In serious need of MP3 101 - please help the ignorant here

[Zavulon]

The last name on my Christmas list is my eight year-old niece, and the only thing I can get her that either a.) she doesn't already have or b.) fits in what my brother allows me to spend is an MP3 player.

My problem is this - I know less than nothing about them because I've never been motivated to replace my portable CD player. I can comparison shop for these things myself, but here's what I don't know (be prepared for a massive wave of ignorance here):

1.) Assuming it's possible, how does one load songs from CDs onto an MP3 player? I'd hate to have to reproduce her CD collection (she has over a hundred at her age) by paying Napster 99 cents for each song.

2.) How many average-length (3-4 minute) songs can fit onto each gigabyte (I'm trying to figure out how much storage I need)?

3.) Are there MP3 players onto which you can load TV programs or movies from DVD?

4.) If so, how many half-hour episodes of "That's So Raven" or whatever the hell she watches can fit onto each gigabyte? How much space would it take to fit an entire two-hour movie?

5.) How does one label albums and songs on these players (I don't see keyboards on them)?

6.) Judging by my questions, is there anything you can add along the lines of "holy hell, if he doesn't know THAT, I had better tell him this..."?

If I'm there when she opens a present like this, I'd better know how to help her fill up the player - because my brother and sister-in-law sure as hell won't. Would any of you be kind enough to educated the unenlightened here?

[Starbucks Anarchist]

1. Here you go:

>> 1.) Assuming it's possible, how does one load songs from CDs onto an MP3 player? I'd hate to have to reproduce her CD collection (she has over a hundred at her age) by paying Napster 99 cents for each song.

Insert the CD into the computer and open it up with iTunes, for example (free download at apple.com). Hit "import" and all the CD's songs will be converted into mp3s.

>> 2.) How many average-length (3-4 minute) songs can fit onto each gigabyte (I'm trying to figure out how much storage I need)?

Ballpark estimate: about 200 songs per gig, as far as I know.

>> 3.) Are there MP3 players onto which you can load TV programs or movies from DVD?

The iPod allows you to download movies via iTunes and load them onto it.

>> 4.) If so, how many half-hour episodes of "That's So Raven" or whatever the hell she watches can fit onto each gigabyte? How much space would it take to fit an entire two-hour movie?

There, I'm not so sure, but the smallest video iPod is 30 gigs, if that helps at all.

>> 5.) How does one label albums and songs on these players (I don't see keyboards on them)?

Once connected to iTunes, and if your internet is connected at the same time, a program called CDDB will automatically load the names of the tracks, album, etc.

>> 6.) Judging by my questions, is there anything you can add along the lines of "holy hell, if he doesn't know THAT, I had better tell him this..."?

Not yet. Hope this helps.

[ghostsofgiants]

4. A few additional comments...

>> 4.) If so, how many half-hour episodes of "That's So Raven" or whatever the hell she watches can fit onto each gigabyte? How much space would it take to fit an entire two-hour movie?

There, I'm not so sure, but the smallest video iPod is 30 gigs, if that helps at all.

I'm not 100% sure on this but I'd guess a full length movie would be about 400-500mb and a tv show would be about 150mb. That's just a guess though. That's in reference to an ipod, which uses a special MP4 format. Some use other mpeg4 formats such a divx/xvid, which I mentioned below in another post.

>> 5.) How does one label albums and songs on these players (I don't see keyboards on them)?

Once connected to iTunes, and if your internet is connected at the same time, a program called CDDB will automatically load the names of the tracks, album, etc.

That only works for CDs. So anything she rips from a cd will be assigned the proper tags. Anything she downloads from any pay source I would expect to hve proper ID3 tags as well. MOST songs she downloads from a peer-to-peer program should have ID3 tags, but not all will. Any media program like Winamp or iTunes will let her edit those however.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

7. Good points, primate1.

:hi:

[alarimer]

2. Most MP3 players do not play video

For that you require a video Ipod or similar. Video takes up a LOT more space than audio. And a video Ipod is somewhere around $300. Don't know if you want to spend that kind of money. Most mp3 songs (depending on the compression) are about 3-4 mb in size. A 1 GB player could hold a few hundred songs possibly. You can find small mp3 players (say 6 GB in size or less) for $150 or less. You can find very small mp3 players (1 GB or less) for even less than that. I have no real recommendation on brands.
I have an Iriver which seems to work well (except for the battery life).

To get songs from the cd onto the mp3 player, you first have to "rip" them onto a computer using software such as Windows Media Player or Music Match (for non Ipods) or Itunes (for Ipods). Then you plug in the player into the USB port you can add them to it. It's quite simple really.

[Reverend_Smitty]

3. Some answers

1) all you have to do is take the CD and use a "ripping" program such as windows media player for example (it's under the "Rip" tab in WMP) to upload the songs to the computer. Once a song is on the computer you can use your Mp3 player software to put the songs on the player.

2) the size of the file varies depending on the quality of the file but generally as a rule of thumb assume for each minute of the song it takes up about 1 megabite. (100 megabites in each gig)

3) There are, but they are generally more expensive. Video Ipod or something like the Zen Vision http://www.creative.com/products/product.asp?category=213&subcategory=214&product=14331

4) again it all depends on the movie file type, and I don't know if Ipod's require special video files to play on their machines. I can tell you that on the computer an average AVI file for a 30 minute program is about 300-400MB and a movie will run about 700MB-1GB

5) you can label the files once you get them into the "file manager" section of your MP3 player's uploading/downloading software (the player will usually come with it's own software or you can use a program on your computer that allows for syncing of portable devices). Essentially you name the files before you upload them to the machine.

6) I can't really think of anything else but I would be happy to answer any more questions

[ghostsofgiants]

5. No, a 30 minute program would be about 150mb, but you're right about a mvoie being around 700mb AVI

Depends on the codec (usually divx or xvid) and the settings the ripper used. An hour long program is about 350MB. I download a lot of tv shows, haha.

The iPod video format (MP4) will give you a movie in about 500mb as far as I can tell, but the resolution of it is really low (since it's meant to be viewed on an ipod).

And I believe you ean 1,000MB per GB. (1,024, actually but whatever.)

[Reverend_Smitty]

6. yes, you're right...my bad

[Zavulon]

8. Thanks very much, everyone.

I didn't even know these things came with their own software. I really appreciate your help, you've done me a huge favor.

Thanks again! :)

Zavulon