How do you fit so many shows on a CD?

MP3 is a highly compressed format. You can fit about 10 hours of music on a CD in MP3 format, or about 45-50 hours of OTR because it is less complex and doesn't require as large a file.



Where can I learn more about MP3s?

You can go to www.mp3.com.



Listening to OTR

How do I listen to MP3s?

The standard way used to be to use a freeware MP3 player (like winamp) to play them on your PC. Recent technology in MP3 CD players mean that there are now MP3-playing DVDs, jamboxes, and portables on the market. See below.



Is there anything special about OTR MP3s?

Not really, except that they are encoded at very low bitrates (usually 32k/22kHz) which results in files about 4x smaller than music MP3s.



Can all mp3 players play OTR?

Some MP3 players cannot play the low bit- or sampling rates common in OTR. Check out your unit's specifications to see if it can play low bitrates. My average bitrate is 32



Do you suggest any particular portable player?

I have heard Rio Volt works and I personally own a Sony ZS-X3CP boombox and a Phillips Expandium portable mp3 player that plays mp3.



Are there any playback settings I should know about?

The most common defect in OTR shows is a "muffled" sound (ie, the treble is deficient). You can make MP3s easier to listen to by playing with the equalizer function of whatever playback device or software you are using.



Can I listen to MP3s on my stereo?

No. Stereos play audio CDs (CD-DA format). OTR CDs are data CDs that contain mp3 files.