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- About MP3/WMA/AAC

CD/MP3/WMA/AAC player

About MP3/WMA/AAC

The making of MP3/WMA/AAC files by recording from sources such as broadcasts, records, recordings, videos and live performances without permission from the copyright holder for uses other than personal enjoyment is prohibited.

What is MP3/WMA/AAC?

MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer III) is a standard format for audio compression technology. By using MP3 a file can be compressed to one-tenth the size of the original.

WMA (Windows MediaTM Audio) and AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) are formats for audio compression technology. WMA files can be compressed to a size smaller than MP3 files. AAC is said to have a high rate of compression which is about 1.4 times that for MP3 files with the same audio quality.

This main unit has limitations on MP3/WMA/AAC file standards and recorded media and formats that can be used.

Playable MP3 file standards

Supported standards:MPEG-1 Audio Layer III, MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, MPEG-2.5 Audio Layer III
Supported sampling frequencies: 8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 (kHz)
Supported bit rate:8~320 (kbps)

^*Supports VBR. (8~320kbps)

^*Does not support free format.
Supported channel modes:monaural, stereo, joint, dual

Playable WMA file standards

Supported standards:WMA Ver. 7 , WMA Ver. 8 , WMA Ver. 9
Supported sampling frequencies:8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 (kHz)
Supported bit rate:3~320 (kbps)

^*Supports VBR (3~320 kbps).

^*Does not support lossless compression.

^*Does not support WMA files recorded at a frequency of 48kHz with a bit rate of 96kbps.

Playable AAC file standards

Supported standards:AAC-LC (MPEG-4)
Supported sampling frequencies:8, 11.025, 12, 16, 22.05, 24, 32, 44.1, 48 (kHz)
Supported bit rate:3~320 (kbps)

^*Supports VBR (3~320 kbps).
Supported channel modes:monaural, stereo, joint, dual

Depending on the encoding method used, this device may not be able to play back some types of AAC file.

ID3/WMA tag

MP3/WMA files have an “ID3 / WMA Tag” that allows input of information so that data such as song title and artist can be saved.

This main unit supports ID3v. 1.0, 1.1 and WMA tags.

Tags for AAC files cannot be displayed .

Media

Media capable of playing MP3/WMA/AAC includes CD-R and CD-RW discs. Compared to CD-ROM media commonly used for music discs, CD-R and CD-RW discs are fragile in high temperature/high humidity environments and one section of the CD-R and CD-RW may become incapable of playback. Fingerprints or scratches on the disc may prevent playback or cause skipping during playback. Sections of a CD-R and CD-RW may deteriorate if left inside a vehicle for long periods of time. It is also recommended that CD-R and CD-RW discs be kept in a light-blocking case because the discs are vulnerable to ultra-violet light.

Format of discs

The format of discs to be used must be ISO9660 Level 1 or Level 2.

Control items for this standard are as follows:

Maximum directory layers: 8 layers
Maximum characters for folder names/file names:128 (including “.” and 3 letter file extension)
Allowable characters for folder names/file names:A~Z, 0~9, _ (underscore)
Number of files possible on a single disc: 512
Maximum folders this main unit can recognize:512*
^* : A root directory is counted as one folder.

File names

Only files with the MP3/WMA/AAC file extension ".mp3", ".wma" , ".m4a" can be recognized as MP3/WMA/AAC and played. Be sure to save MP3 files with the ".mp3" file extension. Be sure to WMA files with the ".wma" file extension. Be sure to save AAC files with the ".m4a" file extension. The "MP" letters of the file extension will be recognized whether entered as uppercase letters or lowercase letters.

If the ".mp3", ".wma", ".m4a" file extension is attached to a file other than an MP3/WMA/AAC file, that file will be mistakenly recognized by the main unit as an MP3/WMA/AAC file and played, resulting in loud noise output that can damage the speakers. Be sure to avoid attaching the ".mp3", ".wma", ".m4a" file extension to files that are not MP3/WMA/AAC files.

Multi-sessions

Multi-sessions are supported, and playing of CD-R and CD-RW discs with annotated MP3/WMA/AAC files is possible. However, if files have been written onto a disc using “Track at once”, close the session or perform the finalization process. Standardize the format so that it does not change with each session.

Precautions during MP3/WMA/AAC playback

When a disc with recorded MP3/WMA/AAC files is inserted, the main unit first checks all the files on the disc. No sound is output while the main unit is checking the files on the disc. It is recommended that the disc be recorded without files other than MP3/WMA/AAC files and without unnecessary folders in order to speed up the checking of disc files by the main unit.

MP3/WMA/AAC playing time display

It is possible that playing time will not be correct, depending on the writing condition of the MP3/WMA/AAC file.

^*It is possible that playing time will not be correct when VBR Fast Up/Down is operated.

Display order of MP3/WMA/AAC file/folder names

Names of MP3/WMA/AAC folders and files within the same level are displayed in the following order.

1.MP3/WMA/AAC folders displayed first, by ascending order of numbers, letters.

2.Files displayed next, by ascending order of numbers, letters.

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