Extract from Reality Check Network 26: 1st September, 1996
Interview with Mindrape (DAC)

r e a l i t y   c h e c k   n e t w o r k

Reporter : Rebel Chicken             Interviewee : Mindrape
Subject  : Hearing the N/A?          Affiliation : DAC Founder

RCN█: The warez scene has recently split off into a music scene when CDA
(Compress Da Audio) started releasing top music singles.  Shortly
after CDA was created, I found that you started DAC (Digital Audio
Crew).  What is DAC?  Is DAC a spin-off of CDA?  The acronym of
both groups sound almost the same.

DAC█: DAC does the same thing as CDA.  We pirate CD Audio.  Although CDA
seems to be pirating the latest MTV tunes, which is great.  I have
lots of requests from people to do older tunes.  I and another
fellow, Forrest Gump, have been playing with MPEG compression over
6 months ago, and wonder if this would take off, but didn't try to
do anything with it.  As for the names looking similar, that is
just pure coincidence.

RCN█: What is this new MPEG?  Is MPEG to WAV similar to JPEG to GIF?
Also, what have you discovered after using MPEG for 6 months?

DAC█: MPEG is a compression method for both audio and video.  There are
3 separate layers, which offer different compression ratios and
quality.  What we discover that many other people are also
discovering is that MPEG produces small files with minimal quality
loss.

RCN█: Some people might feel that having two music releasing groups is
really stupid.  After all, how hard is it to release music on the
Internet?  Is DAC supposed to be some sort of competition for CDA?
If not, how can it be, since both groups release the same type of
files.

DAC█: From what releases we and other people have seen from CDA, they
are mainly concentrating on newer stuff.  We are interested in
releasing different things.  Ranging from rap to metal to more
underground material, new and old.

RCN█: So basically, CDA releses new music, and DAC is mainly interested
in proven classics?

DAC█: Yes, and we try to help expose music that many people may not have
heard of either.

RCN█: Is releasing music on the Internet a form of pirating?  If so, do
you feel that anyone might go to jail for this?

DAC█: It is most definitely a form of pirating.  I think some dumbshit
will try to make a compilation cd and try to sell it and get
popped.

RCN█: Have you received any bad rap from CDA because you have started
DAC?  This may sound ridiculous, but does CDA at all feel
threatened by DAC?

DAC█: A few CDA members are claiming that DAC is unoriginal and that I'm
ripping them off.  And I'm like duh, thats like saying DOD or PWA
was copying old C-64 groups!  As for CDA feeling threatened, they
shouldn't, because we are here to have fun, not deal with dumb
politics.

RCN█: This music scene is so new, that not many people have thought of
the rules up for it yet.  In the warez scene, if you release
something that has already been released by someone else, you are
duping.  Can you dupe in this music scene?  What if say, CDA
releases "Cool Music by Mr. Bob."  And then DAC later that week
releases that same single, will DAC be blamed for duping on CDA's
work?

DAC█: I think that would depend and we have already been faced with that
issue.  With ripping music, CDA or DAC could produce a bad quality
file, the other may produce a better one.  So far we have taken
the stand of not trying to dupe even if the quality sucks.

RCN█: How big is an average release of DCA?  Is DCA planning to release
full CDs, or just top singles?

DAC█: We plan on releasing what the members in the group want to
release.  Remember that music has such a wide variety.  Many
people will hate Metallica, others will love them to death.  But
most music CDs only have a few good songs, rarely do you find a CD
with every tune that rocks.

RCN█: So basically you guys release by request?  So if say, I said I
really liked Oasis, I've heard of every song on their latest
album, but I'd rather not spend the money to buy it, and I'd
rather see DCA release it, would DCA release the full CD?

DAC█: We can do requests.  And yes we could release the entire CD as
well, I don't see why not.

RCN█: That makes DCA a very attractive group.  In fact, a person may
never want to shell out bucks to buy a whole CD again.  One can
just request the top singles one hears on the radio, and download
them to one's computer.  However, this leads to a scenario in
which a single might have to be released over and over again.  For
example, let's say DCA is 2 years old now, and it is 1998.  I
request a song that happened to be DCA's first release.  Would I
still be able to download it in 1998, or will I have to download a
rerelease of the original release from 1996?

DAC█: You would download the original.  I think as far as new music
comes, you will probably see suppliers coming into the scene.
Music stores get samples before music hits the radio and put out
on the shelves.

RCN█: Where would I be able to find it?  Are you saying that all DCA
releases are stored on some FTP site?  If so, that makes DCA even
more attractive.  And if DCA can release music that is not yet
available in stores, that makes DCA even more more attractive!

DAC█: Right now, that's hard to say, things are moving very quickly and
shit hasn't settled yet.

RCN█: Well, in a few years, I would be very happy to see the music scene
take off.  It would be very nice indeed.