Sony What are Format and Bit Rate?

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What are Format and Bit Rate?
What is audio format?
Audio format refers to the method used to import audio data from the Internet
or audio CDs to a computer, and then save 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.
What is copyright protection?
Certain music files or video files, etc., that you purchase from a music
download service site, etc., may apply access control technologies, such as
encryption, to limit usage and duplication of material, in accordance with
copyright laws.
What is bit rate?
Bit rate refers to the amount of data used to store each second of audio,
expressed in kbps (kilo bits per second), such as 64 kbps. 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 further transferring the song
from the computer to the player.