How do I condense .mp3 files?

Question

I have a 950 kb .mp3 file I need condensed into 500kb to put on my cell phone

Answer 1

You can use iTunes to reduce the file size. If you haven't got iTunes installed on your system, it's a free download from Apple: http://www.apple.com/itunes/

The first thing you need to do is set a low bit rate for the mp3 encoder.

1. Start iTunes
2. On the menu bar, click iTunes → Preferences... or Edit → Preferences if you're using a PC.
3. In the Preference window, click the "Advanced" button and then select the "Importing" tab.
4. Now, click on the drop-down menu next to "Import using", and select "MP3 Encoder" from the list.
5. Click on the drop-down menu next to "Settings" and select
"Custom..." from the list.
6. Click on the drop-down menu next to "Stereo Bit Rate" and select something like 112kbps or 96kbps. Press OK twice to confirm your changes and exit the Preference window.

With a low bit rate set, you can now reduce the file size of the original mp3 file.

7. In your iTunes library, find the 950 KB file and click on it once so that it becomes highlighted or selected. Now right-click on the file and select "Convert Selection to MP3..." from the drop-down list. iTunes will now produce a new mp3 file with a smaller file size.

TIP: In iTunes, click on the "Recently Added" smart playlist folder located on the left to view the most recent songs added.

Answer 2

You'll have to use a music software program that can change the bitrate down to a smaller number. For instance, if you've got a MP3 that has a 128 KBPS figure, you can convert it down to a 96 KBPS rating and although the length of the MP3 will remain the same, the byte size will be smaller. One drawback to this is that the lower the KBPS, the less quality to the MP3.