder you wish to store the MP3 files in and press Ctrl-V or Cmd-V to paste the MP3 files into the holding folder.

Open your default music player (e.g. iTunes, Windows Media Player) and press Ctrl-O for Windows or Cmd-O for MacOS to bring up a window to open the MP3 files. Navigate to the folder you stored the MP3 files in, and click the files you wish to open (to select multiple files, click-and-drag the mouse) and click "Open." The MP3 audio content should now be playing in the music player software! You may have to rearrange the order of the files to listen to the content chronologically.

In addition to the MP3 files, you can find other documentation back in the zip file in the form of PDF documents, usually named with variations of "ReadMe." These documentation provide instructions for additional processes, such as "burning" the MP3 files to an audio CD for use in CD players or importing the audio content into portable MP3 players.

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