An MP3 is a triple layered packet of data that describes all the audio intricacies that can be picked up by the human ear. These tiny packets of data are made so they can be moved around, fluid from one device to another. They can be put on CDs for playing in your car stereo; they can be stored on a hard drive to back up your physical music collection. They can be streamed, sent, stretched, squashed; just as audio comes in all shapes and sizes, the MP3 can be turned into, and used on all types of devices.

With the options open to your heart’s desire, what do you do with an MP3? Its stuck on the hard drive of your computer, but music is meant to be enjoyed when and where you want it, not just to be listened to while you are working at your computer. The MP3 needs a little help to work with the other facets of music consumption. You can fit 200 MP3s on a blank CD, which is amazing. The irony is you can’t play this new MP3 CD on most CD players, outside of your computer. You need to make these MP3s act like other music files like those written on the CDs you own. What you need is MP3 encoding software.

An MP3 encoder is like a personal assistant. It’s there to make sure that your music files are working in the best capacity to suit your needs. An MP3 is easy to move around due to its small size, but it’s not the best solution for every situation.

The newer and pricier stereos can play straight MP3 CDs, but an MP3 encoder (also know as a converter) will switch those MP3s into files that can be put on CDs and played on any audio player. Considering all the components to purchase with a new stereo system, it’s much easier on the wallet to go with an MP3 converter than buying a whole new stereo.

If you would like to make the move from an analog music collection of LPs and CDs, an MP3 encoder can make this process easier too. An MP3, while small and portable, isn’t always the best option for storing archival copies of your home music collections.

Most MP3 converters have the option of importing CDs directly into formats other than the lossy MP3. These formats preserve the entire spectrum of the analog source material. With an MP3 converter, you can maintain the archival master for listening on the HiFi, and then produce MP3s for your IPod.

Some of these programs can even extract audio from videos on your computer. The right MP3 converter is essential to make sure that your music files are best suited for your needs, even if those files include music videos. All music, no matter where it starts out can be recorded and used with these programs.