User Guide

AUDIO FUTURA
AUDIO FUTURAAUDIO FUTURA
AUDIO FUTURA S.P.A. April 2010 | revision 1.0
USBDAC Application Note 7 / 7
FLAC: (Free Lossless Audio Codec) is a lossless
Open Source Coded audio, that’s say the data compression is done with no loss of
the original information. The compression is not very high. The recording company Deutsche Grammophon, specialized in Classical
music, has adopted the FLAC as format to sell downloadable tracks on its web site.
FREEWARE: a software which is given for free.
Media Player (Player): is a software to reproduce multimedia files (audio and video). Usually the Media Player can manage
different audio and video formats, but there are also players specialized just for audio or video. The Media Player uses Codecs to
obtain the proper content from the different formats. There are many Media Player both free and on charge. The operative systems
have usually their own Media Player already installed.
MP3: (Motion Picture Expert Group-1/2 Audio Layer 3, also known as MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3) it’s an audio compression algorithm,
lossy type. Can drastically decrease the amount of required data to save the information. However the overall audio quality it’s quite
acceptable.
MPC: (Musepack) it’s a open source audio compression algorithm, lossy type. It’s quite similar to the MP3 but its quality, comparing
the MPC with the MP3 at the same bitrate, is better. It is also known as: MPEGplus, MPEG+ or MP+.
Music on demand: the music contents are as first compressed and saved on a server as files. A user can then ask the server to
send him the audio/video contents. Is not required to download the whole file on the PC before reproducing it. In fact, the received
data, are de-compressed and reproduced some seconds after they have been received.
Music on Streaming: “Streaming ”means a audio/video data flux transmitted from a source to one or more destinations trough a
telematic network. These data are reproduced little by little as they arrive.
Open Source: it is said of a software for which the rights owners let everybody using the software and encourage software
independent programmers to study and modify it. This is obtained by proper use licences.
Playlist:: it’s a function, usually available for Media Players, by which is possible to create a song collection which can then be
reproduced as a sequence.
Plug-in: (also said: addin or add-in, addon or add-on), it’s a program working to increase the functions of an other one. For
example, a plugin for a audio software allows it to de-code audio formats not originally supported or present in the main program of
the player.
Vorbis: is a audio open source compression algorithm, lossy type. Can be considered the MP3, AAC antagonist. For the same
audio quality can reach an higher compression than the MP3 format. Both MP3 and Vorbis have been designed via very deep psyco-
acustics studies.
WAV: (or WAVE), stand for WAVEform audio format . It’s a audio format developed by Microsoft and IBM for IBM PC and
compatible computers. Is not a compressed file. The WAV is a proprietary audio format which can be reproduced by almost any
audio player.
WMA: (Windows Media Audio) it’s a audio standard developed by Microsoft. The WMA extension files are Advanced Systems
Format (.ASF) which audio is compressed via the Codec WMA. It’s a proprietary format which can be reproduced and burned on a
CD-ROM only by a Windows Media Player software player compatible with Windows operative system.
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Mac OS X it’s a trademark of Apple Inc.
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Microsoft Windows it’s a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
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ASIO it’s a trademark of Steinberg Media Technologies GmbH.
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Internet Explorer it’s a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
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Mozilla Firefox it’s a trademark of Mozzilla Fondation.
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Safari it’s a trademark of Apple Inc.
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Google Chrome it’s a trademark of Google Inc..
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iTunes Store it’s a trademark of Apple Inc.
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Apple it’s a trademark of Apple Inc.
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iTunes it’s a trademark of Apple Inc.
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Windows Media Player it’s a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
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Windows Media Audio it’s a trademark of Microsoft Corporation.
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iPod it’s a trademark of Apple Inc.
All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.