History of Computers - MP3

Introduction

MP3, which stands for MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, is a audio encoding software that uses data compression in order to store more music for aduio storage. MP3 was developed by the MPEG group, originally a video design group. MPEG also produced MPEG-4, which is the primary consumer digital video storage system.

Overview

Developed in 1992 by the Moving Pictures Experts Group, MP3 works by compressing audio data sent to it by lowering the bit rate (flow of data) by deleting redundant sounds as well as sounds that are deemed too high or too low for human ears. In this manner, the MP3 can usually compress data to 1/10 of it's size using lossy data compression. Lossy compression means that some sounds are deemed 'lost', therefore, there is a slight drop in sound quality if the bit rate is dropped too much.