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Chapter 2
Safety information
That’s why researchers started experimenting with new
ways of compressing an audio CDs amount of data.
Contrary to the different compression programs
on computers, for instance WinZip, all initial infor-
mation will be irretrievably lost when audio com-
pressing.
Normally the difference between MP3 and audio
CD playback can not be heard; provided that a
„better” compression level is used.
In this case, the playback quality offered in mobile
devices (e.g. the included MP3 player) or in cars is
satisfactory.
The most common known compressed file format is “MP3”,
which offers a variety of quality levels (The principle is: the
better the format, the greater the amount of data).
Later on, other different compressed audio file formats
were developed; the second most important after „MP3” is
the „WMA” format. Meanwhile, there are both free of charge
and/or very expensive programs for almost all operating
systems available on the market that can be used with any
available audio CD (or other source), to help you create
compressed music files.
Please note:
A lot of audio CDs are copy protected to prevent
cloning. In some cases, complications could arise
when converting into a compressed music data
file.
Hi-fi CD players will normally not be affected by copy pro-
tected CDs; a lot of computer drives will although refuse
playback.
The industry is tending to gradually change back to CDs that
are not copy protected, due to the many problems that DVD
players, car radios and other portable playback units are ha-
ving with this copy protection method.
This copy protection system was developed to prevent CD
cloning and circulation, which is why many record compa-
nies are trying to protect their CDs. Such trends threaten the
existence of artists, musicians and the music industry. The
development of the copy protection system has also led to
Chapter 2
Safety information
