Is MP3 compression a destructive Process?

Hey All: I have never been that clear on the whole compression issue of wave files to MP3's. When you compress an MP3 I understand certain elements of the sound are lost...MP3's just don't sound as good as a standard .wav files. However, when you un-compress and MP3 back to a .wav file, do you still have the original .wav file in its full original form... The reason I ask is because an buddy of mine wants to e-mail me a guitar solo that he recorded for me. The .wav file is about 33MB but can me compressed down to a 2.9MB MP3. Now if I get that MP3 and un-compress it to a .wav file...will it be the same as the original recorded .wav file or will it simply be .wav version of the compressed MP3. If anyone has any input or answers, that would be great... Thanks in advance, Scott

MP3 is a lossy compression (not lossless) -- you'll never get back what's thrown away. Rail

Thanks a lot for the quick reply's! You've answered my questions... Take care, Scott

Don't wanna steal your thread but was wondering, what do main stream CD's use for there music? Are the songs .wav when they put them on there cd or are they mp3?

DVD is a disc. You can put anything on that disc, from ascii to mpeg to ogg to divx. DVD audio of any formally released movies or DVD-A is either a lossy compression or they do not compress. There is no lossless compression codec being used in consumer hardware of any sort.

I like Ogg Vorbis. Time for go to bed. -Olaf