mp3

MP3 (MPEG-Layer3) is the audio standard that is turning the music industry on its head has truly arrived - and it is here to stay. Want to be a part of the music revolution? Well here are a few pointers to help you on your way!

Playing MP3 Files

Get yourself an MP3 player similar to a media player.. This is a piece of software Our section has a wide number of players for you to download. Just click on the player of your choice and follow the instructions.

Install your player. Run the executable (.exe) file and the player will be installed on your machine.

Get music - There are thousands of MP3 files out there. Go to the links and pick yourself a site and your on your way.

4. Play the music. Open up the MP3 file in your player then hit the play button - It couldn't be more simple.

Creating your own MP3 files

All you need is the correct pieces of software - a ripper and an encoder.

First of all you need to copy a track from a CD onto your hard disk. This is done using a ripper.

You will then end up with a WAV file.

The next step is to compress and convert the WAV file into an MP3 using an encoder.

You can get Encoders and rippers from the my download pages.

MP3 Extras

Once you have your player and are feeling comfortable with it, there are a vast number of add-ons that can enhance the MP3 experience.

Skins - These are a cosmetic cover for your player. Once added they change the appearance of its interface. There is some cool stuff out there.

Playlists - A playlist is a piece of software that allows you to organize MP3 files.

For example you can create your MP3 compilations by creating a playlist saving it to disk.

Once you have your favorite playlists why not take your MP3s on the street?

Portable MP3 players has added an extra dimension to the MP3 phenomenon.

Find out about these products in our MP3 hardware section

CD quality music without the restrictions of CDs - what more could you want?