The common format for audio storage files is MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III (MP3 file extension). MP3 files are used by the majority of music players, including smartphones. Lossy compression lowers the quality without significantly deviating from the uncompressed source recording. This is accomplished by eliminating sounds that the human ear is unable to perceive and process. Due to the fact that tracks at CD quality are transferred to the smaller MP3 file, MP3 files are excellent for portability. Therefore, regardless of connection speed, after compression, more data can fit on a single disc than were originally released, reducing upload and download times for music files.
Audio files are compressed for quick storage and transmission via lossy data compression. The MPEG-1 file format came before it, but it continued into a new category (MPEG-2 Audio Layer III). Unlike MPEG-1 files, MP3 files exclusively include audio data. Any accompanying images, such as those seen on iPods and mobile devices, must be kept in a separate file. MP3 files are downsized from the original recording at a ratio of 11:1 to 128kbit/s. The accuracy of the sounds is reduced in a way that the changes are in regions that are outside the perception of the majority of human ears (audio masking), leaving the crucial information, and producing a significantly smaller file size. There are techniques to shrink the file size even further, but it diminishes
list of programs that can open MP3 documents:
- RealOne
- WinAmp
- Windows Media Player
- iTunes
- Real Player