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• The Encoding Software:
There are many MP3 encoders available
on the Internet. You can easily find links to
their sites by using a search engine such
as Google and entering a phrase such as
‘MP3 ripping software’ or ‘MP3 encoders’.
You can also read the reviews of the more
popular encoders in PC magazines or on
dedicated MP3 sites. Always familiarise
your self with the software you choose
and get to know the available functions,
features and read the documentation that
accompany the software. Most of the MP3
encoders contain comprehensive help
files; use these files if you get stuck.
• Bit and sampling rates:
Few things affect MP3 audio quality as
much as its recorded bit rate. Bit rate is
the measure of kilobits per second (Kbps)
used to store the audio. More kilobits per
second equates to higher-quality audio.
This also means more space is required
for recording and storage of an MP3 file.
The standard bit rate of a CD you buy
at the store is about 1,411Kbps and the
standard bit rate for MP3 recordings
is 128Kbps, although some software
allows you to record at higher or lower
bit rates.
Don’t be confused with the sampling
rate and bit rate. The sampling rate is
measured in Kilo Hertz (KHz). This is
the number of times per second that
the original sound source was sampled
during recording. CD-quality audio is
recorded in stereo at a sampling rate
of 44.1KHz. No matter what bit rate
you use to record audio, it will never
sound better than the original source.
A 44.1KHz stereo recording converted
to MP3 format at a bit rate of 128Kbps
will always sound better than a 24KHz
mono recording converted at the same
(or even a higher) bit rate.
• Creating or ‘Ripping’ the
MP3 files:
Recording and ripping software creates
a WAV file on your PC, which must
then be converted to MP3 format.
A WAV file is basically a direct copy of
the original audio data and therefore
takes up about as much space as the
original recording, but the format has
many advantages. The benefit is that
the WAV to MP3 conversion takes up
less space on your hard drive. Through
your MP3 software you can tweak the
WAV file so the converted MP3 sounds
better. It is possible to boost the overall
volume of a weak-sounding WAV file so
the resulting MP3 file is louder or you can
apply a filter that removes background
hiss, resulting in a better quality file.
Making changes like this when ripping
directly to MP3 format is much harder,
as you can’t really tweak the file, and it
requires a lot of tedious trial and error to
get the sound right. Good rippers can
translate the original digital data directly
into an MP3 file or you can convert files
into WMA or other audio formats.
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