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MP3 Player FAQ

What is an MP3?

An MP3 is a digitally encoded audio file - normally music that someone wants to listen to.

What does MP3 stand for?

MP3 is short for MPEG-3.

So are there MP1, MP2, MP4 and so on?

Yes they were all developed by the MPEG (Moving Pictures Expert Group) MPEG-1 is the format used for Video CD's, MPEG-2 is used for DVD's and MPEG-4 is a standard for multimedia on the web.

So how do I use MP3's

You play MP3 files on a suitable MP3 player.

What is an MP3 Player?

An MP3 player is a music player that can play MP3 audio files, typically they tend to be portable - the modern day "walkman" if you like. Although they are available for use and home, on your PC and in your car.

So why use MP3's

MP3's are popular as they provide a portable, compact file format for the transfer and playback of audio data.

So what is the difference between MP3's and other audio formats?

MP3 provides better compression (more audio data per MB of storage space) with less loss of sound quality than most other audio formats.

Do MP3's offer the same sound quality as CD's?

The sound quality of MP3's depends on the bitrate used when they are encoded. MP3's can sound as good as CD's however most are encoded at a lower bitrate to reduce the file size. That being said generally most of us will not be able to tell the difference.

What should I look for when buying an MP3 player?

What you look for when choosing an MP3 player will depend on your intended use. If you intend to use your player during sports then you might prefer a smaller but more robust flash based player. For general home/office use the added benefits of a hard drive player (more music, ability to transfer other file types) may appeal.

What is the difference between flash and hard drive based MP3 players?

Flash based MP3 players use solid state memory (i.e. compact flash) to store the music. Hard disk drive MP3 players store the music on a small hard disk drive. Generally the hard disk drive players offer in the region of 20 times more storage than flash based players, however as they include moving parts they may be more prone to skipping and as such unsuitable for some uses such as running.

Can I use a hard drive based MP3 player while running/cycling?

You can use a hard disk drive based MP3 player in the gym, while running or cycling however because of the nature of hard disks (they include moving parts) there is a small chance that the shock and impact induced during activity could damage the hard drive. Older models may also skip a bit, however most modern mp3 players have a large read ahead buffer to reduce skipping.

Where can I buy and MP3 player?

You can buy an MP3 player from the following stores:

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- Amazon.co.uk
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How can I tell if the MP3 player offers good sound quality?

You can read the reviews available on the Internet, in magazines or on TV. Alternatively take a pair of headphones along and try them out.

How do I get MP3 files?

You can download them from the Internet, or convert your existing music collection to MP3.

Where can I download MP3's?

You can download MP3's from a variety of sources the most common are Napster .

Is downloading MP3's illegal?

No downloading MP3's is not illegal. Downloading copyrighted material from an unauthorised site "file sharing" is illegal, however there are now many legitimate online stores from which you can purchase and download a wide range of music.

How can I create my own MP3's?

You can download various software tools and "rippers" from the web. Most MP3 players come packaged with software to convert your CD's to MP3's.

Is creating my own MP3's illegal?

If you are in any doubt you should consult a profession legal advisor in your own country. However it is our understanding that creating your own MP3's for your own personal use does not breach copyright. Where you to distribute copyrighted material then you would be breaking the law.

How many MB's does each MP3 need?

That depends on the bitrate used to encode the MP3.

What is encoding?

Encoding is the process of converting another music file format (e.g. CD) to MP3.

What is a bitrate?

The bitrate is the number of bits used to represent each portion of the music, the higher the bitrate the higher the music quaility but the bigger the MP3 file becomes.

How many songs will fit on my MP3 player?

It depends on the length of the song, the bitrate used to encode the song and the available space on your MP3 player. As a general rule of thumb you should expect to be able to fit two average sized albums worth on music onto each 64MB's of storage.

How many MP3's will fit on a CD?

Again it depends on the length of the song, the bitrate used to encode the song, as per the rule of thumb above the average 700MB CD will hold roughly 20 albums worth of music.

Can an MP3 player be used to store other file types?

Most MP3 players connect to your computer by USB and act as an external drive, where this is the case they can be used to store any file type. Many people use their MP3 player to transfer files between PC's or keep a backup of important presentations.