| MP3: |
A sound file that has been compressed through MP3 encoding,
making the files smaller and easier to send across the Internet. |
| WAV: |
An uncompressed Windows audio file. WAV files occupy an incredible
amount of disk space, thus the need for compressed formats, such as MP3. |
| WMA: |
The Windows Media Player format, which (according to independent
testing) sounds as good as MP3 at half the bit rate (and therefore half
the file size). |
| VQF: |
A compression algorithm developed by Yamaha that is similar to MP3 yet
occupies less hard drive space. Find out more at VQF.com
|
| AIFF: |
An uncompressed Macintosh audio file. WAV files occupy an
incredible amount of disk space, thus the need for compressed formats, such
as MP3s. |
| codec: |
A codec is an algorithm for compressing and decompressing
audio and video files without losing a significant amount of information.
Once a file has been compressed by a codec like MP3 or RealAudio, it is
smaller and easier to transmit across the Web, and still sounds fairly true
to the original. |
MPEG
(Moving Pictures Experts Group) : |
MPEG is a standard for compressing sound and movie files into
an attractive format for downloading--or even streaming--across the Internet.
The MPEG-1 standard streams video and sound data at 150 kilobytes per second--the
same rate as a single-speed CD-ROM drive--which it manages by taking key
frames of video and filling only the areas that change between the frames.
|
| Firmware: |
The operating system and software installed on a portable
device. Some MP3 players have upgradable firmware, meaning that their operating
systems can be updated to support future audio codecs or make small performance
tweaks such as improved power efficiency. |
| S/PDIF (Sony/Philips Digital Interface): |
A standard format used for transferring data between two digital
audio devices over (more commonly) a standard RCA cable or (less commonly)
an optical cable. |
| jukebox: |
A multipurpose audio program that usually incorporates an audio player,
a ripper, an encoder, and a file organizer.
|
| MIDI: |
MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a protocol
that allows electronic musical instruments to talk to each other and to
computers. Because MIDI files contain only a series of commands (such as
note on, note off), they are very small and efficient. On the other hand,
they have no sound of their own, and must be used in conjunction with a
wavetable, a synthesizer, or a drum machine. |
| Flash memory: |
Small, flat, solid-state type of memory used in MP3 players,
digital cameras, and PDAs. It comprises CompactFlash, SmartMedia, Memory
Stick, pendrive, and microdrive; it is an expensive form of storage. |
| Watermark: |
A unique inaudible code, which is inserted into an audio file
in order to identify the first person who legally purchased the file. If
you buy a watermarked MP3 and then distribute it over the Internet, the
RIAA will be able to tell that you are the person who originally broke copyright
law and distributed the file. Watermarks have yet to be deployed by the
SDMI. |
| Ripper: |
Software that digitally yanks tunes from your CDs and turns
them into files on your computer (WAV files in Windows, AIFF files on a
Mac). |
