marywong wrote:
is it possoble to compress large mp3 files into smaller mp3 files, but yet of good quality using switch?
how do u do that?
thanks 
I must answer your question in two parts.
Part One:
It _is_ possible to use Switch to start with a large .mp3 file and convert it to a smaller .mp3 file.
Part Two:
I suppose that what you want is to end up with an .mp3 file taking up _zero_ storage space and having a _superb_ sound quality. Right?
Well, this is not going to happen. There happens to be an old rule, called the "rule of common sense," which says that you cannot get something for nothing. As this rule applies here (indeed, it applies everywhere), when you shrink down the size of a sound file, you pay for this in reduced sound quality. Therefore, whereas you may start with an mp3 file having a "good" sound quality, whatever this may mean to you, after you shrink it down, you may end up with a new mp3 file having just a "fair" sound quality, whatever this may mean to you. The more you shrink this file, the "fairer" the sound quality becomes, until of course the sound quality becomes "poor", whatever this may mean to you.
Do you get the picture?
Good. Now let's get on with it. The smaller the "bit rate" that is used for the compression, the smaller is the resulting file size and the poorer is the sound quality. Therefore, to get a new and smaller size mp3 file, you need to use a compression bit rate which is smaller than the bit rate that was used to compress the file that you are starting with. Do not get out of jail and do not pass GO until you understand this basic fact of mp3 life!!
Now look at your Switch window. At the bottom of this window is the information about the Output file; this is the new file that is going to be smaller the file that you add to the window using the "add file" button. Be _sure_ that you know, before you add this file to Switch, what compression bit rate was used before you got your hands on it. Unless you have this information, you cannot get there from here. This bit rate will be given in kilobits per second (kbs).
After you get this file into the Switch window, go down to the bottom of the window and choose .mp3 for the output format. Then choose where you are going to put this file on your hard drive by clicking on that large button containing a few dots. This is the "browse" button which lets you select your output file location.
Now comes the crucial step. Click on that button that says "Encoder Settings" and you will get a dialog box which lets you select the new bit rate; i.e., for the compression that you are going to use to make the file size smaller. For example, if the original bit rate is 128kbs (of course you _do_ know what this rate is--don't you?), then you may decide that you want a new bit rate of 64kbs, which will give you a file that is one-half the size of the original, and perhaps one-half the quality, however you may wish to define "quality". If this is what you want, then choose 64kbs. If not, then choose something else that is smaller than the original bit rate.
Also, you will want to preserve the stereo nature of the file, assuming that it is indeed a stereo file. So don't monkey with this setting unless you wish to change the nature of the file. I assume that you wish to preserve this aspect in your new file.
After you have chosen your Encoder Settings, return to the main Switch window, select the file by clicking on it, and then click on the "convert" button, the last icon near the top of the page. The conversion process will now proceed (hopefully) and you will be all set with your new (and poorer sound quality) file. Whether or not this sound quality is "good" or not will depend upon your hearing and whether the fact that you shrunk the size enough to fit where you want it is sufficient psychological compensation to fool your ears into hearing that this poorer sound quality is indeed a "good" quality.
Get the picture?
Great!
Musikone
when you
