This section of the FAQ answers general questions about MP3 on Usenet.

What is an MP3?

MP3 is another name for a layer-3 MPEG. It is a sound compression format that can create near CD-quality sound files while maintaining a small file size. For more technical information on the MP3 format look in Links.

What does this FAQ answer questions about?

This FAQ answers questions that get asked in the alt.binaries.sounds.mp3 groups (AKA the absm.* hierarchy) on Usenet.

The absm.* hierarchy has a couple of groups that are intended for the posting of text: alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.d (the discussion group) and alt.binaries.sounds.mp3.requests (the purpose of which is pretty obvious). But the rest of the groups are intended for the posting of binaries - MP3s. The "main" group is alt.binaries.sounds.mp3, and the rest of the groups are categorized by musical genre or the decade the songs were released.

What about other Usenet MP3 groups?

There are quite a few, but they are not well-populated or well-organized. There are a couple of important exceptions. The alt.binaries.sounds.country.mp3 is not inside the absm.* hierarchy, but it is more popular than the group that is. And for songs that were recorded before 1950 there exists a group called alt.binaries.sounds.78rpm-era. It is "for the posting of binary files from the beginning of recorded sound to the end of the age of 78 records in the late fifties." Appropriate MP3s are welcome there.

Why aren't there more genre groups?

There are way over 100 genre groups. Many (or most) are spam traps that were created by enthusiasts and then abandoned and forgotten. ISP servers often don't carry the full range of groups that are out there. If you get a premium news server, you probably will find almost any genre you can imagine already exists. Yes, you can always create a new one, but that is usually a waste of time and energy. The "right" way to do it is to propose the group's creation in alt.config. Many people don't bother. Ask around, and do what you feel is right.

What else is good to know about absm.*?

There are many software applications and utilities involved in the playing, encoding, decoding, posting, and retrieving of MP3s. This FAQ is not meant to be a primer for the use of any particular software. The exceptions are those that either relate to "frequently asked questions" in the discussion group, or other helpful tips that might not be readily found elsewhere.

With all newsgroups it is a common and recommended practice to "lurk." This means that you follow the newsgroup, watching and learning, before you begin posting. Posting is not required. There is no "ratio" or required "trading" in the absm.* newsgroups. "Leeching" is completely acceptable.

This FAQ is intended as general guidance for the entire hierarchy. Some newsgroups in the alt.binaries.sounds.mp3 hierarchy have charters that are of particular interest for those who use those newsgroups. You may want to check them out at ftp://ftp.isc.org/usenet/control/alt/ (be patient - there are a lot of charters there, and the page takes a while to load). When in doubt, follow the guidance in the group's charter.

If you are new to Usenet, or to binary newsgroups in particular, there are a number of basic FAQs that may help you:

http://abmefaq.net <== a MUST read. Basics of Usenet and binary newsgroups. Take a look. Look soon. It looks like it may be shutting down.

http://www.geocities.com/tick1845a/bin_help.htm The Definitive Answer to Downloading and Viewing alt.binaries <== If you have questions about how to get the MP3 files from the newsgroup down to your personal computer, look here for help.

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/primer/part1/ A Primer on How to Work With the Usenet Community

http://www.faqs.org/faqs/usenet/what-is/part1/ What is Usenet?