Is this the Future of Listening to Music?
Think of it as a Multitrack MP3
Steinberg Nuendo 4 – Mix and Edit Windows
What in the world is a “.Mogg” file ???
Many folks in the Audio Industry have no idea what a .MOGG file is. Neither did I.
I’ve heard of the “.OGG” file format before. They are similiar to an MP3 file, but slightly different in regards to how it converts and compresses the size of the audio file. The .OGG file format has been around for many years. It is commonly used with video game systems.
The “.MOGG” file format is essentially a container file with multiple .OGG files in it.
Please see: About .MOGG File Format Page
What is available on .MOGG file format?
I discovered that there are a limited but quite large number of .MOGG files that consist of many Original Top 40 Hits as well as all kinds of rock/pop/country/soul etc. from various artists.
The catalog is impressive. I actually found a few hundred of them quite easily…just google it.
I also discovered that many of these files came from a popular video game called “Rock Band 1 & 2″. There are many other .MOGG files circulating around the Internet that are not part of the”Rock Band” video game series.
How are these .MOGG files created?
In order for these .MOGG files to be created, the original master tapes need to be recalled and played back from their original recording format. The individual tracks on the tape are then captured digitally and recorded simultaneously into a Digital Audio Workstation (DAW). The tracks are saved in the .MOGG format. Below are a few Analog Tape Recording machines that were used in the 1970s. See the Multitrack section for more Analog and Digital Tape machines.
3m m79 – 2 inch 16 Track Multitrack Recorder – Early 1970s
Ampex MM-1200 – 2 inch 16 Track Multitrack Recorder – Mid 1970s
Ampex MM-1000 – 16 Track 2″ Analog Multitrack Tape Recorder
Circa – Late 1960s
A few .MOGGs that I came across.
I did manage to find a few Marvin Gaye classics in .MOGG Multitrack format. They used a 16 track 2″ Analog tape recorder back in the late 60s early 70s and they sure used them well. The tracks in the .MOGG format are identical to the ones on the master 2″ tape. Even the track layout is identical to the tape. These classics include “Whats goin on, Mercy Mercy Me, Grapevine” and more. I had the pleasure to listen to each of the tracks in solo mode to hear the recordings in a way I have never heard before. Its a real blast from the past.
Queen – Bohemian Rhapsody – 1975
It was a mind blowing experience listening to Queen’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” in raw 24 Track format. The entire production is just out of this world. The vocal arrangements are tight and intricate. The vocal harmonies are rich and lush with layer upon layer of vocals. It must have been quite an experience mixing this song down back in 1975.
Typical 24 Track 2″ Multitrack Analog Tape Recorder
Studer A-80 – Mid 1970s
The Beatles – Sgt. Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band – Circa 1967
One third of the Beatles collection is available in .MOGG format. Many of these songs were recorded on 1″ 4 Track format. Vocals, guitars, drums and bass, and other instruments are on separate tracks.
The Beatles Machine – Studer J-37 – 4 Track 1″ Analog Tape Recorder – Mid 1960s
Remixes – Remixes – Remixes
Imagine being able to mix your favorite classic songs in Multitrack format the way it was done in the recording studio. Now you are able to use whatever DAW program you use to mix them in RAW Multitrack format.
With the .MOGG files open, you are now able to create that special mix you have always wanted to hear. Extend or shorten the song, create an accapella or an instrumental, add your own instruments etc.
Sit back, relax, mute the drums, let the bassline ride, mute the guitars, add reverb to the vocals – You name it…
How to open a .MOGG file??
Many Popular Digital Audio Workstation applications such as Pro-Tools, Logic, Nuendo, etc, dont even support or recognize this format. You will need a separate Digital Audio program to open and convert these files. There is 1 application that i know of (I’m sure there are more out there), that can open this file and also convert it to the standard .WAV format 16bit or 24bit, 44,100khz.
Audacity 1.3.3 – Digital Audio Application – Win/Mac/Linux – Open Source- Free Download
Audacity 1.3.3 is an open source digital audio program that can playback and record multiple tracks. It is also the only program that I have found to open the .MOGG files. It can be downloaded for free at http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
To open a MOGG file is simple. Open Audacity 1.3.3, then go to the “File” menu and choose “Open”. Navigate to the directory where your MOGG file exists and select it, then choose “Open”.
You are able to listen to the Multitrack file in Audacity, but your probably better off Exporting it to your DAW of choice. To do this, simply go to the “File” menu and choose “Export Multiple”. You will now have a .WAV file for each track.
Some MOGG files contain a full 24 Track replica of the original 2″ Master Tape that was used to make the hit record. Many are 16 Tracks, 8 Tracks and 4 Track formats.
I see this as the new format in commercial music in the years to come. Music listeners would love to control the music that they listen to in ways that were unheard of prior to a few years ago.
MOGG Files - Multitrack Digital Audio Format 