The other father of MP3

[EERecordist]

This article summarizes the role of 2 engineers in the invention of perceptual audio coding in the form of MP3. Fraunhofer Labs tells their story early, often, and loudly. There is more to it.

(It is not my Substack or article) It is from https://roguesgalleryprog.substack.com/. They write about pop music and the music business.

The Other Father of MP3

James D. Johnston spent 26 years at Bell Labs building the technology that became MP3. Then history forgot him. Version 1.1 — Updated January 16, 2026

substack.com

(I have retold the Fraunhofer version with Suzanne Vega many times. Corrected now, I can include it in my "everything was invented at Bell Labs" story.)

 

[solderdude]

I'm still amused when people come on here and start a debate with @j_j about aspects of perception thinking they know more about that subject because they can clearly hear this or that.

 

[Salt]

Looked up the 'english' version at Wikipedia ... that was pretty smooth ... all the 'american style' ... prosesses concerning patents were mentioned in the german version ....

 

[DWPress]

I'm still amused when people come on here and start a debate with @j_j about aspects of perception thinking they know more about that subject because they can clearly hear this or that.

I was thinking the same thing earlier....