Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac

Subject: Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac
From: Chris Amos
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 05:18 AM

I am having difficulties sending mp3s, via email, to a friend. I have a PC and create mp3s using dBpowerAMP, she has a Mac. If I zip them she cannot open them, so I reduce the quality, sometimes she can play them once but mostly cannot play them at all.

This is the exact opposite of the problem that I have with another friend who can only receive them if they are zipped.

Has anyone else come across this problem before, is it a PC vs Mac thing and what is the best way round it?

Regards

Chris

Subject: RE: Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac
From: MudGuard
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 05:39 AM

You could try gzip - it is available for Windows, Linux, Mac ...
It uses a different compression algorithm than zip.

See the GZip home page

Subject: RE: Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac
From: Amos
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 08:35 AM

Gzip will only be of value if she is running OS X, but I don't think there is a gzip for MacOS before that.

If she is running a modern OS the mp3 files should play in iTunes without a problem. What application is she using to play them, and what OS is she using?

If it is the older one, it is possible for you to get a Windows version of Aladdin "Stuffit": which will produce a Stuffit archive (.sit, or .sea files) which she can then open on her Mac. But really she should get OS X if she isn't running it assuming her machine will handle it.


A

Subject: RE: Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac
From: treewind
Date: 24 Dec 05 - 09:46 AM

No point in compressing an MP3 with ZIP, gzip, stuffit or anything else similar - it won't make it smaller. Just send the MP3 file as it is.

As for reducing the quality, that will never help, unless there's a file size limit somewhere.

Anahata

Subject: RE: Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac
From: MudGuard
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 02:30 AM

treewind, if you say "it won't make it significantly smaller" I will agree.

I just tested with various mp3 files from 3 to 7 MB - the gzipped file was smaller every time - but only by a few KB. zip gave some times 1 or 2 KB more, some times 1 or 2 KB less. bzip got it smaller than gzip every time (roughly 30 to 50 KB smaller than the mp3).

Subject: RE: Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac
From: Fullerton
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 04:37 AM

I send & receive mp3s, to & from Macs or PCs and I have had no probs.

I use docmonster to do this 1 - Gig Limit. It's free.

Subject: RE: Tech: sending mp3 from PC to Mac
From: mooman
Date: 27 Dec 05 - 06:50 AM

I do this regularly both ways (PC at work, Mac at home) without ever having had any difficulty. No point in zipping as it makes little difference to the size as mentioned above and could make opening/playing more difficult. There should be no problems if she has OSX or above.

Peace

moo