
Originally Posted by
Chewie UK
I've posted about mp3s using this analogy before...
When you convert a WAV to mp3 you are squashing it down into a smaller size, albeit in a different format.
When you play the mo3 file in, say, WinAmp, it gets decoded to a WAV file in memory first.
Imagine you have a paper bag you want to make smaller so you can store more in your cupboard ('cos you're a weirdo).
Folding to make it smaller makes creases and when you open it out again, you can see the creases remain no matter how hard you try to flatten it again, yet it's still recognisably a paper bag that can be used as such.
The more you fold the bag, the more creases you'll see when you open it out again.
This is exactly what is going on when you compress WAV files to mp3 - you lose more quality the more you compress it.
I've told everyone I know showing interest in mp3 players to ignore any holds up to xxx files quotes in blurb because they're effectively meaningless.
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