User guide

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• CD Quality: A term frequently used to describe the minimum bit rate level needed to equal
CD-quality sound. A CD-quality MP3 file is encoded at 128kbps and above, whereas a CD-
quality WMA file is encoded at 64kbps and above.
• CD Ripper: An application that converts compact disc audio files to MP3 files or other audio
encoding formats. Popular CD rippers include RealJukebox and MusicMatch Jukebox.
Codec: Codec is the compression technology that reduces the size of a digital audio file -
short for coder/decoder or compression/decompression algorithm. Codecs are used to
encode and decode or compress and decompress data. The way the audio is compressed
and stored is call the codec, which determines how small the file size is. Some file types
always use a particular codec. For example, ".mp3" files always use the "MPEG Layer-3"
codec. Other files like ".wav" and ".dct" files support selectable codecs. For example, a
".wav" file can be encoded with the "PCM", "GSM6.10", "MPEG3" and many other codecs.
NOTE: Don’t confuse the file type with the codec - it often surprises people to know you can
have a "MPEG Layer-3" encoded ".wav" file. Some file types just contain the audio. But
other file types can contain additional header information which can contain other information
about the file (eg .dct files have information about the sender, priority, notes and other data
in the file itself). The type is usually determined by the file extension (what comes after the "."
in the file name). For example, ".wav", ".mp3" or ".dct".
• Firmware: Firmware is defined as software or data that is in the read-only memory (ROM) of
a hardware device. Firmware is found in all types of devices such as printers, fax machines,
and portable digital audio players.
• SDMI (Secure Digital Music Initiative): SDMI is a forum that brings together hundreds of
companies and organizations. SDMI's goal is to develop open technology specifications that
protect the playing, storing, and distribution of digital music.
• Variable Bit Rate: VBR is an encoding method used by popular CD-ripping utilities. It
provides a better and more consistent audio quality throughout an entire encoded file than
Constant Bit Rate (CBR) encoding. VBR-encoded files are usually larger than CBR-encoded
files, but they generally sound better.
• Output sampling frequency: Sample Rate - Select ouptut sampling frequency. There are
three options: 32000 Hz, 44100 Hz and 48000 Hz. 44100 Hz means that you have 44100
values per second coming in from your sound card (or input file).
• MP3 and other formats utilized by digital audio players are data-compression techniques that
drastically reduce the size of the original CD music files. This data-reduction amount is
variable: a higher reduction rate (i.e., a lower bit rate) results in a smaller file, but the smaller
the file, the poorer the sound quality. At higher bit rates (least compressed, best sounding),
the sound comes closest to the original CD recording quality. High-quality audio should at
least be sampled at 128 kilobits per second (kbps), which results in an MP3 file of about
4MB for a 3- or 3-1/2-minute track. To combat the loss of sound quality, a number of newer
digital audio players incorporate technology that helps restore sound details lost during the
compression/decompression process. Taken in part from http://products.consumerguide.com
9. MUSIC FROM A MUSIC CD to iTUNES to MP3 PLAYER
1. On your desktop, create a new file folder and name it 'music'
2. Insert a music CD into the CD-ROM drive on your computer
3. Open iTunes (start, programs, iTunes)