MP3 (MPEG-1 Audio Layer-3)

MP3 is a standard technology and format for compressing a sound sequence into a very small file (about one-twelfth the size of the original file) while preserving the original level of sound quality when it is played. MP3 files (identified with the file name suffix of ".mp3") are available for downloading from a number of Web sites. Many Windows 98 users will find that they have a player built into their operating system. Otherwise, you can download a player from one of several popular MP3 sites. To create an MP3 file, you use a program called a ripper to get a selection from a CD onto your hard drive and another program called an encoder to convert the selection to an MP3 file.