Not All MP3s Are Created Equal

By: John Dow

Not all MP3 recordings are the same. There are some important factors to consider when creating an MP3 recording or converting from other formats. The MP3 (Mpeg layer 3) was invented to help reduce the file size of music or sound recordings with minimal loss of any quality.

Basically it's all about compressing the files, dropping some of the inaudible data, and the encoding of duplicate data. A good example is comparing a one minute Wave file recording in high quality might take up to 10 Megs of space. The same file when converted to an MP3 only takes about 1 Meg. That's a huge improvement over the size of the files but there will be some loss in data.

There are two basic ways to compress any files. Lossless and Lossable. Lossless is like a zip file that will compress the original and then uncompress an exact match. Lossable compression (used by the MP3 file format) means that it's fairly close to the original but not a perfect match.

MP3 files can be encoded at different bitrates which is measured in Kbps (kilobits per second). You can record MP3 files at either 128 kbps (which is OK quality), or 160 kbps for good quality playback, and 193 kbps for very good quality on most systems. Using the best possible original source can make a big difference in the end result too.

For those with very high end stereo playback systems might want to up the bitrate to 193 Kbps. This increases the amount of data and therefore can increase the amount of detailed sounds in the playback. Of course many people with less than perfect hearing will never notice the difference. And the method you use to playback the recordings will also impact the quality of reproduction of the original.

If you rip (record) a CD song to a Wave file, then convert to MP3; some of the data will be lost. If you record directly off the CD, since there is more data, the quality of the MP3 should be better. The more data, the better quality or playback. It can get pretty technical but there are a couple of basic factors to consider that impact the quality the most.

MP3 encoders employ several techniques to compress the data files:

Perceptual encoding and data compression. Perceptual encoding algorithms determine sounds below the minimal human hearing threshold, usually between 2Khz and 5Khz, and remove that data. Encoders use a psychoacoustic method which duplicates the ability of the human ear to determine which sounds are being masked by the louder sounds and aren't necessary to store.

There are also three basic compression methods that don't address the audio but the method used to store the data. These methods combine common elements and removes any repeated data. It's much more technical but that's the gist of it.

An MP3 cannot match the quality of a properly recorded Wave file since there is a greater amount of compression and some data is eliminated by that process. But the MP3 format was invented to make music files smaller and easier to download from the Internet. The highest quality music files come from either the CD originals, or from AIFF / WAV uncompressed or FLAC / Apple Lossless compressed downloads.

If you want the portability and smaller file size, MP3 files will fill the bill. To get the best quality, use a bitrate of 192 kpbs. If you absolutely need the best quality recording, stick with uncompressed file formats.

Published At: Isnare Free Articles Directory http://www.isnare.com

* About John Dow

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Brand Name Or Generic Mp3 And Mp4 Players - Which To Buy

By: Chris Murphy

So you are ready to purchase one of the most, if not the most, popular electronic devices available today, whose sole purpose is to entertain us whenever and wherever, we choose. Of course, I’m talking about one of the lifelines for the younger set, but also some baby boomers as well. It’s called an MP3 / MP4 player, and in addition to the cell phone we all know and love, it is transforming our lives and how we listen to music, watch video, listen to the radio etc.

Many of us have MP3 or MP4 players or a combination of the two. However, a good portion of the world has yet to partake in the excitement and fascinating possibilities that abound when you can listen to any song or watch any video you choose with the click of a button without putting in a clumsy cassette tape that can get chewed up, a CD which can get broken or a DVD that can get scratched. We’re talking about digital music and video that is precise, compact, portable and can be downloaded or played anywhere…even under water.

Now comes the million-dollar question. Which brand MP3, MP4 or combination player should you buy? You probably see advertisements all over the place for brand name players, but if you buy these brands, you are also helping to pay for their massive advertising bill. Therefore, it can make the brand name player more expensive. You are also paying for the prestige of owning a brand name player and the name recognition that comes with it. If you can get a brand name player at a good price, by all means consider it. However, with manufacturers using the same parts these days, don’t overpay for a brand name MP3 player.

Something interesting began occurring about fifteen years ago. Electronics started becoming more of a commodity to be bought and thrown away after a few years rather than being purchased and expected to last 10 to 20 years like older electronics. A change occurred in the early 90’s when component prices kept dropping because of demand and technological advances. It was suddenly more profitable for electronics manufacturers to make electronic devices with cheaper, less durable parts and price them to appeal to more people’s “buy” price point. They figured with luck, some electronics would last as long as people expected and for those who weren’t lucky, the cost to purchase a new device was not prohibitive, and was usually less than what they had paid a few years prior. This game continues today with most electronics, including portable MP3 players and MP4 players.

Therefore, if you aren’t married to a distinct, proprietary system, you should look at purchasing the least expensive MP3, MP4 or combination player available that meets your requirements and expectations. It just may turn out that brand name players are as competitive as the generic brands in some cases, but more likely than not, your choice may be a generic brand you have not heard of before. The way electronics are made these days, (to last 2 to 5 years) you are better off going generic since the cost is often much less. Certainly brand name MP3 or MP4 players at the same relative price point are fine, but there is no sense paying $100 or more for the more recognized names when the manufacturers of these electronic devices are all using the same parts.

So you are ready to purchase one of the most, if not the most, popular electronic devices available today, whose sole purpose is to entertain us whenever and wherever, we choose. Of course, I’m talking about one of the lifelines for the younger set, but also some baby boomers as well. It’s called an MP3 / MP4 player, and in addition to the cell phone we all know and love, it is transforming our lives and how we listen to music, watch video, listen to the radio etc. Many ...

As a freelance writer, Chris Murphy writes articles of interest for his viewership. For more information about this article and its content,please visit http://www.portabledeals.com

Article Source: http://www.eArticlesOnline.com

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Motorola V3i - Martin's Quick Review

by Martin Fortus

The caller ID screen on the outside is rather small, leaving the shiny casing to become easily smudged from fingerprints, but the V3i is an overall gorgeous phone. The clamshell design flips open easily to answer calls without touching a button, and snaps shut to end them. Users do have to remember to end their calls manually if they are using the speakerphone mode, however.

The buttons and switches around the exterior of the phone all fit smoothly into the design of the V3i and are very easy to use. The keypad is similar to that of the V3, with easy to distinguish keys and great responsiveness. Also like the original, the V3i is a quad band mobile phone, making it ideal for international usage.

The low resolution camera of the Razr V3 has been improved to a 1.2 megapixel camera that features an 8x digital zoom and is capable of video as well. The V3i's camera is still very poor quality compared to other camera phones on the market, but it is great for occasional usage or for picture messaging.

Another greatly appreciated upgrade seen in the V3i is the addition of a music player. Though the version that includes iTunes software is not available in the UK, the V3i features an easy to use MP3 player that can be controlled through the phone's exterior keys. Musical playback is available in flight mode and can be used with headsets or played through the phone's speaker, which provides fairly good quality. The music player also allows users to create play lists for more convenience.

The internal memory features of the V3i are not very impressive, with only 12 MB of storage. MicroSD cards can be used to expand the memory and to store music for play lists, but the card slots are located under the battery cover, making them difficult to access. The 64 MB memory card included with the V3i can easily hold about 150 tunes, but anyone desiring more file storage will have to remove the battery cover.

Although the features of the Motorola V3i are rather outdated compared to other mobile phones, it is a great improvement over the original Razr. If you're looking for a sleek and trendy clamshell Razr phone, but want the added convenience of a functional camera and MP3 player, the V3i is perfect.

About the Author

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