Audio conversion device
There are different types of audio conversion devices available, but they each perform relatively the same function. They are designed to convert audio of various formats into a digital format for use on a computer. The most common types of audio conversion devices include cassette tape to MP3, LP record to MP3 and audio CD to MP3.
Audio conversion devices are basically either a cassette tape player, LP record player, or CD player with a connection to a USB port on a computer. The software included with the device records the audio playback from the audio media and converts it to MP3 format. Some devices allow for recording to other audio formats besides MP3. There are multiple companies that build and sell these devices, including DB Tech, Ion, and Jensen.
MP3
A file extension and compression method that utilizes the MPEG standard to reduce the size, often by a factor of 12, while still maintaining audio quality comparable to a CD. MP3 files are commonly used to store a song or the whole CD and require very little hard drive space. Because of their small file size, a computer can save several hundred or thousands of songs.
· Get songs instantly by downloading or purchasing from file sharing services.
· Store thousands or even millions of songs on a drive.
· Share MP3 files with other Internet users.
· Create a podcast that can be listened to over the Internet.
For sites with links to audio file downloads, such as an mp3, it's similar to downloading other files on the Internet. For sites that stream audio or have the audio embedded into a web page, it can be a harder to get the audio from a streaming site.
LP
LP may refer to any of the following:
1. Short for long play, LP is commonly used to describe a 12-inch long play vinyl record album. Records and record players pre-dated tapes and tape players, which pre-date CD players. The picture is an example of an LP.
2. Linux command, see the lp command page for additional information about this command.
USB
Short for universal serial bus, USB (pronounced yoo-es-bee) is a plug and play interface that allows a computer to communicate with peripheral and other devices. USB-connected devices cover a broad range; anything from keyboards and mice, to music players and flash drives. For more information on these devices, see our USB devices section.
USB may also be used to send power to certain devices, such as smartphones and tablets, as well as charge their batteries. The first commercial release of the Universal Serial Bus (version 1.0) was in January 1996. This industry standard was then quickly adopted by Intel, Compaq, Microsoft, and other companies.
All modern computers have at least one USB port. Below is a list of the typical locations in which you can find them.
· Desktop computer - A desktop computer usually has two to four ports in the front and two to eight ports in the back.
· Laptop computer - A laptop computer has between one and four ports on the left, right, or both sides of the laptop.
· Tablet computer - The USB connection on a tablet is located in the charging port and is usually micro USB and sometimes USB-C. Some tablets have additional ports USB ports.
· Smartphone - Similar to tablets, the USB port on smartphones is used for both charging and data transfer in the form of USB-C or micro USB.
Today, there are many of different USB devices that can connect to your computer. The list below contains a few of the most common.
· Digital Camera
· External drive
· iPod or other MP3 players
· Keyboard
· Keypad
· Microphone
· Mouse
· Printer
· Joystick
· Jump drive aka Thumb drive
· Scanner
· Smartphone
· Tablet
· Webcams
USB connectors come in different shapes and sizes. Most of the versions of USB connectors, including the standard USB, Mini USB, and Micro USB, have two or more variations of connectors. Further information on each type can be found below.
Mini-USB, also known as mini-B, is used with digital cameras and computer peripherals. Mini-USB has largely been replaced by Micro-USB and USB-C cables on newer devices.
Micro-USB, announced in 2007, was designed to replace mini-USB. The two varieties of Micro-USB are Micro-A and Micro-B, both featuring a connector size of 6.85 x 1.8 mm, although Micro-A connectors feature a larger maximum overmold size. Micro-USB cables are often used to connect computer peripherals, video game controllers, and for charging smartphones. While many companies are upgrading to USB type-C connectors (next section), Micro-USB is still commonly used with electronic devices.
The USB type-C cable is featured on most modern-day Android smartphones and other USB-connected devices. Unlike other forms of USB connections, USB-C cables are reversible, meaning they plug in properly regardless of whether or not they are "upside down."
USB 1.x is an external bus standard that supports data transfer rates of 12 Mbps and is capable of supporting up to 127 peripheral devices. The picture shows an example of a USB cable being connected into the USB port.
USB 2.0, also known as hi-speed USB, was developed by Compaq, Hewlett Packard, Intel, Lucent, Microsoft, NEC, and Phillips and was introduced in 2001. Hi-speed USB is capable of supporting a transfer rate of up to 480 megabits per second (Mbps), or 60 megabytes per second (MBps).
USB 3.0, also known as SuperSpeed USB, was first made available in November 2009 by Buffalo Technology, but the first certified devices weren't available until in January 2010. USB 3.0 improved upon the USB 2.0 technology with speed and performance increases, improved power management and increased bandwidth capability. It provides two unidirectional data paths for receiving and sending data at the same time. USB 3.0 supports transfer rates up to 5.0 gigabits per second (Gbps), or 640 megabytes per second (MBps). Following the release of USB 3.1, it's officially renamed to "USB 3.1 Gen1" for marketing purposes. The first certified devices included motherboards from ASUS and Gigabyte Technology. Dell began including USB 3.0 ports in their Inspiron and Dell XPS series of computers in April 2011.
USB 3.1, also known as SuperSpeed+, was made available as of July 31, 2013, and is the latest version of the USB protocol. USB 3.1 is capable of transfer rates of up to 10 Gbps, putting it in line with the first generation of Apple's Thunderbolt channel. Today, many devices use the USB 3.0 and 3.1 revisions for improved performance and speed.
Each version of USB port is backward compatible as well as forward compatible, meaning that it can support any version below or above its current number. For example, devices that are designed with USB 1.1 and 2.0 technology work in a 3.0 port. However, it should be noted that devices with lower versions run at their native transfer speeds even though USB 3.0 is capable of higher. Similarly, if you connect a USB 3.1 device into a USB 2.0 port, the 3.1 device's max transfer rate is limited to that of the 2.0 port.
USB cables are available in multiple lengths, from around 3 feet to a little over 16-feet. The maximum length of a USB cable is 16 feet 5 inches (5 meters) for high-speed devices and 9 feet 10 inches (3 meters) for low-speed devices. These maximum lengths are due to data transfer timing and the risk of data loss if using longer cable lengths. However, by using USB hubs, you can connect two USB cables to effectively extend the distance between the two devices being connected.
There are different types of USB cables as well. As we mentioned above, there are different transfer speeds (2.0 and 3.0) for USB. Similarly, there are different types of USB cables to match with those speeds. You can get a USB 2.0 cable for use with a device using USB 2.0 or a USB 3.0 cable for use with a device using USB 3.0.
USB extension cables can connect to one end of a USB cable, extending the length of the connection. However, you should still avoid extending the cable beyond the maximum USB data transfer distance of 16 feet 5 inches, unless you're using a USB hub to boost the signal.