Audio -

Analog and Digital

Because Geocities has a limit on how much MB it can hold, I have to use a Sound Editor to convert the Music into a low enough format so that it can be uploaded onto Geocities. As you are reading this one of my original songs is more than likely still downloading. The song you are about to listen to (or are already) is called
"Polk Salad Annie".

It will open up your main mp3 player and start playing.

This may be Windows Media Player, QuickTime or Real One

for reference.

If you click on the song title that you see underlined, you will be taken to my Music site on Kentucky Artist
where I have more songs that are in the MP3 format.

Questions and Answers concerning different formats :

Question :    What is the main difference between .wav,  .mp3 and .cda ?

Answer  :    The format on most cds are called .cda. They are uncompressed formatted files whereas
a 700MB cd will take up 700 MB of memory on your hard drive.
The .cda is close to the .wav format as far as size, in order to save any songs off of a cd,
it first needs to be converted to a .wav, .wma, or mp3 format.
.wav is an uncompressed file format while .mp3 is short for Motion Pictures Group level 3
                 The same song saved as .wav will take up almost 5 - 10 times more space then a .mp3.
In order to make an audio cd, first the mp3 format is converted to .wav before being burned onto a cd.
With .wav you can use any Sound Editor to crop, delete, enhance the sounds, while with mp3 you have to convert
it to .wav before doing any changes.

Because of the larger file format .wav is not reasonable to use to transfer from one computer to another.
It is better to use .mp3 format again because it is more compressed.

Question : I have heard "compression" mentioned alot. What exactly does that mean?

Answer  :  Compression is basically meaning how much you want the .wav in particular compressed and what quality.
MP3 is MPEG layer 3 format as mentioned above, the only difference is how many kilobytes per second you want,
and the hertz. By using Soundstream (Roxio Easy CD Creator Platinum 5) it is possible to go as low as
32 kbps at 44kz, Stereo and as high as320 kbps, 44kz Stereo.
The higher the bitrate the better quality of sound, but it also takes up more memory.
Windows also has their own compression: called .wma (Windows Media Audio).
.wma usually is compressed more then .mp3 but is limited to useage on Windows operating system.
By using the Easy CD Creator as mentioned above - the compression rate that can be recorded is from
16kbps, 44kz, Stereo to 128kbps, 44kz Stereo.
Of course, with a Sound Editor (my choice is using either the sound editor on Easy CD Creator or Nero Wave Editor)
- you can lower the size of file.

Question :  "How do I get my cassette tape or other analog audio onto the computer?"

Answer :  First you must have a Sound Card.
(If you can listen to any music on your computer, then you do have a sound card.)
Then you must have an input on your computer, more then likely it will be a 1/8" input jack.
To do a simple analog to computer conversion - you will need a RCA to 1/8" plug that can be found at any
local electronics store. Plug the RCA into the back of the audio device (preferably a REC OUT not the main output),
and then plug the 1/8" into the back of your computer (making sure that it is the AUDIO INPUT jack and not output.
Then you will need a software program that will record the audio input.
Easy CD Creator has a real excellent software program, called Sound Stream.

This is basically how I convert analog sound (i.e. cassette tapes) into .wav or mp3.
I also use a OPTIMUS SSM-1750 Sound Mixer (from Radio Shack) to enhance the quality of the sound.

Therefore if you would want a HIGH quality cd made of any of your analog recordings: cassette tape or record..
It is best to first record it on a computer using the highest bitrate possible, making sure that you can take out the pops
and clicks that the record makes and then burn it on a cd using any of the software that I mentioned above.

Services:  Here at T.C.B. Studio we do high quality file transformation
between formats and optimizations for both speed and quality depending on your application. 
We use large hardware filtering data banks reducing noice and enhancing sound quality.
If you would like more on our services apply here.