Here is a comprehensive list of MP3 related words to help you better understand the world of MP3.
a2b
A proprietary, encrypted, and secure format for compression audio. Created by AT&T and it claims to be a better compression and sound quality than MP3.
AAC
The abbreviation for Advanced Audio Codec
ADC
The abbreviation for analog-to-digital converter
Advanced Audio Codec
This is a powerful codec that produces great sound and supports up to 48 channels, but it is not yet widely available in an ISO-compliant implementation. Abbreviated to AAC.
AIFF
A standard format for uncompressed PCM audio. AIFF is typically used on the Macintosh.
Amiga
An early personal computer with multimedia capabilities.
amplified speakers
Speakers that contain their own amplifier or amplifiers. Usually, only one speaker in the set contains the amplifier.
analog signal
A continuous variable waveform.
analog–to-digital converter
A circuitry that converts an analog signal into a digital signal. For example, when a sound card converts the input from an analog source (such as a microphone or record player) to a digital single in order to record it as an MP3 file.
ATRAC3
Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding. Created by Sony for a secure and encrypted format for compressed audio. ATRAC3 is used in Sony’s Minidisc players and portable players such as the VAIO Music Chip and the Memory Stick Walkman.
bandwidth
The amount of data that a communications channel can transmit per second (like a phone line or a cable modem).
bitrate
A number of bits per second used to store encoded information. Bitrates are measured in kilobits per second (kbps). A bitrate of 128kbps is generally considered to provide almost CD-quality sound.
bit-rot
Bit-rot is the degeneration of the data stored on a CD. Bit-rot can make a CD unreadable and unplayable.
Streaming Audio or Video
Audio or video data that can be heard or viewed as it is being transmitted.
cable modem
A device that receives and transmits data through the cabling of a cable TV system. Technically a cable modem is not a modem as it does not modulate and demodulate the signal.
CBR
The abbreviation for constant bitrate
CD
Compact disc. A digital audio format designed primary for audio distribution. Audio CDs contains uncompressed digital audio recorded at 44.1kHz.
CDDB
It an online database of music information, contains artist name, CD name, and track name. By submitting the unique CD ID number to CDDB, a ripper, player or jukebox can retrieve the information associated with the CD.
CD-quality audio
Audio sampled at a sampling rate of 44.1kHz and a sampling precision of 16 bits. CD-quality audio is considered perfect human hearing because the amount of information it provides is enough that most people cannot hear anything missing from the audio.
