MPEG layer 3 is a type of audio codec where processed by significant compression from the original audio source with very little loss in sound quality. The compression up to 12:1 produces a very little degradation. Tighter compression can be achieved, but it will effect in sound degradation results.
To obtain certain compression, we must adjust the bit rates. The standart bit rates (near cd quality result) is 128 or 112 kbit/s. Many people claim that low-rate MPEG layer 3 files sound better than Real Audio files with similar bit rates.
The advantage of MP3 is that it can be broken up into pieces, and each piece is still playable. The feature that makes this possible (headerless file format) also means that MP3 files can be made to stream across the net real-time (assuming the playback bitrate and speed of the Internet connection are compatible).
What is MP4?
Similar to how MP3 files work by compressing audio files without affecting the audio's quality, MP4 works the same way, but with video files and with added complexity. The large video files of both motion and audio is compressed into a single and simple file. MP4 is commonly known as MPEG-4 AVC (Advanced Video Coding). This new technology have hopes to decrease the size of the video, which in turns minimizes the risk of running out of space with older computers, making it easier to work with for the users.
Like stated before, the MP4 files are compressed into very small files into an extent that quality is not affected in any way. How the MP4 files manage to retain its quality is by dealing with specific coding situations, reducing certain aspects (such as temporal and spatial redundancies), transforming and changing the motion and intra estimation into the frequency domain, and inputting codec.
The MP4 players work in a simple manner as well. Attach the device into the computer, notebook, or TV and start the desired video. The advantage of the MP4 technology is that the video files are played in DVD quality at less than 1 Mbps (through a broadband connection). With a MP4 player, one can take videos through an Internet connection and watch them immediately in perfect quality. Lower MP versions can be played in the player, such as audio MP3 files.
Disadvantages, though not many, exist through the realms of MP4 technology. Piracy concerns in the MP3s still continue with MP4. Licensing and piracy problems continue and become even greater as long as MP4 gains its popularity. Despite the small size of a MP4 file, it still takes a while to download the file in a broadband connection. In a nut shell, the file is generally still large, even if it is compressed.
What is 3GP?
3GP - is the new mobile phone video file format.
3GPP, 3GPP2 are the new worldwide standard for the creation, delivery and playback of multimedia over 3rd generation, high-speed wireless networks. Defined by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project and 3rd Generation Partnership Project 2 respectively, these standards seek to provide uniform delivery of rich multimedia over newly evolved, broadband mobile networks (3rd generation networks) to the latest multimedia-enabled wireless devices. Tailored to the unique requirements of mobile devices, 3GPP and 3GPP2 take advantage of MPEG-4, the standard for delivery of video and audio over the Internet.
The evolution of high-speed wireless digital networks is based on two predominant technologies ?GSM and CDMA2000. Both types of 3G networks are currently being deployed worldwide to offer consumers a variety of on-the-go multimedia services.
3GPP and 3GPP2 Mobile Infrastructure Solutions ?Many of the world抯 largest telecommunications infrastructure companies provide 3GPP and 3GPP2 mobile content delivery products and services to operators. Examples include:
* Alcatel
* Ericsson
* Nokia
* Siemens Mobile
* Sun Microsystems
3GPP and 3GPP2 Mobile Phones ?Many of today抯 new mobile phones offer 3GPP and 3GPP2 content capture and playback capabilities. Leading providers of these standards-based multimedia phones include:
* Motorola
* NEC
* Nokia
* Panasonic
* Sanyo
* Sharp
* Sony Ericsson
* Toshiba
* Qualcomm
What is WMA?
Short for Windows Media Audio, a Microsoft file format for encoding digital audio files similar to MP3 though can compress files at a higher rate than MP3. WMA files, which use the ?wma?file extension, can be of any size compressed to match many different connection speeds, or bandwidths.
What is WMV?
The Windows Media Video codec (.wmv) is a subset of Microsoft's Advanced Systems Format (ASF) container format. WMV files can be played by players such as MPlayer or Windows Media Player, the latter being only available for Microsoft Windows and Macintosh systems. WMV is a closed source, propriety codec that cannot be manipulated. It is not suggested for editing.
What is RM and RMVB?
RM stands for Real Media. Real Media is one of the most popular formats for streaming content on the Internet, RealMedia includes the RealAudio codec for sound clips and RealVideo codec for movies. RealAudio and RealVideo files are often given the common RealMedia ".RM" file extension. RealMedia files are often heavily compressed so they can stream over dial-up Internet connections.
RMVB stands for Real Media Variable Bitrate. RMVB is commonly used to contain Real Video 9 and RA (Real Audio).
