How Do MP3 Players Work

Software converts the music to a small digital file, usually WAV to mp3, using a codec like MP3 or WMA. The codec compresses the file by eliminating sounds undetectable to the human ear. The digital file is stored in the mp3 player's memory, usually flash or a micro-drive system. Because the file is very small, these players can typically hold thousands of songs.

During playback the mp3 player executes a number of functions. Embedded software reads the file, decompresses the encoding, converts it back to analog, amplifies the signal and sends it to the headphones. We then have crystal clear sound without any of the annoying cracks, pops and hisses that are very common to records and tapes.

What Are The Different Types of Portable MP3 Players

There are three basic types of MP3 devices used in a portable personal music player -

1. Flash Players - the smallest, least expensive, and most reliable. Using solid state flash memory with embedded software, they have no moving parts, so batteries last longer and skips are eliminated. Today they have quite large memory capacities, up to 32GB at the time of writing, and can hold many thousands of songs. Most players have search, shuffle, repeat and other popular features. Some of the more advanced devices even have widescreen touch screens for playback of not only music but also Video and Photos as well. These are called MP4 players.

2. Micro-Drive Players - the tiny hard drives in these mp3 players have up to 60GB of memory and will hold many thousands of songs. Some also store and display photos and video. Anti-skip technology helps, but shock or vibration can still cause skips. They typically have more functions and features than flash players.

3. CD MP3 Players - the new generation of portable CD players. Using formats like mp3, WMA and ATRAC, they play (some also burn) CD's that hold 10 to 45 hours of music per disc. They play standard and/or 3" MiniDisc CD's. Standard CD sized units cost less than most mp3 players. MiniDisc player prices are higher but they hold the most music, and they're about the same size as a micro-drive mp3 player. Most play both pre-recorded and CD-R/RW discs. Features are similar to the other players.

Where Does Apple iPod Fit In

As discussed above, the MP3 and MP4 formats are compression technologies for converting standard analog audio tracks (like those on a commercial music CD) to smaller digital computer files.

The primary reason digital music formats have become so popular is that they deliver high quality sound at roughly one tenth the size of the uncompressed original. As a point of reference, a standard Audio CD can hold roughly 20 songs while a CD encoded with MP3 files can hold as many as 200 songs.

Normally when sound is compressed, the quality is dramatically diminished, but many empires were launched because of the MP3 format and its ability to deliver high compression rates with a minimum loss of sound quality.

The MP3 format became an official standard in 1992 and began the chain of events that eventually created many popular music encoding programs and playback devices.

Today, the sheer quantity of small handheld devices that can hold thousands of songs is mind-boggling, but the undisputed leader (by a wide margin) is Apple’s iPod, despite the fact it was a latecomer to the MP3 player party.

A big reason for the huge success of Apple’s music device was the launch of the iTunes online music store. It was the first commercially successful attempt at selling music at 99 cents per song but required an iPod if you wanted to take your purchased music mobile.

At the time, Apple was successful (when others weren’t) in convincing the music industry to allow it to sell copyrighted music in a digital format because of something known as FairPlay digital rights management (DRM). Remembering that this all came on the tails of the massive music piracy problem created by the original Napster file sharing system (Napster is now a legitimate online music company), Apple had to demonstrate that it could control how these digital files were used.

This is where the AAC format (Advanced Audio Coding, commonly referred to as MP4) came into the picture. Because Apple used a proprietary file format, it was able to limit how each file purchased on its system was used, which meant a single user could not purchase a song and share it with others.

Along with this digital rights management system, Apple also made claims that the sound compression technology was superior to the old MP3 format. While the technical data may support this claim, the reality is that most listeners don’t have the playback equipment (speakers) or the ears to tell any difference.

What is relevant about music purchased on the iTunes system in AAC or MP4 format is that it can only be played back in the iTunes software or on an iPod, while the MP3 format is supported by all music devices (including the iPod).

Your choice of playback systems will be the primary driver of which format is best for you, so be sure you check your players supported formats before you begin buying or encoding your music.

The MP4 Evolution

The evolution of Mp4 player devices has lead to providing more features such as Fm Tuner, Voice Recorder, Email, and Internet browser capability. As it is capable of delivering audio and video at the same time, Mp4 devices can offer a wide range of interesting features, such as web browsing, email, instant messaging, video and music download, Bluetooth wireless technology, digital camera and others. Not to forget the game capability, voice recording and multiple language options. The storage capacity is amazing which can start from 256 Megabytes up to 40, 60 and up Gigabytes.

Mp4 is the next step in the evolution of music after Mp3. The main difference between Mp4 and Mp3 formats is that, Mp4 devices hold both audio and video files. As for the Mp3 it only holds the audio type file.

There are many brands on the market today that rival the iPod for quality and features.

Some of the more popular of these brands of Mp3/Mp4 players are - Creative, Samsung, SanDisk, Sony and iRiver. Most of these have good amount of storage capacity and good screen size.