ATRAC Audio Device facts for kids
ATRAC Audio Device (also known as ATRAC AD or ATRAC HDD) refers to music players that store audio files. These devices use either flash memory or a hard drive to save your songs. The music files on these players are made smaller using a special method called ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding).
Some well-known examples of ATRAC Audio Devices include Sony's Network Walkman, VAIO Pocket, and Xplod car audio systems. These players were similar to popular devices like the iPod, iPod Mini, iPod Nano, and iPod Shuffle.
How ATRAC Was Developed
Sony created the ATRAC audio compression system. It helped make digital music files smaller so more songs could fit on a device.
Early ATRAC Versions
In September 1999, Sony developed ATRAC3. This version offered different sound qualities, like 132, 105, or 66 kilobits per second (kbps). This was an improvement over the original ATRAC used in MiniDisc players, which typically recorded at 292 kbps.
The first portable player to use ATRAC3 was the "NW-MS7" Memory Stick Walkman. The next year, MiniDisc Walkman players also started using a technology called MDLP. This allowed them to record and play music for much longer, up to 160 or even 320 minutes.
ATRAC3plus and Beyond
By 2002, Sony introduced an even better version called ATRAC3plus. This was often included with Network Walkman products and the SonicStage Software. ATRAC3plus could compress music even more, offering qualities like 256, 64, or 48 kbps.
Over time, other ATRAC versions were developed, including:
- ATRAC 352kbps
- ATRAC Advanced Lossless (also known as AAL), which could compress music without losing any sound quality.
See Also
