How Does a CD Player Work

Today there is a wide range of CD players available for the consumer and choosing the right CD player can feel like an arduous task. Style, quality, design och technical solutions vary greatly between the different players. Some players are portable; others are included in larger sound systems. Some players can only handle one disc at the time; others can easily skip between 50 discs or more. Some CD players are very cheap, others are highly expensive. The list goes on and on. Regardless of which CD player you choose it will however consist of three basic parts that are found in all moderns CD players: a drive motor, a tracking device and a laser and lens system. Another thing that all CD players have in common is that they interpret data that has been stored in the form of elongated bumps on a CD (compact disc).

The drive motor in your CD player is the part that makes the disc spin round and round at a correct pace. The drive motor will gradually adjust the speed, since the correct pace depends on which part of the disc that is currently being interpreted. At some spots, the pace will be no higher than 200 rpm, while at other spots the pace needs to be increased up to 500 rpm. As the disc is rotated round and round by the drive motor, the tracking mechanism will adjust the laser assembly and make it possible for the laser and lens system to focus on the miniscule bumps where data has been stored. The laser is constantly being pushed from the centre and outward over the disc by the tracking mechanism.

The data interpreted by the laser and lens system has been stored in the form of elongated bumps on the surface of the CD. One single bump is very small and no wider than 0.5 microns. The height is greater than 125 nanometres and the length is 0.83 microns or slightly more. All these bumps are very neatly organised at the surface of the CD in the form of a 5 kilometre (3.5 miles) long spiral.

The CD itself is made up by several different layers, including a polycarbonate layer and an aluminium layer. When the laser tries to interpret data that has been stored on the CD, it will first penetrate the polycarbonate layer. The aluminium layer will then reflect the laser beam, and the light alterations will be detected by a special optoelectronic mechanism in the CD player. Since the bumps in which data has been stored reflects light in a different way compared to the areas between the bumps (commonly referred to as “lands”), the CD player can determine exactly which parts of the disc that is made up by bumps and which parts that are not.

If a CD is scratched or injured in any other way, it can be impossible for the CD player to interpret it. Sometimes only a minor part of the data will be skipped, but larger damages can render the entire CD useless. Always store your CD’s in a protective casing to decrease the risk of scratches. When you clean your CD’s, carefully move your hand from the centre and outwards to the edge rather than just swabbing around. Scratches that occur from a radial movement tend to be less damaging than other scratches.

The information you just read about CD players can be applied to most types of optic drives and can not only help you pick out a CD player for you home but also other types of optic drives such as car CD players and car DVD players.

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Troubleshooting: In-Dash CD or MP3 Player

Here are steps to follow if your in-dash CD or MP3 player will not play discs or if they skip.

1) First of all, ensure that your discs are clean and not damaged and have been inserted into the in-dash player the correct way up. Try other discs, especially original CD's, to see if they will play. This is especially necessary if you are using CD-R or CD/RW (copied discs). The problem could arise if a cheap CD-R is used. It could also arise if a disc is burned at too fast a speed or if the copier hadn't finalized the disc completely.

2) Use a CD laser cleaner disc. These are available from any music store. When these are played in your CD player, they will clean the laser. This will take care of problems related to a dirty CD laser: Discs not playing or playing but skipping.

3) Ensure that the fascia contacts/connections aren't worn and that the fascia is making good, solid contact. Because the fascia is removable, over time, the contacts can become dirty or worn. To find out how to clean your contacts, consult your radio handbook.

4) Press the 'Reset' button if your radio has one, and then check for correct operation. Consult your radio hand book for details.

5) If your radio doesn't have a ‘Reset’ button, release your radio from your dash and physically disconnect the power connector and then reconnect and test for correct operation.

If the problem is still present after following the above, please, consult a car audio expert.

Go to this site: car-audio-products-and-accessories.com and read the articles. They cover much on car audio. They will help you do a better job of your car audio.

However, if you choose to use the pros, go here for a professional installer if you're in the UK.

Chimezirim Odimba writes for CarAudioPlus. Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Chimezirim_Chinecherem_Odimba

Downloading MP3s Made Easy

The MP3 movement started out with a huge audience of music enthusiasts on the internet. The MP3 digital music format has had, and will continue to have, a huge impart on how people, gather, listen to and share music.

The MP3 format is a compression system for digital music that helps reduce the size of a digitized song without disturbing the sound quality. Digital music is converted to MP3 format and made available for use, usually via the web. MP3 files can be downloaded onto your computer from the internet and special software, either commercial or freeware. Using your computer and software you can convert digital music from a CD into MP3 format.

MP3 files can be played in three different ways:

1. They can be played directly onto your computer.

2. They can be decompressed and recorded onto a CD.

3. These files can be played on a portable MP3 player.

The advantage of MP3 players is that they are small, lightweight and rugged. They are a great way to carry your MP3 files with you!

With a portable MP3 player, a personal computer, and the appropriate software, you can do the following:

1. Obtain free or low-cost music from the web.

2. Create your own mix of music by downloading MP3 files from the web and converting the tracks from CDs.

3. Listen to near-CD quality music wherever you go.

4. Listen to more music (up to 10 hours' worth).

If you want to convert your songs from your CDs into MP3 files, you can use ripper and encoder software. A ripper copies a song's file from the CD onto your hard disk. The encoder compresses the song into the MP3 format. By encoding songs, you can play them on your computer or take them with you on your MP3 player. The ripper and encoder software may come with your MP3 player.

The specific instructions will vary with the individual software programs, but the following steps will definitely take place:

1. Place the CD from which you want to convert songs into your drive.

2. Select the track(s) that you want to convert to MP3 format.

3. Convert the selected track(s).

4. Copy the new MP3 files on to your computer's hard disk.

Now you are ready to download these MP3 files into your portable MP3 player.

Once you have MP3 files on your computer, you can use the software that came with your MP3 player to download the files into your MP3 player. Again, the specific instructions will vary depending upon your software program and player, but you will:

1. Create a playlist from your MP3 files.

2. Plug the player into your computer's parallel of USB port.

3. Transfer the MP3 files according to the instructions.

Once you have downloaded the MP3 files into your portable MP3 player, you are ready to take your music anywhere. Most MP3 players are small, lightweight, and solid-state. Because most players are solid-state, there are no moving parts to break down or skip, so the sound quality is uninterrupted regardless of your physical activity. MP3 players are equipped with various types of headphones or earpieces.

Portable MP3 players can play music longer than a portable CD player. The length of play for a CD player is about 74 minutes, the length of one CD. However, the length of play for an MP3 player depends upon its memory capacity, which can be upgraded on some models. A standard MP3 player can play for about half an hour (32 MB) to a few weeks (40 GB)! Some models can be upgraded with additional memory devices.

Keith Kingston is a professional web publisher, offering information on downloading mp3's such as Eminem MP3 and finding free internet radio stations

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Start To Download Audio Books - Why Have They Become So Popular

Sure, we have heard of audio books, but how much do we really know about them? They have been around for a very long time, whether we have used them or not. However, it seems only lately, thanks to the MP3 player and the busy lives we lead that they have seen a surge in popularity.

Today, your questions are answered. Everything you have ever wanted to know about how to download audio books and get the most from them is right here. We have compiled this FAQ based on the most asked questions.

What are audio books?

To put it simply, an audio book is any book in the form of book that you listen to, in which the words are spoken and heard, instead of printed and read. To listen to these books you would need a listening device such as a portable CD player, MP3 Players, or tape player.

What types of books come in audio format?

You can find a wide variety of books in audio format, including for example all Harry Potter books. The formats in which the books are released are entirely up to the author and their team. Many are unabridged audio books, while some are specially abridged versions for listening. Some other types of books you might find include the newest novels, best sellers, self-help books, business books, and even the Bible. Learn a foreign language, improve your health or listen to a radio or TV show. There are so many categories from which to choose.

In which formats can I find audio books?

All audio books come in several different formats, which allow you to cater to your own needs. For those with cassette players, you can purchase books in cassette audio form, which is the second most popular form of books today. However, the most popular and easy way is to download audio books in MP3 format for your MP3 player. Lastly, you can find these books in CD format as well for use on CD players.

Where can I find audio books?

You can find books in audio format at a variety of different stores and shops. The internet has become the best source as of late. The internet allows you to simply download audio books and transfer them to the listening device of your choice. This is the cheapest way to obtain them. Bookstores often offer an entire section devoted specifically to audio books as well.

Who should use an audio book?

Anyone who is on the go and wants the benefit of a book should use an audio book. For example, when you download audio books, professionals and business owners can take advantage of learning new skills and information while on the way to meetings, getting their exercise, eating lunch, or really during any activity. Audio books are perfect for those who simply do not have the time needed to devote to sitting down and reading a book page by page. Homemakers, children, teenagers, athletes, and so many other people make use of books in audio format on a daily basis.

Audio books are providing a great opportunity for people to gain new skills and information, or to just relax without the extra time and effort needed to read a book from cover to cover. Join the audio book rush!

Helen Wall is the author of this article. Visit http://www.AudioBooksBonanza.com to download audio books from an extensive range of titles from top publishers. Join the free newsletter now and get to know about the latest hot off the press titles, receive time limited special offers and discounts.

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Pioneer Car CD Players Reviewed - DEH-P3800MP

Pioneer is one of the most recognized brands in the car audio industry. They make car cd players, subwoofers, and amplifiers. The Pioneer car CD player DEH-P3800MP is an entry level car cd player manufactered with the casual car audio enthusiast in mind. Being moderately priced this Pioneer car CD player is a great buy.

The DEH-P3800MP comes with several features that make it a great deal as they can be had anywhere from $90 to $130. These features are MP3/WMA support, XM or Sirius satellite radio capability, and a large 16 character display. Lets go into to futher detail about each of these awesome features.

• 1) MP3/WMA support - This Pioneer car CD player has the capability to support CD-R discs burned with MP3's or WMA's. A 700 megabyte CD-R can hold up to 10 full MP3 albums or nearly 20 WMA albums. This feature is great for those of us who have a large collection of music on our computers.
• 2) XM or Sirius satellite radio - The Pioneer car CD player DEH-P3800MP is manufactured with support for these two formats of satellite radio. This means if you already subscribe to either one of these services than you do not have to purchase another radio receiver. Satellite radio is the "next big thing" in the media industry, with thousands of stations, high definition sound playback, and limited commercial interruption. This feature in and of itself makes this Pioneer car CD player a great buy.
• 3) 16 Character Display - This Pioneer car CD player supports ID-3 tags, which allow you to burn the artist name, album name, and track names, onto the disc itself. The large 16 character display allows you to see this information right on your car CD player. You will also be able to see the FM radio stations frequency and station name with this technology.

All and all the DEH-3800MP Pioneer car CD player is an awesome buy. I would highly recommend this product to anyone looking to upgrade their stock car CD player.

The author Garland Robinson is a serious car audio enthusiast. He has installed systems in multiple cars and attended sound competitions and car shows.

His extreme passion for this hobby has driven him to create a website based solely on car audio.

Check it out @ http://www.onlinecaraudio.info

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