3. MP3 Creation, Continued

In this first picture you'll see the basic MP3 encoder options and then some. I'm using a CD as my source (AKA "ripping" a CD). I can select all or some of the tracks as well as the file format to save as. A couple of buttons offer even more options. The important one is the format options button.

Here's the good stuff for those of you who are familiar with encoding software. First and foremost, you'll notice that the creators of this encoder are the same folks who invented the MP3 format. Next you'll see the various format options range from bit rate to encoding quality. 50 MB songs sampled at Fast encode quality and 128k-bit rate was shrunk down to a little over 4.6 MBs. The same file with a 160k-bit rate was 5.7 MBs while a highest quality at 160k-bit rate weighed in at 10 MBs. The quality of each was excellent but obviously some of us prefer the higher-grade sounds for when we replay them on high-end sound systems. Either way, the options are here for you to configure as you wish.

This is just an example of one encoder as there are many available that have from a line command interface to a GUI somewhat like the one Nero provides. People have varying preferences so the best advice I can give is to go out and try a few before settling down with one.