Some will ask why it didn't get here sooner, but multi-channel audio has finally come to the world of MP3. The MP3 Surround files are, Franhofer says, only "marginally" larger, but obviously you'll need a Surround-capable decoder to get the 5.1 effect. You can get an evaluation version of the encoder now, which will expire on December 31.

Of course, most music is encoded in stereo, not surround, and there are plenty of codecs that support surround sound already. The best use I can think of for MP3 Surround? In ripped DVDs, where it'll be used with a cracked encoder anyway.

mp3 SURROUND Set for Launch [Yahoo]

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