Background on MPEG Audio coding
Lightweight intro to MP3, with little assumed background knowledge.AUDIO CODING
Explains MP3 encoding Short, but detailed. Some digital audio knowledge required.A Fundamental Introduction to the Compact Disc Player
Good place to start if you don't know much about digital audio encoding.Philips Consumer Electronics - Compact Disc
If the above left you confused, try this, which starts at an even more basic level, but also covers some advanced stuff not found in the above.
An outline style overview of audio compression, hitting on psychoacoustics and MPEG audio compression.comp.compression Frequently Asked Questions (part 2/3)
Contains a section on Hoffman coding, which is used to compress tonal portions of the bitstream in MP3. Also has a section on MP3, but it's not very detailed.Audio Compression References
References to papers written in accademia and technical journals about bitrate reduction. None of the auctual works are avalbile electronically, but when you need all the details, this page will move you in the right direction.The MP3 Patent
The patent granted to FhG on Mpeg-2 Layer Three Audio compression. Detailed, and dense.The use of multirate filter banks for coding of high quality digital audio [PS]
Title says it all. 4 pages long.MPEG/Audio Tutorial
Detailed, almost howto level of description of the underlying algorithms of MP3.MPEG Audio FAQ Version 10
Very up to date information on all the different types of MPEG audio compression (including MP3).SQAM - Sound Quality Assessment Material
Material that can be used to test the quality of an encoding engine.GPSYCHO
Detailed psychoacustics work for encoding MP3s. Very technical, very good.
Format Listening Tests: CD, MD (ATRAC 4.5 & 3.0), MP3, VQF, RM
Decently done test with a single subject testing himself in a semi-blind matter on music he was highly familor with.REVIEW ZONE - Audio Compression : the new generation ( Page 1/12 )
Long and detailed review of VFQ, MP2/MP3, and Microsoft Audio. Includes nonblind listening tests run on one person. No audio background needed or gained by reading this.
Some dense and short info on AC-<X>, and PAC.AUDIO Compression standards
Very quick overview of ITU (CCITT), ADPCM, LPC, and CELP compression standards.Audio Compression Example
Some downloadable samples of audio compressed with AU and AIF, as well asl low bit rate PCM.Sound Compression
Nice description of ADPCM, and a quick overview of other standards. Contains the unusual viewpoint that MP2 is better than MP3.Lossless audio compression
You don't have to through away data to compress bitstreams. There are many different technologies that employ clever representations that decode to the exact same PCM which was used as source. Generally, the compression ranges from 40% to 80% of the original PCM, with the average tending towards 50%. Certainly, an improvement over nothing, but not nearly as compressed as MP3s. But when quality absolutely must be maintained, this is the only way to do it. The page includes benchmarks of different systems, quick descriptions of the different technologies, and lots of good links.
Quick introduction to the psychoacoustic theories that make MP3 work.
Some digital audio knowledge required.