What is MP3?
What is file format?
What is bit rate?
Is it legal to download MP3s?
What is the difference between a Hard Drive player and Flash?
Will my player work with Windows or Mac?
How do I convert CDs to MP3s?
How do I transfer music from my computer to my player?
Can I use one computer for multiple players?
Can I copy music from my player to another computer?
What does it mean when your MP3 player can function as an external hard drive?
What is DRM?
Can I play songs downloaded from iTunes on something other than an iPod?
Can I play songs downloaded from Napster, Rhapsody or Yahoo! Music on an iPod?
What is FairPlay?
What is PlaysForSure?
What is the default file format for iTunes?
Which popular download services will work with iPod?
Which download services will Zune work with?
What is Limewire?
Can I connect my player to my car stereo?
What are MP3 ID3 tags?
How do you place video on an MP3 player?
How can I make songs downloaded from iTunes work on other MP3 players?

What is MP3?
MP3 is a digital audio format encoded as MPEG-1 audio-3. MP3 is a very common format and it is the only audio format that almost all digital media support. The quality of the MP3 varies depending on its bit rate. Bitrates range from 32 kilobits per second to 320 kilobits per second. The higher the bit rate, the better the MP3 quality.

What is file format?
The format is the way that the file is encoded. All media has a file format specific to its function like music, video, pictures and others. MP3 is probably the most popular and compatible music file format used on portable media devices. Most MP3 players are compatible with multiple file formats, but they are particular about which ones. Other common music file formats include AAC (iTunes), WMA (Windows and PlaysForSure).

What is bit rate?
With regards to music or multimedia, a bit rate determines the amount of detailed information stored in the file. MP3 and other audio bit rates are measured from 32 to 320 kilobytes per second. The higher the bit rate the better the quality. The most common MP3 bit rates are from 128 to 192.

Is it legal to download MP3s?
Yes, if you are downloading the songs from a site like iTunes, Amazon MP3 or Napster. These companies have bought the rights to sell downloadable songs. However, if you are downloading them for free from a peer2peer site, like Limewire, it is probably illegal.

What is the difference between a Hard Drive player and Flash?
Hard drive MP3 players are typically larger physically and in storage size. They work on the same principle as a computer hard drive, which includes moving parts inside the player. Since hard drive MP3 players work similarly to computer hard drives they have the potential to skip, and occasionally generate some additional heat. However, hard drive technology is relatively inexpensive compared to flash drives.

Flash drives work kind of like your small thumb or jump drive. There are no moving parts which traditionally allow the players to be smaller and there is no potential for skipping. Flash players are good for those who like to use their MP3 player while working out. Additionally, flash technology is still fairly expensive and capacity is still somewhat limited. You could purchase a 32GB flash based player for the same price as a 160GB hard drive model.

Will my player work with Windows or Mac?
iPods are players that are compatible with both Mac and Windows platforms. Other popular brands like Zune, Creative, iRiver, Sandisk and Archos are only compatible with Windows operating systems.

How do I convert CDs to MP3s?
Almost all computers come standard with a CD drive and some kind of media player; Windows Media Player on PCs and iTunes on Mac. Place your CD into the drive and open your media player. However, both Windows Media and iTunes use default formats other than MP3.  Before you rip the CD go into the settings and change the format to MP3. After you’ve changed your default format simply choose to “rip” the CD button.

How do I transfer music from my computer to my player?
If your music is already on your computer then chances are you are already using a media player like iTunes, Windows Media Player or WinAmp that enables you to use your computer like a mini jukebox. When you get your MP3 player all you have to do is plug in the USB or Firewire cord that came with your MP3 player. Your media player application will usually recognize the plugged in MP3 player and simply allow you to drag and drop tracks or albums directly to the player. iPod requires you use iTunes to perform these tasks.

Some players can function like little drives that allow you to simply drag and drop files and folders directly to the player.

Can I use one computer for multiple players?
Yes. When you install a new MP3 player it will ask you to name the player. This is so the computer can identify different players on one computer. However, be very careful with the sync feature because sometimes when this is enabled it will not allow you to have more than one MP3 player sync with the computer. If you are using multiple MP3 players on one computer it is probably best to disable the sync function prior to plugging in the second player. Look in your media player’s help files to learn exactly how to disable this feature.

Can I copy music from my player to another computer?
Some MP3 players can function as a drive. If yours can do this, than yes you can transfer music that is on the player to your computer. However, most MP3 players like iPod and Zune cannot perform this task without additional applications not included with the packaged product.

What does it mean when your MP3 player can function as an external hard drive?
Think of your MP3 player as a mini information holder, if your MP3 player can function like an external hard drive than you don’t need any additional software to operate it. You can plug it into your USB port and it will show up as an additional drive, files can easily be dragged and dropped to and from the player like when you plug in your thumb drive at work or home.

What is DRM?
DRM stands for digital rights management. It is an encryption code embedded in your downloaded song that limits where and how the song can be played. These restrictions are enforced by music studios and MP3 player manufacturers. Most songs downloaded with an .m4p or .aac extension (iTunes) or .wma extension probably have some kind of DRM. Anything downloaded with .mp3 does not.  

Can I play songs downloaded from iTunes on something other than an iPod?
The easy answer is no, although there is some exception to this rule. A little more than half of the songs on iTunes include a digital rights management encryption code that keeps other MP3 players from playing songs downloaded from iTunes. However, the other half of iTunes’ songs does not include this encryption, but the default file format is AAC and most players do not support this format with or without digital rights management. If you don’t own an iPod it is safer to stay away from iTunes just in case. Additionally, just about any song on iTunes that does not include digital rights management is available on Amazon MP3 or Wal-mart downloads.

Can I play songs downloaded from Napster, Rhapsody or Yahoo! Music on an iPod?
No. All the songs on Napster, Rhapsody and Yahoo! Music include digital rights protection that is not compatible with any iPod or iPhone.

What is FairPlay?
FairPlay is Apple iTunes proprietary digital rights management (DRM) encryption. Songs that have FairPlay encryptions can only be played on iPod or iPhone. There are no other MP3 players on the market that support FairPlay DRM.

What is PlaysForSure?
PlaysForSure is a Microsoft specific digital rights management encryption used to identify legally downloaded songs. Most popular MP3 player brands, except iPod and Zune, are PlaysForSure compatible. Download services like Napster, Rhapsody and Yahoo! Music use PlayesForSure digital rights management. iTunes and the Zune Marketplace do not.

What is the default file format for iTunes?
Apple iTunes uses a proprietary AAC file format that is supported by iTunes media player (Mac and PC versions), iPod, Mac computers and QuickTime media player. Unprotected files can be converted to MP3 format by right-clicking the title or resetting the defaults in iTunes.

Which popular download services will work with iPod?
iPod will work with iTunes music store, Amazon MP3, Wal-Mart downloads and other sites that sell plain old MP3 files. It will not work with Rhapsody, Napster or Yahoo! Music.

Which download services will Zune work with?
Zune will work with the Zune Marketplace, Amazon MP3, Wal-Mart downloads and other sites that only sell MP3 file formats. Zune will not work with Napster, Rhapsody or Yahoo! Music.

What is Limewire?
Limewire is a large and popular peer2peer network that allows users to upload and download files, mostly popular music. Sites like Limewire are intended for file sharing of music by independent artists. Downloading songs from artists that belong to record labels like Madonna, The Beatles or Metallica is technically illegal.

Can I connect my player to my car stereo?
Yes, if you have the right equipment. Many stereos sold today have an AUX input that allows you to simply plug in a wire that will connect to your MP3 player. iPod has more accessories than most other MP3 player brands to accommodate those that don’t have an AUX input like docks that plug into the car’s lighter or cassette deck.

What are MP3 ID3 tags?
An ID3 tag is the information imbedded in a CD or downloaded file that includes the artist’s name, song title, album title and so on. These are particularly helpful when organizing your music collection.
How do you place video on an MP3 player?
Placing video on your player is a little trickier than getting music on there. There are some stores like iTunes that allow you to purchase or rent movies and television programs formatted specifically for your iPod. Amazon Unbox also has movies and television programs for sale and rent formatted to fit your MP3 player; however, video downloaded from Amazon is not compatible with iPod or Zune, but it does work with most other “PlaysForSure” devices like Creative, Archos and SanDisk.

Simple suggestion:
If you have an iPod use iTunes
If you have a Zune use the Zune Marketplace
If you have anything else use Amazon Unbox

If you do not want to download a movie or video from a site like Amazon or iTunes you will need additional software to rip DVDs and reformat them to play on your MP3 player. It is really easy to get software to transfer DVD to iPod and Zune, other formats are a little more difficult.

How can I make songs downloaded from iTunes work on other MP3 players?
Technically songs downloaded directly from iTunes cannot be transferred to anything other than an iPod. However, if you download the songs, burn a CD(the DRM will have been removed during the burning process), then rip the songs from the CD back to the computer in MP3 format. The songs can now be transferred to any MP3 device you wish. Remember though, there may be some quality loss in the process because you are making a copy of a copy.