Formats and quality
How MP3, AAC, Opus, FLAC, ALAC and WAV differ, what bitrate is, and what lossy and lossless compression mean.
an independent reference on digital audio
Ymp3 — an independent reference on digital audio
Music has long lived in files and streams, but that has not made the questions go away. How is MP3 different from FLAC? What bitrate should you choose for your collection? Why did the sound get worse after converting? How do you tidy up tags and cover art, and where can you listen to music legally? Ymp3 is an independent reference that answers these questions in plain language. We do not distribute files or give download links — only explanations, guides and security advice.
Good sound starts not with expensive headphones but with an honest source and careful handling of your own files.
Where to start
Your own files
How to choose an archive format, convert without needless loss, fix tags and back up your music library.
Listening legally
Streaming, buying files, physical media and free legal sources — the public domain and Creative Commons.
Security
Why pirate sites are dangerous, what fake "mp3" files and installers look like, and how to protect your music service account.
Reference sections
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: choosing an archive format, converting without needless loss, metadata, backups, checking files. Also home to the article catalogue.
- Tools
Types of audio software: player, converter, tag editor, CD ripper, audio editor, library manager — no brands.
- Comparisons
MP3, AAC, Opus, FLAC, ALAC and WAV compared, plus legal ways to listen to music: pros and cons.
- Fixes
A file won't play, the sound distorts, tags are mixed up, an "mp3" turned out to be a program, the library vanished — what to do.
- Security
The risks of pirate sites, fake installers and "free" downloaders, phishing, and copyright in general terms.
- Glossary
A glossary of terms: formats and codecs, sound quality, rights and sources of music.
- FAQ
Answers about this reference, formats and files, the law and security.
Good sound in five steps
Source
Start with a legal source: a purchased file, your own CD, a streaming subscription or a recording under a free licence. A file of unknown origin may turn out to be both poor in quality and dangerous.
Format
For an archive, a lossless format such as FLAC or ALAC is convenient: it preserves the original signal in full. For a phone or portable player, a lossy format — MP3, AAC or Opus — saves space.
Bitrate
The higher the bitrate of a compressed file, the less information is discarded. The maximum MP3 bitrate is 320 kbit/s. Raising the bitrate of an already compressed file is pointless: what was lost will not come back.
Playback
Check the whole chain: the player, volume and equaliser settings, headphones or speakers. Quite often it is not the file that spoils the sound, but excessive gain or poor settings.
Storage and backups
Keep your music library in at least two places — for example, on your computer and on an external drive. Without a backup, a single drive failure can cost you the entire collection.
Common questions in brief
Can I download music here?
No. We do not distribute music or files and do not give download links. This reference explains how digital audio works and where to listen to and buy music legally.
Where are the old catalogue pages?
They have not survived and are not being restored. Some old URLs now open reference pages that explain what used to be there and how to find the music you want legally.
Which format is best?
It depends on the task. For an archive and later conversion, a lossless format is convenient; for a phone or player, a lossy format at a sufficient bitrate. See the comparisons section.
Is it legal to rip my own CDs?
Copying CDs you have lawfully bought for personal use is usually treated differently from distributing copies. But the rules depend on the country and the circumstances, so this is general information, not a legal guarantee. You must not share such copies with others.
About the project
Ymp3 is an independent reference on digital audio. This domain used to host an MP3 catalogue and later unrelated material on various topics. The current reference has no connection with them, does not distribute files and does not restore the old pages.
We write about formats and sound quality, working with your own files, legal ways to listen to music and security. We do not name artists, songs or services, do not publish prices or rankings and do not quote figures that cannot be verified.
Related sections
- Comparisons
MP3, AAC, Opus, FLAC, ALAC and WAV compared, plus legal ways to listen to music: pros and cons.
- Guides
Step-by-step guides: choosing an archive format, converting without needless loss, metadata, backups, checking files. Also home to the article catalogue.
- Security
The risks of pirate sites, fake installers and "free" downloaders, phishing, and copyright in general terms.
Sources
- ISO/IEC 11172-3
- Fraunhofer IIS — the story of MP3
- Xiph.Org — FLAC
- Creative Commons
Information on formats and standards is based on official sources as of the preparation date. Software, services and laws change, so check the current documentation, the services' help pages and the laws in force.