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What is MP3?
MP3 stands for MPEG 1 layer 3, which is a way to store music files on a computer disk in such a way that the file size is relatively small, but the song sounds near perfect. You can identify MP3 files because they will end in .MP3.
MPEG means Moving Picture Expert Group. MP3 audio provides one major advantage over the majority of encoding methods of today. That is, it can store CD quality audio in a relatively small audio file. When recording at 44.1 Khz, 16-bit stereo sound the average WAV file of a song can be anywhere from 35-50 MB in size. This is enormous and too inefficient for it to be used for much good. However by encoding the audio in MP3, a compression ratio of about 11:1 is possible without any noticable degredation of sound quality. This means your average song file will no longer be 35-50 MB, but instead about 3-5 MB in size. This allows these audio files to be used more effectively as they can easily stored in bulk amounts or transfered over a network or the internet. Streaming is also possible for most fast connections and can allow CD quality transmissions over the internet.
Step 1: Download a player
For Windows, we recommend WinAmp,
and for Mac try MacAmp
player.
Step 2: Run the installer to
install the player.
Next uncompress the file you downloaded and run the installer or setup
(some players don't need to be installed, just run the program)
Step 3: Now you'll need some
songs to play.
Choose a song from the following genres (to download simply click on
the song title):
Step 1: Where to start?
The first step is to copy a song from an audio CD. This is called "ripping".
We recommend WinDac32
, apparrenly the best software for ripping.
we will explain WinDac32, in our opinion the best CD ripper for windows95/NT. It is a shareware program.
The first time you start WinDac32 it will detect your cdrom drive, if not try to add the drive by yourself. Click 'DAC' and then 'add drive' there you can fill in what drive you have and SCSI options.
If WinDac32 have your drive you can rip audio, select the song or songs you want to rip and click on 'actions' and then 'copy track(s)' or use the button on the main screen. Now the program ask for a filename, simply type in the name of the song and click 'save', if you have done that the program starts to rip, if WinDac32 comes up with a message that your drive not ready is, your drive can't rip or you have to set things up. Try change settings in WinDac32, click on 'DAC' then on 'configure drive' and select the tab 'copy' there you can change stuff like 'copymode', 'sectors per read' and 'synchronisationsectors'.
Now you know how to rip audio we go further with the encoders, again
i will not explain all the encoders but the most used. If the program that
works for you not will be explained here, try reading the manual.
Step 2: frome wave to mp3
MP3
Compressor
This is a very good encoder.
MP3 compressor is very simple to use, if you start the program you
will see a screen split in two sections, on the left you can search the
directory where you have ripped your songs, and on the right you see the
.wav files you ripped with your cdripper.
First go to the 'preferences' and make sure that 'quick' encoding is selected and select 'MP3 Format' otherwise you will get a MP3 encoded .WAV file.
If your harddrive is not that big you can select the option 'delete after compress' then when the song(s) are encoded the program will delete the .WAV files from your harddrive. If you have the settings right click on 'OK'.
To start encoding choose the right directory where you ripped your songs, then click on a wav file or select several .wav files and click on 'compress', now you see a new screen with the info how long it takes to encode and a progress meter.
If you work at other applications while your encoding you can leave the priority on 'idle' but if you're just waiting you can set the priority to high.
Q: I downloaded a mp3 file with
Netscape, but now the sound is very bad.
A: Download allways (if possible) with a ftp client like cuteftp. But
you can fix that bad sound with uncook.zip.
Q: Hey, i try to downloaded
a program or songs from your site, but it's not working!
A: Sorry we only provide links to the files. tell
us or try in other time.
Downloads