WMA or MP3

[Pete]

Hi folks, need some help here. I got tired of just sitting on the bus and looking out the window. I saw folks with ear buds in their ears listening to their MP3 players. Well, I broke down and bought one for myself.
Anyway, it is a Creative Zen and when I use the software to convert my CD's, it turns the songs into WMA format. Should they be MP3? What is the difference? Is one better than the other because all I ever hear is people talking about mp3 never WMA. Is one format smaller in size than the other? Is there a quality difference?
Thanks

[Nave]

WMA is simply windows answer to the MP3,

im not sure on the quality issues but i like to stick to mp3.

[SPARKY]

MP3's are Just slightly smaller, the advantage is that you can burn them to CD and play them in most CD players now, not to mention MP3 players.

The software that came with your ZEN allows you to choose a format .

Tools > settings > Record (tab) > Change audio format (button).

[Pete]

Thanks for the info Sparky. Just one thing, My software does not have MP3 as an option. It only has WMA and WAV, mono or stereo.
I have the ZEN V Plus with Media Explorer version 5.41.07 software. I have Media Source software version 5.01.31. Am I missing something or looking in the wrong place?

[SPARKY]

My sister has media source v. 3.30.35 and it has the MP3 option, I don't know why yours dosn't ?. here's a link on how to's. #12 applies to you.

http://www.soundblaster.com/mediasource/welcome.asp?id=54070&p=6

And here's the main page

http://www.soundblaster.com/mediasource/

[Pete]

Sorry for not getting back to you sooner. Your link is useful but, #12 does not apply, it shows how to change from MP3 to WMA. My problem is exactly opposite, WMA to MP3.

[SPARKY]

If you have Windows Media Player 11 , you can RIP a CD to MP3 format.

[ssadams]

try this free and easy to use tool express rip (http://www.nch.com.au/rip/index.html)