MP3 FAQ MP3 Help
- What is Winamp?
Winamp is a mp3 music player for MS Windows. It plays a wide array of file formats and has become the defacto mp3 standard player.
- Where can I get the latest version of Winamp?
Simply hit our Winamp page and select download.
- What does Winamp cost?
Winamp is shareware that is quite a bargain at only $10 bucks.
- How do I listen to MP3 files?
You just need to download an MP3 player for your local computer. Of course, a working sound card and speakers are also required. (or headphones if not speakers), Install, and Rock & Roll.
- How do I make my own MP3 files?
- first you need to create a wave file, either from a CD or other source. If it is a CD, you will need a CD Ripper.
- Next you need an MP3 encoder to convert the WAV file created by a ripper or other source into an MP3 formated file.
- How do I make an MP3 from a CD?
- You need a CD Ripper. The CD-Ripper or CD-Grabber will take the CD file and convert it into a WAV formated file.
- Finally, you run a MP3 encoder over the WAV file to convert it into MP3 format.
The critical point in the process is to rip the files from cd digitally and not using analog methods. Rippers are digital. Microphones and LINEIN are analog. Try not to connect the audio out of your cd player into the IN line on your sound card or lots of sound quality is lost in the analog to digital conversion. Some rippers wont support your digital cd to sound card connection, and linein is your only choice.
To check if your CD is capable of digital ripping, try this page for a list of known compatible drives.
- How do I make an MP3 from a Album or Cassette?
This is where that LINEIN input plug on your sound card comes into play. Normally, its where a microphone is plugged into your sound card. READ YOUR SOUND CARD MANUAL to see how this is done - you CAN destroy your sound card if you over drive your LINEIN. Never run a SPEAKER OUT into your LINEIN. Normally, you can run your LINEOUT of your cassette player to the LINEIN of your sound card. (this is NOT the headphones out on your cassette player - it is the LINEOUT).
Next, fire up a good recorder program on your platform. Set the source for the recording to AUX or MIC as necessary. Set the Record level and give it a test or two. Large differences in quality and file size can be attained by adjusting the bit rate and freq range. Note: files sizes of the generated wav files can be HUGE (200-300meg is not uncommon - make sure to have plenty of free disk space). From there it is as simple a converting the WAV file to a MP3 with an encoder.
- How can I make my own CD's from my mp3's?
- First, decompress the .MP3 to .WAV format with a MP3 Decoder program.
- Write the .WAV file to a CD. You then need a CD-Writer to write the wav file to cd. Some cd-writer software will go straight from mp3 to cd.
- How do I convert a MP3 to Wav?
By using an MP3 Decoder program. - How do I convert a WAV to MP3?
By using an MP3 Encoder program. - What is MP3?
MP3 is an acronym for MPEG layer 3 which is a format/algorithm to tightly compress audio files. MP3 files have the .mp3 file extension on them. Up to 12 to 1 compression is attainable and produces high sound quality with very little loss.
The beauty of the MP3 format is that it contains to file header information - it is all contained with in the audio stream. This fact makes it perfect for the internet where audio can be streamed with quality and at relatively low transfer speeds.
The downside to all this, is that it takes a really good decoder (player) program to properly decompress the mp3 stream. This means high CPU usage. Its also the reason older platforms like Win3.1 have very few mp3 players available.
- Is mp3 legal?
Yes, mp3 is just a file format. Like most things, it can be used legally or illegally. Its legal to play mp3's as long as the copyright holder of the mp3 has granted permission to use the mp3. That can either be through purchase or Freeware public domain distribution agreements.
- Why do my ripped files have so much Jitter?
See your softwares ripping speed slower. If that doesn't do it, try a different ripper - there are all kinds of potential ripper vs cdrom problems, using a different ripper often cures it.
- What are MP3 ID tags?
ID taggers are a way to add information to the mp3 without putting it into the actual name of the file. Most newer encoder programs can do this automatically. Try our utilities page for some ID3 taggers.
- What is Shoutcast?
Shoutcast is a method of Streaming MP3 across the internet. Sites that stream mp3 audio are called (strangely enough), Stations. Shoutcast works with WinAmp 2.2. Since its MP3 and WinAmp, its ultra high quality sound - noticeably better than RealAudio.
To tune into a Shoutcast station first stop into the Shoutcast web site and pick out a station to listen to. Then just copy the url into the playlist of Winamp, or play a url from the Winamp options menu.
- How do I use the WinAmp MiniBrowser
At the bottom of the Minibrowser is a toolbar. The two icons on the left are back and forward arrows that work just like a browser. The red button is a stop button. The circle arrow reloads the current page.
The up arrow opens a menu of additional minibrowser options. The `Update Links' menu item updates the links on the minibrowser's start page. The `Open Internet Location' item opens a dialog box where you can type in a URL to open directly.
- How do I play .mp3 files with my browser?
You first need to set up your browser (Opera, Netscape, Explorer, etc.) so that it properly accepts .mp3 files.
In Netscape Navigator, this is done under Preferences>Applications.
Explorer *should* be able to use whatever application is registered for that file extension. If you are using WinAmp, go into options and make sure that WinAmp is associated with .mp3.
Opera will ask you what to do with the .mp3 after you click on it. Choose Open with Application and find your mp3 player in the directory listing.
You may also choose to automatically dl .mp3 files straight to disk with the "save to disk" option on all three browsers.
- What is Normalization?
It allows you to max out the volume of a file without introducing clipping. When "ripping" a cd, normalization is handy because of the vast volume differences of audio cds. There are different ways to implement normalization and not all programs do it the same way. Simply the best way is to experiment with the Normalization mode of your software.
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