Mongomusic already categorizes music. They have a fairly large database (100K+ songs) which was created in part using DSP technology. You can search by genre, listen to a personalized music stream or find similar sounding songs, albums and artists.
I was skeptical but it actually works quite well. Even better, they're an open source shop through and through: Apache, mod_perl, mysql, etc.
It's true that most hardcore traders have ignored MP3, much in the same way MiniDisc is shunned by most collectors. As an avid taper who has spent $4k+ on my recording rig I wouldn't think of mutilating my DATs with the flawed MP3 codec. Sure MP3s are convenient for listening to the latest one-hit wonder but most Dead traders are accustomed to going to great lengths to spread their music, they'd prefer to wait just a little bit longer for music that sounds better than analog. MP3 doesn't sound much better than analog to my ears.
On the other hand, full PCM audio is taking off on the internet. My cohorts and I employ a string of ftp sites to spread shortened CD-R images. Lossless trading is very much a reality for us and there is no direct compensation. But as with the Open Source Software community, most people involved contribute to the scene. People host disks (thanks proftpd), do DAT > CDR conversions (*nod* pinlinux) or they burn CDRs for those without fat bandwidth. Of course, just as with OSS, there are always those who do not give back (especially the newer, more mainstream crop) but these people are the exception. I would think slashdotters especially would be understanding of the costs and time involved in this endevor of love.
Slashdot Mirror
I was skeptical but it actually works quite well. Even better, they're an open source shop through and through: Apache, mod_perl, mysql, etc.
It's true that most hardcore traders have ignored MP3, much in the same way MiniDisc is shunned by most collectors. As an avid taper who has spent $4k+ on my recording rig I wouldn't think of mutilating my DATs with the flawed MP3 codec. Sure MP3s are convenient for listening to the latest one-hit wonder but most Dead traders are accustomed to going to great lengths to spread their music, they'd prefer to wait just a little bit longer for music that sounds better than analog. MP3 doesn't sound much better than analog to my ears.
On the other hand, full PCM audio is taking off on the internet. My cohorts and I employ a string of ftp sites to spread shortened CD-R images. Lossless trading is very much a reality for us and there is no direct compensation. But as with the Open Source Software community, most people involved contribute to the scene. People host disks (thanks proftpd), do DAT > CDR conversions (*nod* pinlinux) or they burn CDRs for those without fat bandwidth. Of course, just as with OSS, there are always those who do not give back (especially the newer, more mainstream crop) but these people are the exception. I would think slashdotters especially would be understanding of the costs and time involved in this endevor of love.