Catch the WAV: Audio files explained

- Audio file: any audio mono/stereo sound recorded on a computer. For example, a MP3, FLAC, AAC, and so on.

As opposed to "audiophile" from the Greek to hear (audio) and loving (philos).

Codecs - For more information check out episode 40, CODEC 101.

Digital Rights Management -DRM: Protection against sharing built in to an audio (or other) file. DRM can limit the number of devices that are allowed to play the file, place limits on copying the file and so on.

The Microsoft Zune's built-in DRM used to limit audio files shared between two Zunes using the Zune Social feature (aka "squirting") to three plays or three days whichever comes first.

AAC- Advanced Audioing Coding. More information here: http://www.apple.com/quicktime/technologies/aac.

Ogg Vorbis- An open source container and codec developed in response to a potential licensing fee to be levied on the MP3 format.

FLAC- Free Lossless Audio Codec.

WAV is short for "waveform". It's the same format as found on a CD.

Lossy: Limits file size by stripping extraneous information such as audio frequencies that are beyond the human hearing range.

Lossless: Maintains the fidelity of the original audio source resulting in a larger file size.

Bit-rate- the higher the bit-rate the better sounding your music will be.

Ulove Audio Converter: $19.95

- Most MP3's use a 128 kbps bitrate. Classical music buffs like to listen to MP3's with 160 kbps or 192 kbps for better fidelity.

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- Download of the Week: Audacity = FREE.

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