What Are Format And Bit Rate; What Is Audio Format - Sony NWZ-A726 Operation Manual



Useful Facts

What are Format and Bit Rate?

What is audio format?

Audio format refers to the method used when importing audio data from the
Internet or audio CDs to a computer and saving it as an audio file.
Common formats include MP3 and WMA, etc.
MP3: MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer3) is a common audio compression
technology developed by the MPEG working group of the ISO (International
Organization for Standardization).
MP3 can compress audio files to about 1/10 the size of standard CD audio files.
WMA: WMA (Windows Media Audio) is a common audio compression
technology developed by Microsoft Corporation. The WMA format produces
the same sound quality as that of the MP3 format with a smaller file size.
AAC: AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) is a common audio compression
technology developed by the MPEG working group of the ISO (International
Organization for Standardization). The AAC format produces the same sound
quality as that of the MP3 format, with a smaller file size.
Linear PCM: Linear PCM is an audio recording format without digital
compression. You can listen to the sound with the same quality as CD music by
recording with this format.
What is bit rate?
Bit rate refers to the amount of data used to store each second of audio.
Generally, higher bit rates provide better sound quality, but require more storage
space for the same length of audio.
What is the relationship between bit rate, sound quality, and storage size?
Generally, higher bit rates provide better sound quality, but require more storage
space for the same length of audio, so you can store fewer songs on the player.
Lower bit rates enable you to store more songs, but at a lower sound quality.
Note
 If you import a song from a CD to your computer at a low bit rate, you cannot improve
the song's sound quality by selecting a high bit rate when transferring the song from the
computer to the player.
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