What is MP3?
The initials stand for MPEG 1 layer 3, a compression scheme which stores sound files on computer with relatively small file sizes, but near perfect quality. MP3 files usually end in .MP3.
Why is it so popular?
Older file formats such as .wav allowed high-quality sound recording but required huge files to store the sounds. For stereo, this could be 44K of data per second of sound, or even more. It was not practical to distribute music this way.
Are MP3s legal?
Yes and no. MP3 is just a file format. It can be used legally (to distribute songs you have written yourself, for example) or illegally (to distribute music that you do not hold copyright on). How do I play MP3s? To play MP3 tracks on a computer, player software is required plus, of course, a computer with sound card and speakers. Among the most popular are WinAmp for Windows and MacAmp for Macintosh. MP3 tracks can also be played away from the computer with a device such as the Rio.
What is the Rio?
This is a handheld player, similar to a Walkman, which can be used to store MP3 tracks and to play them away from a computer. Saehan and Samsung are among the manufacturers promoting players.
How do I make MP3s?
Download an encoder such as MusicMatch and install it. Follow the onscreen instructions.
Where do I find out more?
Try starting with the site www.mp3.com or search for "MP3" on a search engine.