Let us create a 3D eBook for you!
Let us create a 3d Digital eBook for you! DigyCat.com

 

Alternatives to MP3


Although MP3 is the most popular format for encoding music, it is by no means the only one. There are two basic methods for compressing audio - lossless and lossy, and for each of these methods there are many formats.

Lossless compression means that none of the audio data is removed during compression. Lossy compression means that audio data is permanently removed from the audio file. Lossy compression results in smaller files, but there is no way to rebuild the audio data to its original format. MP3 is an example of lossy compression.

Lossy Compression Formats

There are many alternatives to MP3 when it comes to encoding audio files. Microsoft reportedly developed the WMA format to avoid the licensing costs associated with MP3. WMA files can be played with the Windows Media Player that is included with the Windows operating system as well as many other audio players. It features similar encoding rates to MP3 and similar file sizes.

AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is the format preferred by Apple and is used for its popular iTunes and iPod products. AAC files can be smaller than MP3 files because it uses more efficient encoding technology. A 96 kpbs AAC file is similar in sound quality to a 128 kbps MP3 file.

Ogg Vorbis is another type of lossy compression and uses .OGG as the file extension. It is an open-source product and unlike MP3, there are no patent restrictions on its use.

Lossless Compression

For the audio purist who insists on the best quality sound possible, lossless compression offers CD quality sound. The tradeoff is larger files sizes - while MP3 can compress audio in the range of 80% - 90%, lossless compression typically compresses the file by half.

Popular lossless formats include FLAC, Monkey's Audio, and SHN (Shorten). These formats are supported by many audio players and are popular for archiving CD collections as well as for trading music.

Hans is editor of the Audio Howto Section of the Selected Audio Review Guide


MORE RESOURCES:

Audio & Streaming - Google News

Toddler crawls into vending machine - The Age


Toddler crawls into vending machine
The Age
Websites in the Fairfax Digital Network offer streaming video and audio in the Flash format. Streaming media allows you to watch video on a website as a continuous feed, as opposed to waiting for an entire audio or video file to download to your ...

and more »

Cutting the Cord: How to Ditch Your Cable Company - PCWorld


Cutting the Cord: How to Ditch Your Cable Company
PCWorld
... you might be able to find a local radio station that streams its broadcast online. The latter isn't always the case, though, since some professional sports leagues require listeners to use a paid service to access nonlocal audio broadcasts.

Resilient Gillard polling well - The Age


The Age

Resilient Gillard polling well
The Age
Websites in the Fairfax Digital Network offer streaming video and audio in the Flash format. Streaming media allows you to watch video on a website as a continuous feed, as opposed to waiting for an entire audio or video file to download to your ...

and more »

The internet jukebox – Streaming makes music available anywhere - Kuwait Times


Kuwait Times

The internet jukebox – Streaming makes music available anywhere
Kuwait Times
BERLIN: Music streaming is pretty old hat these days. Internet radio stations have been up and running for a decade, but new advances mean listeners have many more options, being able to pick precisely which songs they want, not just a basic music ...
The internet jukebox: streaming makes music available anywhereMonsters and Critics.com

all 3 news articles »

Watch Ireland vs Wales live streaming 6 Nations Rugby HD online coverage in ... - Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)


Watch Ireland vs Wales live streaming 6 Nations Rugby HD online coverage in ...
Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
By rajvir611 | Published Feb 5, 2012 | Product Reviews To watch Ireland vs Wales live streaming 6 Nations Rugby HD online coverage in Lansdowne Road on 5th Febuary 2012 at 15:00 GMT. The Six Nations Championship (referred to as RBS 6 Nations for ...

and more »

Neil Young Streaming 37-Minute Crazy Horse Track (A Top Story) - antiMUSIC.com


Contactmusic.com

Neil Young Streaming 37-Minute Crazy Horse Track (A Top Story)
antiMUSIC.com
The rock legend unveiled a 37-minute track, now streaming on his official website. The recording is titled "Horse Back" and was recorded on January 6 at Audio Casa Blanca studios, according to NME. In the video that accompanies the recording, ...
Neil Young and Crazy Horse reunite, prove again that 'rock n' roll will never ...TheCelebrityCafe.com

all 12 news articles »

LINK2###UFC 143 Free Streaming Online Air - Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)


LINK2###UFC 143 Free Streaming Online Air
Digital Photography Review (dpreview.com)
We have had success with our last few UFC streams. UFC 143 will be even better, because we fixed most of the bugs from the previous streams. We had audio issues before but that was due to our server, it was fixed and everything is good now.

and more »

Rhapsody music streaming lands on Android tablets with 'magazine-style' app - Engadget


Android Community

Rhapsody music streaming lands on Android tablets with 'magazine-style' app
Engadget
The service can now be accessed through an app tailored to Android slates, featuring music discovery tools like expert playlists and guides, original editorial content, and exclusive recordings -- all on top of a 14 million song catalog.
Rhapsody launches updated tablet app for music streamingAndroid Community

all 8 news articles »

Alan Lomax archives set to stream for free - SoundSpike


SoundSpike

Alan Lomax archives set to stream for free
SoundSpike
Alan Lomax was an anthropologist, and a portable audio recorder was his pith helmet. With his father, John Lomax, he set out to record the songs of prisoners and fieldhands, bar brawlers and hobos, in the American South before the Depression.

and more »

Are you sitting comfortably? Then you're ready for audio streaming - This is Bath


Are you sitting comfortably? Then you're ready for audio streaming
This is Bath
Bardowl is poised to launch its audio streaming technology in March. When it does, it could do to audio what YouTube did for video. Rather than having to download books before being able to listen to them on a mobile device, Bardowl will allow ...

Click here for Best Buy In-Store Pickup

StreetSideAuto.com

Looking For Royalty Free Photos for your Website, Business or Advertising?

My Life Through The Lens

NewsScape Domain Is For Sale - $3,500 For Enquiries eMail Us

© NewsScape.biz 2011

home | site map | links

eXTReMe Tracker