What is MP3 and what are MP3 player?

MP3 is a digital audio format. It makes music easy and fast to download from the internet and it give excellent audio quality. MP3 players are devices on which you can listen to MP3 music files.

Many players play WMA- what does this mean?
WMA is another digital music format. It was developed by Microsoft. It uses less memory that MP3 but give the same audio quality; this means you can store more songs on your player. WMA is standard for music download site on the internet.

What is DRM?
DRM is Digital Rights Management. It is used by most music download services on the internet. It grants you the right to use the music you download.

Are MP3 players easy to use?
MP3 players are very user friendly. First, you need to get your music to your MP3 player. If you have downloaded tracks from an internet download site, you can probably drag and drop them straight to your MP3 player or use the software which comes with the Player –of course, you need to connect it to your PC first.

If you wan to transfer music from a CD, just insert the CD into your PC. You can then convert the music to MP3 or WMA using the software that comes with the player or with Windows Media Player. Then it’s just like transferring from the internet. When you want to listen to your music, just press “play”!

Why is an MP3 player better that a CD player?
MP3 players are so much smaller and lighter than CD players, and your music won’t skip or jump, either! Some MP3 players can store as many as 20,000 songs – try that with CDs! Just store and organize your music on your PC and download it to your MP3 Player. That’s all.

Does an MP3 player sound as good as a CD player?
MP3 players compare very favorably in terms of sound quality to that of a CD player.

What can I do with an MP3 player?

MP3 players are pretty flexible. Many of them will store your computer data as well as music, and some even offer a personal organizer, a built-in microphone for voice notes or recording meetings, or even the ability to store and share your photographs!

Where can I use an MP3 player?

If you can carry it, you can use it. On the bus or in the train, on the beach or in the gym, in the park or on a marathon… or simply when relaxing at home.

What type of MP3 player is better for when I am traveling?

MP3 players store your music in two ways. Some use hard disks, like the one in your PC (only small). Others use ‘flash memory’. Hard-disk players can store more, but tend to be a big bigger, Flash players can be light and tiny, but don’t store so much music.
We suggest that you use a flash player if you are on the move a lot, or spend time in the gym, or have a short journey to work. If you have a long journey then a hard disk-based player will be better.

Can MP3 players receive radio?

Most MP3 players have a built-in FM radio. Some also have a built-in recorder and microphone, so you can record you radio program or record voice notes and meetings.

What should I look for in my MP3 player?

These days there is an MP3 player for every need. For the dynamic lifestyle, a flash-based player is great. If you need longer playtimes and storage for many thousands of song, a hard disk-based player is the better choice. If you want to download music from the internet, you should look for WMA and DRM support as well as MP3. And the more music you need to handle, the more you will appreciate a USB 2.0 connection, which will transfer songs from your PC to your player at up to one a second.

Should an MP3 player have a display on it and what other features should the player have that I may need?

A display is pretty much essential these days. It helps you navigate through all your songs and find your favorites much more easily. Other features players may have include FM tuner, voice recorder and file storage.

How many songs can a player hold?

As many as you’re likely to need! A small flash-based MP3 player will store around 64 tracks. A powerful hard disk-based MP3 player will hold as many as 20,000!

Which type of PC do I need to use an MP3 player?

You need a PC with a USB port and a version of Windows from Windows 98SE onwards. Windows XP offers best support for the latest players.

Do MP3 players need additional software to be able to download music etc?

Many MP3 players are recognized by Windows XP as a removable hard disk – you can just drag and drop tracks to them. However, most MP3 players come with special software that makes transferring music a lot easier and adds many additional features.

What batteries do MP3 players use?

Flash MP3 players normally use a standard AAA battery, which you can replace once it runs out. Hard drive MP3 players have rechargeable batteries.

How long do I take to download songs from the Internet?

This depends on your internet connection; Broadband (ADSL, Cable etc) offers the faster speeds and shortest download times.

Tracks from a CD need to be converted to MP3 or MA before being transferred to your player. Most PCs come with the software required to do this, and Windows XP has Windows Media Player that can also do it.

How do I transfer music I have downloaded from the PC to my player?

You can move download music to your MP3 players easily – just drag and drop your tracks and there you are!

Where can I buy music on line?

There are a variety of on-line music stores such as Napster, MSN, and many more! Make sure that your MP3 player supports WMA and DRM to avoid disappointment.

Is it easy to organize songs on the player and on the PC?

Many users like to group their music by style, artist, mood, theme – in many different ways. The software that comes with your MP3 player should enable you to create play lists like this quickly and easily.

What is a playlist?

A playlist is a collection of songs organized the way you want.