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MP3 FAQ

1. What is this MP3 thing?
MP3 (MPEG 1 Audio Layer 3) is a well-known, high quality, digital audio format for compressing audio files down to as little as 8% of their original file size while maintaining their original quality. You can obtain thousands of MP3 files without leaving your home or waiting in long lines in record stores. Just download the files from anywhere in the world through your Internet connection. Simply visit an MP3 supplier, pay a small fee for download rights (many free MP3 files are also available), and download them to your computer. You can then transfer the files to your Spirit player and listen to them through your home stereo speakers, in your car, or on the beach, or virtually anywhere! You can even make your own CD-quality MP3 files from your audio CDs with the use of the MP3 ripping encoding software.

2. What is the WMA Format?
WMA, Windows™ Media Agent, is another popular format supported by Microsoft Corporation. This format is available in two formats: WMA protected and unprotected. If you convert your CDs to WMA using Windows™ Media Player, then you will have a WMA unprotected track. This can be played on any Windows™ based computer. WMA protected is format used by many download sites for music downloads. Check the format and your portable player's compatibility. Spirit recognizes MP3 and WMA unprotected.

3. What is "ripping"?
Ripping refers to the process of digitally copying tracks from a CD to your computer's hard disk drive and storing them as .WAV files. This term is also used to refer to the process of making an MP3 from a CD. See Windows™ Media Player, our media player of choice.

4. Where can I download "ripping" software?
There are numerous websites on the Internet from which you can download ripping software. The Spirit player comes with ripping software provided by www.microsoft.com.

5. How do I "rip"?
Please see the "Help" menus, read-me files, users guides, and other documentation that accompanies your ripping software of choice.

6. What is "encoding"?
Encoding refers to the process of compressing .WAV files into a much smaller MP3 (or other compressed audio) format. Once you have ripped a song from your CD, you must then encode the .WAV file to an MP3 file. The file will be reduced to approximately one twelfth of its original size while maintaining it's original perceived audio quality.

7. Where can I download "encoding" software?
There are numerous websites on the Internet from which you can download encoding software. The Spirit player comes with ripping software provided by www.microsoft.com.

8. How do I "encode"?
Please see the "Help" menus, read-me files, users guides, and other documentation that accompanies your encoding software of choice.

9. Where can I download MP3 files?
We're betting that if you've made it this far, you are pretty knowledgeable about where to get MP3 tracks. Simply stated, though, MP3 tracks (or files) can be found through hundreds of Internet sites, search engines, and download utilities. Another popular way of obtaining MP3 tracks is to create them yourself from CDs that you already own. This process is call "ripping and encoding." Please see the questions related to ripping and encoding for more information about either.

10. What is a Spirit OR Rubato Portable Digital Audio Player?
Spirit or Rubato Portable Digital Audio Players allows you to take your favorite MP3 or WMA tracks from your computer with you for instant skip-free, CD-quality playback, wherever you go. With its dramatically small sizes and weights combined with its durability, extremely superior sound quality, and volume pumping power, they make a great addition to any music fan's arsenal.

Products FAQ | Using Player FAQ | Troubleshoot | MP3 FAQ