Getting
music for your MP3 player
If you have a CD
collection, and would like to convert songs from your CDs into
MP3 files, you can use
ripper and encoder software. A ripper copies a song's file
from the CD onto your hard disk. The encoder compresses the
song into the MP3 format. By encoding songs, you can play them
on your computer or take them with you on your MP3player. The
ripper and encoder software may come with your MP3 player.
The
specific instructions will vary with the individual software
programs, but the following steps will definitely take place:
- Place
the CD from which you want to convert songs into your drive.
- Select
the track(s) that you want to convert to MP3 format.
- Convert
the selected track(s).
- Copy the new MP3 files on to your
computer's hard disk.
Now you are ready
to download these MP3 files into your portable MP3 player.
Downloading
MP3 Files to an MP3 Player
Once you have MP3
files on your computer, you can use the software that came
with your MP3
player to
download the
files into your
MP3 player. Again, the specific instructions
will vary depending upon your software program and player,
but
you will:
Create a playlist from your MP3 files.
- Plug the
player into your computer's parallel or USB port (depending
on the features of your
player).
- Transfer the MP3 files according
to the instructions.
The process only takes a few minutes!
Using an
MP3 Player
Once you have downloaded the MP3 files into
your portable MP3 player, you are
ready to take your
music anywhere.
Most MP3
players are small (3 in x 5 in /
7.5 cm x 11.5 cm, or less), lightweight,
and solid-state. Because most players
are solid-state, there are no moving parts
to break down or
skip, so the sound quality
is uninterrupted regardless of your
physical activity. MP3 players are equipped with
various types of
headphones or
earpieces.
Portable MP3 players can
play music longer than a portable CD player.
The length
of play for
a CD player
is about
74 minutes, the length of one CD.
However, the length of play
for an MP3
player depends upon its memory
capacity, which can be upgraded on some models.
A standard MP3 player
can play
for about
half an hour (32 MB) to a few weeks
(40 GB)! Some models can be
upgraded
with additional memory devices. |
