The encoding method affects the balance between bit rate and sound quality: You can also choose from three encoding systems: constant, variable, or maximum bitrate (CBR, VBR, and MBR). MP3s have a bitrate range of 32 to 320 Kbps. But if you plan to convert between different formats, you should also consider bitrate and encoding. If you’re just downloading music, you don’t have to worry much about the bitrate. This will keep your music future-proof, even if new material and formats come along at a later date, as you can always convert larger raw files as standards change. However, if you do more advanced things with your music, like rip tracks from CDs, you may want to keep a lossless copy on your computer/external hard drive and convert it to a smaller, more lossy format. It is an old format, but it gives good results and is compatible with everything. For wide compatibility, the MP3 file format is the safest bet.
If you don’t use high-end audiophile equipment in the future, or only use a portable device, a lossy audio format might suffice. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Decide what level of audio quality you need Since FLAC has been around since 2001, any modern hardware should support it. Generally speaking, though, the newer your player is, the more compatible it is with new audio formats.
You can find details on the manufacturer’s website or in the specifications section of the user guide. Check the format compatibility of your laptopīefore choosing an audio format, the first thing you should do is check its compatibility with your portable device. To help you decide which music format to turn to, here are a few things to consider. But if sound quality isn’t even that important to you, the capabilities of your device are less of a concern. If your hardware is relatively new, you may be able to play lossless formats like FLAC, as well as older lossy ones (including MP3 and AAC). One of the first questions will be what formats your device can read. For example, some services like Amazon sell music in MP3 format, while Apple offers downloads in slightly enhanced AAC format. It is not always clear which music format to choose for your downloads.