WHAT IS MP3?
| Description | The MP3 format was created in 1991, and its specification was published in 1993 as a part of the MPEG-1 standard. Originally, MP3 was made as a proprietary format, but now it is free to use by anyone. MP3 matured into the most widespread audio format in the world. It is probably not possible to find a program that can’t open and play MP3s. But technologies are always developing, and many broadcasting companies now prefer other file types with better compression and less sound quality reduction. |
| Developed by | Specialists from Fraunhofer Society |
| File Extension | .mp3 |
| Technical Details | MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer III or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III) is a format for the lossy compression of sound. The quality and size of MP3 files are defined by their bitrate. So, if you’re wondering how to compress your audio files while keeping the quality, consider converting them to MP3 with a bitrate of 192 kbit/s or higher. Then you probably won’t be able to hear any difference in the playback. |
| Associated Programs | Almost any multimedia program |