Can you recomend a method of collecting music, I haven't got a fortune to spend

A.� There has never been a better time to start a music collection than now, there are more and more inexpensive ways of amassing a series of sounds than ever before.

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Q.� Sounds great, where do I start

A.� The best way to begin is to have a look at the music you enjoy, and then work out the best format, which will enable you to collect your music for the minimum outlay. For example, if you are a modern music fan, you have the biggest and least expensive source of music ever, which is the Internet. In spite of the music industry's determination to stamp out the notion of 'sharing' music, the latest MP3 technology is here to stay. As the major labels acknowledge that simple fact, and work out amicable ways of getting a share of the market, independent musicians and record labels continue to place their music on the World Wide Web, and encourage people to access and download it. If modern dance and indie rock are your favourite styles, there is a bottomless well of material out there, you just need to hook up to the Net and go and get it.

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Q.� Once I've got my sounds on my PC, what do I do

A.� Again, choices are increasing, and prices are coming down. It's always possible to spot the trends in music hardware by checking out what your local hi-fi store is selling these days. If you step in and have a look around, you'll find an increasingly sophisticated range of MP3 portable players on offer.�Prices are tumbling as the MP3 revolution takes serious hold of the music buying community�- if you want to wait a little, the range and sophistication will continue to rise, and the retail prices will continue to drop.

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Q.� So is an MP3 player my best option

A.� It can depend on where you want to do your listening. There is an increasing interest in a hitherto dormant format, the mini-disc.

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Q.� I thought they'd died out like eight-track cartridges!

A.� No, although they never achieved the sales levels that their much-hyped arrival suggested, they have hung on in there, and now people are seeing the advantages of the mini-disc, especially when used in conjunction with a PC.

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Q.� What are the advantages

A.� Mini-discs combine the portability of cassette tape with high-quality sound reproduction and editing facilities. The real reason they are coming into their won is the potential link with the MP3 format, via a USB�- a 'Universal Serial Bus' connector cable which plugs straight into the back of your PC to give you inexpensive portable MP3 quality�sound. Sharp have produced just such a machine, including a re-charger and AC adapter, taking advantage of new disc formats which allow 7 hours of playing time, and 4.5 hours of recording time�- enough to shift your new collection into serious volume with very little delay.

Q.� So that's the end of the road for the old CD then!

A.� By no means. People will forecast the death of the CD because of the massive popularity of the MP3 format, and the Internet access to vast libraries of material, but they said the same thing about singles as well. What will happen is that MP3's will take their place in the format market place and everything will settle down. Rumours of the death of the high-street retailer are similarly greatly exaggerated.�Major record labels such as Virgin who own chains of retail outlets, sell and advertise their CD's on the Net, hardly the actions of an organisation who feels threatened.

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Q.� If I don't want to invest in a PC and take the MP3 route, what else is there for me

A.� There is always the tried and trusted CD format�- an acceptable quality portable machine can be purchased for a reasonable amount. Cut-price deals on chart CD's and back catalogue, as well as access to local library collections makes this an excellent way of collecting without spending huge amounts.

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Q.� Any other ideas

A.� Second- hand collecting is another method of obtaining value for money. If the disc is in good condition, spend a few extra pence in buying a new case and tray for your disc, clean it with a suitable cleaning cloth, pop it in your new case, and it's hard to tell it's not a brand new disc, often bought for less than a third of the cost of a chart album. A small-scale swapping system with like-minded friends can give a chance to explore other people's tastes, but make sure your sharers take as good care of your valuable albums as you do� no point saving money in one area if you lose value in another.

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