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What is MP3 ?
MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3) is a standard technology and format for compressing a sound into a very small file while preserving the original level of sound quality. You can download an MP3 player or for Windows 98 users it is included within the operating system. Most of the MP3 files are usually download-and-play files however, streaming MP3 is possible. Winamp (PC), MacAmp (Mac), and mpeg123 (UNIX) are popular MP3 players. To create an MP3 file, you use a program called a ripper to get a selection from a CD onto your hard drive and use an encoder to convert the selection to an MP3 file.

Digital audio is typically created by taking 16 bit samples a second of the analog signal. Since this signal is typically spread out over a spectrum of 44.1 thousand cycles per second kHz, this means that one second of CD quality sound requires 1.4 million bits of data. The developers of MP3 came up with a compression algorithm that reduces data about sound that most listeners can not perceive. MP3 is currently the most powerful algorithm. The MP3 format was developed under the sponsorship of the Motion Picture Experts Group MPEG and formalized by the International Organization for Standardization ISO.

Since it is very simple to create MP3 files, companies and sites that promote the MP3 format are sometimes accused of encouraging copyright violations. (read about copyright). While there are several proposals for how to discourage such piracy, there is currently no secure distribution and copyright standard.

List of popular MP3 sites:

audiosoftware.com - MP3 players, rippers, encoders, tools amd more

free-mp3-player.com - here you can download a free MP3 player

freeamp.org - MP3 player