MP3Pro

[Shang Tsung]

Basically I ask for all the info you can give me on this semi-new audio technology.

[skins]

Mp3 ahhhh. Tis just a compressed sound wave to fit on smaller tighter media formats, or to fit more on an existing media format. E.g an audio wave (song) can be reduced in file size form say 600mb to 60mb via mp3 compression. Sure, you can then fit ten times the amount of audio data on a cd then right? Yes. but the audio playback system must read and recognise the mp3 format (your pc is a natural at this of course). Dependant on your compression ratio you can fit 10-15 average sized music cd's on one cd-r/rw.

There are drawbacks though, (as always), fidelity loss. Up to now mp3 has been a lossy compression method, meaning you loose audio quality as you convert from one format to the other (its expected, you can't fit a pint an half of milk in a pint glass without loosing something and still having a drink at the end of it). This happens because, in order to compress data so severly, something has to be eliminated and it is most of the audio frequencies which science tells us we cant here therfore reducing the size of the file. You can compensate for this with software. For e.g useing software to improve the mp3 fidelity and dynamics before mixing down or mastering to cd, minidisc or mp3 player.

Contrary to popular believe among the "I just listen to music" population the mp3 audio format, as of today, will still not match the quality of cd (though not far of) and the difference is realy not noticable if you process your mp3's before burning or transfering to an mp3 player.

As for mp3pro try complete lossless compression maybe?

Anything else dude just shout!