How do I create MP3 files from my CDs?
How can I play MP3's when I've created or downloaded them?

To do this you need special software. There are a huge variety of programs available for these tasks, many of which are available to download without charge (known as 'freeware'). You can get separate programs to create MP3s from CDs, to play MP3s and to create CDs from MP3 files, but perhaps most useful to the majority of people will be an all-in-one piece of software such as MusicMatch, which does all of these tasks. If you just want to play existing MP3s and your computer uses Windows 95, then you probably will have Windows Media Player, which will open and play the files through your computer speakers. Alternatively you might want to try other popular free players such as RealPlayer or Winamp.

MusicMatch looks like a standard hi-fi set up. It enables file conversion and also contains CD-burning software.	Available from Microsoft, the Windows Media Player offers a user-friendly interface for playing CDs, MP3s and videos, as well as allowing the user to search for media on the Net
MusicMatch’s interface minimised.	Real Player, designed to play low quality Real Media files, also plays mp3s.

There is now an increasing popularity for hardware MP3 players that transfer files onto a Walkman-like device, thus allowing music to be taken away from the computer for listening elsewhere. These players have several distinct advantages over portable CD or Walkman-type players:

1. There are no moving parts, so they don't skip if knocked.
2. They are generally small and lightweight.
3. It acts like a portable jukebox of music, so tracks can be added or erased from the memory, therefore alleviating the need to carry around numerous CDs or tapes.
4. The amount of memory on a player (and therefore the amount of music it can hold) can be increased by purchasing plug-ins.

I use a Macintosh - do I need different software?

Equivalent programs for Macs are available; many of the popular players, such as MusicMatch, offer a Mac version. For specific information on this subject and to find links to these downloads go to www.MP3mac.co.uk .

GLOSSARY

In searching for software related to these matters you will probably come across common bits of jargon. The most common of these include: -

Bitrate - The name given to
the amount of data an application handles per second. An MP3 with a high bit rate gives excellent sound reproduction.Burn - The term given to the process of recording a CD on your computer.
Freeware - Software that can be downloaded from the Internet at no charge.
Encoding - Changing one file type to another, such as compressing WAV to MP3. Therefore a program which performs this conversion is known as an encoder.
MP4 - Nickname for both AAC and MPEG-4 - supposedly the next generation of audio compression files.
RIAA - Stands for the Recording Industry Association of America, an organisation that has been one of the main critics against the use of MP3 due to its piracy and copyright problems.
Ripper - Software for converting an audio track on a normal audio CD into an MP3 format music file. Some rippers may only copy the file from the CD to your computer without conversion (i.e. the CD track is stored as a wav file on your computer).
Shareware - Software that can be download over the Internet freely for registration and possible small fee.
Skins - The name given to a type of plug-in which is used to change the look of the user-interface of a software MP3 player.
Streaming - The method of listening to audio over an Internet connection without downloading the whole file to disc.
WAV (Waveform) - The audio format of PCs.

SITES

Unfortunately due to the infancy of music on the Internet and the controversial issues surrounding the subject, high quality sites remain a rarity. However, the following provides a list of several that are worth visiting:

www.mpeg.org
www.MP3.com
www.eclassical.com
www.emusic.com
www.vitaminic.co.uk
www.eatsleepmusic.com
www.epitonic.com