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RioVolt SP250 User Guide
The RioVolt SP250 User Guide includes the following sections: Introduction Getting Started Using Your RioVolt SP250 The Display Menus and Buttons The Remote Control The FM Tuner Troubleshooting & Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) RioVolt SP250 Specifications Warranty & Regulatory Information Glossary Contacting Customer Care
Navigating and printing the RioVolt SP250 User Guide
The online RioVolt SP250 User Guide is in Adobe Acrobat (.PDF) file format. NOTE: We strongly recommend that you use Adobe Acrobat Reader version 4.0 available on the CD-ROM to view and print the RioVolt SP250 User Guide. Click links (blue underlined text) to jump to another location in the document or to a location on the World Wide Web.

Acrobat Toolbar icons

Click the Show/Hide Navigation Pane icon in the Acrobat toolbar to show the Navigation Pane Window and bookmarks in the left column. Bookmarks are links to the contents of the User Guide. Click any bookmark in the list to jump to the page in the User Guide that contains the topic. Click the Print icon in the Acrobat toolbar to print the User Guide. The size of the User Guide is optimized for printing.

Copyright and trademark

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2001 SONICblue Incorporated. All Rights Reserved. SONICblue Incorporated does not assume any responsibility for errors or omissions in this document or make any commitment to update the information contained herein. Rio is a registered trademark of RioPort, Inc. in the United States and/or other countries and is used under license. RealNetworks, RealAudio, RealPlayer, WebActive, and the RN logo are registered trademarks of RealNetworks, Inc. This product is iTunes ready. iTunes is provided by Apple Computer, Inc. Copyright 2001 Apple Computer, Inc. All rights reserved. iTunes is a trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. Mac and the Mac logo are trademarks of Apple Computer, Inc. registered in the United States and other countries. Microsoft, Windows Media and the Windows Logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All other product names may be trademarks of the companies with which they are associated. First Edition, July, 2001 Product Number 75550177-001

Introduction

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Congratulations on purchasing the RioVolt SP250, the premier portable CD player. This high-powered device plays all of your standard audio CDs (Red Book), plus CDs youve burned with MP3 and Windows Media (WMA) files. When playing your MP3 and WMA music files, the RioVolt SP250 delivers 8 mintues of skip protection (up to 160 seconds for CD Audio). It also supports firmware upgrades should new features become available for your player in the future. With the simple to use interface, including folder and track titles, the RioVolt SP250 will give you easy access to over 250 music tracks on each CD you create! And with the built-in FM tuner, you can listen to your favorite radio stations whenever and wherever you want.

Package Contents

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RioVolt SP250 Remote Control RioVolt Carrying Case Headphones Earphones AC Adapter 2 Rechargeable Batteries (2 x AA NiMH) Getting Started Poster RioVolt Installation CD RioVolt SP250 User Guide Frequently Asked Question Document (FAQ) Real Jukebox ITunes Installation CD RioVolt SP250 User Guide Frequently Asked Question Document (FAQ)
System Requirements (For included software only)
PC (Minimum System Requirements)
Intel Pentium166 MHz MMX or higher CPU 32MB RAM 35MB or more free hard drive space Windows 95, 98, 98SE, ME, 2000, OS 9.0.1 or higher 32MB RAM 35MB or more free hard drive space

System Recommendations

CD-ROM Writer (RW) highly recommended Internet connection and web browser

Safety Information

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WARNING

TO REDUCE THE CHANCE OF SHOCK OR INJURY, DO NOT USE OR OPERATE THIS DEVICE IN OR NEAR WATER OR WET LOCATIONS

CAUTION

RISK OF EXPLOSION, DAMAGE OR BATTERY LEAKAGE IF BATTERY REPLACED INCORRECTLY OR WITH AN INCORRECT TYPE. DISPOSE OF USED BATTERIES ACCORDING TO INSTRUCTIONS AND LOCAL LAWS. Use only certified and approved Batteries and AC Adapters as specified in the RioVolt User Guide. Use of headphones while operating a vehicle is not recommended and is unlawful in some states and areas. Be careful and attentive while driving. Stop operation of the player if you find it disruptive or distracting while operating any type of equipment. Listening to music at full power over extended periods of time can change the hearing of the user.

Class 1 Laser

Invisible laser radiation when open and interlocks defeated, avoid exposure to beam.

Product Care

Exposure to extreme hot or cold temperatures may cause damage to your product or cause your product to malfunction. Do not expose your product to direct sunlight continuously or leave it in a vehicle with the doors and windows closed or the case may become deformed, discolored or malfunction. Do not use your product near open flame. If moving from a cold environment to a warm environment, let the products temperature stabilize before operation. Keep dirt, sand, dust and moisture from entering your product. Do not use in areas of excessive dust. Do not use in places where the humidity is excessively high. Do not drop or subject your product to shock. If radio or TV interference occurs, move your product away from such devices. Do not clean your product with solvents, chemicals or abrasive cleaners. If necessary, use a soft cloth to clean your product.

Getting Started

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You will need the following items to start using your new RioVolt: The RioVolt SPRechargeable Batteries (included)or 2 AA Alkaline Batteries (not included) RioVolt AC Adapter (included) Headphones or earphones (included) or powered speakers (not included) Remote Control (included) 1. Unpack the RioVolt SP250 and all of its components. 2. Open the Battery Compartment Door by sliding it away from the RioVolt and insert 2 batteries. 3. Slide the Battery Compartment Door back to its original position to close. 4. Plug the RioVolt AC Adapter into the Power Port on the side of the RioVolt and into a power outlet. NOTE: Let the RioVolt batteries charge up for X hours before playing the RioVolt SP250 without the AC Adapter attached and plugged into a power outlet or insert 2 AA Alkaline batteries (not included). 5. Plug the Headphones Cable into the Headphones Port on the side of the RioVolt. OR To use the Remote Control, plug the Headphones Cable into the Remote Control, and then plug the Remote Control Cable into the Headphones Port on the side of the RioVolt. The Remote Control can then be clipped to your clothing for easy access.

Battery Door

Headphones Port

Lineout Port

Power Port
NOTE: Another option is to plug a pair of powered speakers into the RioVolts Lineout Port instead of using headphones.

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6. Slide the Release Latch at the front of the RioVolt to the right to open the case.

Release Latch

7. Place a music CD or a CD that you have burned with your own digital music files into the RioVolt. 8. Close the top lid securely. 9. Press and hold the Play button on the Joypad to turn the RioVolt SP250 on and to begin playing the first track on the CD. NOTE: If the RioVolt SP250 display does not light up and the unit demonstrates no activity, check the Hold Switch on the RioVolt and on the Remote Control to make sure they are in the OFF position.

Using Your RioVolt SP250

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The NAVI/MENU button a couple of different purposes. It allows you to look through the directory of music available on a CD and select tracks from folders based on Album Title or Artist Name, depending on how they were structured before the CD was burned. It allows you to go through the Setup Menu system to adjust how the RioVolt SP250 is configured and operates. NAVI 1. Press the NAVI/MENU button once to bring up the Root directory of music with an alphabetical list of folders beneath. 2. Press Stop on the Joypad to scroll down through the list of folders until you locate the one you want. 3. Press FastForward on the Joypad to select that folder and to open it up to show the tracks located there. 4. Press Stop on the Joypad to scroll down through the list of tracks until you highlight the one you are searching for. 5. Press FastForward on the Joypad to select that track and to start playing it. This will return you to the Normal Play display screen. MENU 1. Press and hold the NAVI/MENU button for approximately 1.5 seconds to bring up the Setup Menu system for the RioVolt SP250s settings and operations.
Press Play/Pause on the Joypad to make selections. Press FastForward and Rewind on the Joypad to move through the available Setup Menu tabs. Press Stop on the Joypad to escape a menu option or exits the Setup Menu system.
VOLUME + & The VOLUME buttons are located below the NAVI/MENU button to the right of the Display. They adjust the volume level whether you are in NAVI, MENU or Normal mode. Press + to increase the volume. Press - to decrease the volume.
Page 12 The Joypad Controls:
Play/Pause Press once and hold to turn the RioVolt on and to play the first song in the current selection. Pressing Play/Pause while a song is playing pauses the song and the song title in the display blinks to indicate that it is in Pause mode. In NAVI Mode Scrolls up through folder and track choices. In MENU Mode Selects menu tabs and options. Fast Forward Press once to skip to the next track. Press and hold down to scan forward through current track. In NAVI Mode Selects folders and tracks. In MENU Mode Moves forward through the available Setup Menu tabs. In FM Mode Press once to raise the radio frequency by 0.1 or press and hold to scan for radio stations. Rewind Press once to return to a previous track. Press and hold down to scan backwards through current track. In NAVI Mode Scrolls back to previous folder choice and exits Navi Mode. In MENU Mode Moves back through the available Setup Menu tabs. In FM Mode Press once to lower the radio frequency by 0.1 or press and hold to scan for radio stations. Stop Press once to stop or hold to turn off. In NAVI Mode Scrolls down through folder and track choices. In MENU Mode Backs out of a menu option or exits the Setup Menu system.

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160 seconds of skip free MP3/WMA music is always available regardless of the ESP setting. 22. Press to activate the CD ESP screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox. 23. Press or to move the arrow to the checkbox option you prefer. 24. Press to mark the checkbox youve selected. 25. Press to deactivate the CD ESP screen and to enter your selection. This completes the list of options in the General menu group.
The second menu group tab is display. This menu group allows you to make changes to the way the display looks and performs by adjusting the Back Light, Contrast, Tag Info and Time screens. 1. Press to highlight the display tab. 2. Press to select the display tab and to highlight the b.light tab below. 3. Press to activate the Back Light screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox. OFF turns the back light off all of the time. Button ON turns the back light on only when a button has been pushed. Adapter & Button ON turns the back light on all the time when the AC Adapter is in use or when a button is pushed. 4. Press or to move the arrow to the checkbox you wish to select. 5. Press to mark the checkbox youve selected. 6. Press to deactivate the Back Light screen and to enter your selection. 7. Press to highlight the contrast tab. 8. Press to activate the LCD Contrast screen, which will then display a sliding bar scale that allows you to adjust the degree of contrast. 9. Press to increase the contrast and move the slide to the right or to decrease the contrast and move the slide to the left. 10. Press to deactivate the LCD Contrast screen and to enter your selection. 11. Press to highlight the next contrast tab. This tab brings up the Remocon Contrast screen, which allows you to adjust the contrast visible in the display of the RioVolt SP250s optional remote control, available as an upgrade at www.riohome.com. This screen works exactly like the LCD Contrast screen. 12. Press to activate the Remocon Contrast screen, which will then display a sliding bar scale that allows you to adjust the degree of contrast. 13. Press to increase the contrast and move the slide to the right or to decrease the contrast and move the slide to the left. 14. Press to deactivate the Remocon Contrast screen and to enter your selection. 15. Press to highlight the tag info tab. 16. Press to activate the Tag Information screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox.

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The Tag Information screen allows you to decide whether you want the display to show you the track information available for each digital audio track you play. This information can include the Artist Name, Album (CD) Title, Track Title, etc. By default ON will be selected. 17. Press to change the selection to OFF if you do not want to see the tag information. 18. Press to mark the checkbox youve selected. 19. Press to deactivate the Tag Information screen and to enter your selection. 20. Press to highlight the next time tab. 21. Press to activate the Time Information screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox. The Time Information screen allows you to change the Track Time on the display from showing the elapsed (Normal) time of the track being played to the time remaining (Remain) in the track. 22. Press or to move the arrow to the checkbox you wish to select. 23. Press to mark the checkbox youve selected. 24. Press to deactivate the Time Information screen and to enter your selection. This completes the list of options in the Display menu group.

The third menu group tab is timer. This menu allows you to adjust how long the RioVolt remains on before going into Sleep mode or powering off. 1. Press to highlight the timer tab. 2. Press to select the timer tab and to highlight the sleep tab below.
3. Press to activate the Sleep Power OFF screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox. By default OFF will be selected. However, by choosing ON and adjusting the sliding bar scale, you can set the RioVolt to play for a set number of minutes before turning off; a handy feature if you want to listen to your music as you fall asleep. 4. Press to move the arrow to the ON checkbox. 5. Press to mark the checkbox. The number in the sliding bar scale slide will automatically change to 1. 6. Press to increase the number of minutes shown in the sliding bar scale to the desired number of minutes. NOTE: To turn the Sleep mode off again, press until the number of minutes shown in the sliding bar scale shows 0 and the OFF checkbox is marked. 7. Press to deactivate the Sleep Power OFF screen and to enter your selection.

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8. Press to highlight the power off tab. 9. Press to activate the Stop Power OFF screen, which will then display a sliding bar scale of minutes that the RioVolt will remain on without activity before automatically shutting off. By default this number is 1 minute. 10. Press to move the slide right and increase the number of minutes before the RioVolt powers off. 11. Press to deactivate the Stop Power OFF screen and to enter your selection. This completes the list of options in the Timer menu group.
The fourth menu group tab is control. This menu group allows you to adjust: whether you can scan through tracks (F.scan) and how fast (speed) whether you can skip through tracks (F.skip) how the Mode button on the remote control functions (mode) whether the RioVolt automatically starts when the AC Adapter is used (start) whether autopause is used (pause) 1. Press to highlight the control tab. 2. Press to select the control tab and to highlight the F. scan tab below. 3. Press to activate the FF/RW Scan screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox. By default ON will be selected, allowing you to hold down the FastForward or Rewind buttons on the Joypad to scan forward or backward through a track. 4. Press to move the arrow to the OFF checkbox if you want to turn off the scanning feature. 5. Press to mark the checkbox. 6. Press to deactivate the FF/RW Scan screen and to enter your selection. 7. Press to highlight the F. skip tab. 8. Press to activate the FF/RW Skip screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox. 9. Press or to move the arrow to the checkbox option you prefer. 10. Press to mark the checkbox youve selected. 11. Press to deactivate the FF/RW Skip screen and to enter your selection. 12. Press to highlight the speed tab. 13. Press to activate the FF/RW Scan Speed screen, which will then display an arrow next to the marked checkbox. This option allows you can adjust the speed at which your RioVolt scan forward or backward through a track when you hold down the or button. 14. Press to move the arrow to the checkbox option you prefer. 15. Press to mark the checkbox youve selected. 16. Press to deactivate the FF/RW Scan Speed screen and to enter your selection. 17. Press to highlight the mode tab.

Using the FM Tuner

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By pressing the CD-FM button on the RioVolt or the VOLUME/CD-FM/ MODE click wheel on the remote control you can toggle between playing CDs and listening to FM radio stations. Press and to tune the FM frequencies in 0.1 intervals. Press and hold or to scan through the FM frequencies for available stations. Press MODE to select whether you want it played in STEREO or not. Press +10/EQ to select whether you want it played with DBB or not.

Creating Presets

1. Tune the RioVolt SP250 to the desired station frequency using and. 2. Press PROGRAM to mark the station. MEMORY will appears in the display followed by CHANNEL # where # is a number from 1-20. 3. Select the Preset Number you want by pressing or to increase or decrease the number. Each time you press PROGRAM, it will increase the CHANNEL # by one.

Recalling Presets

1. Press NAVI/MENU to bring up the Presets. 2. Press and to cycle through the stored Presets until you locate the one you want.

The Remote Control

The Remote Control Cable plugs into the Headphones Port on the side of the RioVolt. The headphones then plug into the end of the Remote Control. NOTE: To buy the upgraded remote control with display, got to www.riohome.com.

Remote Control Buttons

VOLUME / CD-FM / MODE Click Wheel
VOL Press the click wheel towards the + to increase volume. Press the click wheel toward the - to decrease the volume. CD-FM Press in and hold the click wheel for 1.5 seconds to toggle between playing CDs and listening to FM stations. Press and to tune to your favorite radio stations. MODE Press the click wheel in and let go to toggle through the Repeat/Shuffle modes.

Hold Switch

HOLD Switch
Slide Hold Switch ON in the direction of the arrow to lock buttons or OFF to unlock the buttons.

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Button
Press once to play a song. Pressing when a song is in play will pause the song and cause the title to flash.
Stop Play FF/RW NAVI/MENU
Press once to stop the current song. Press and hold to turn off the RioVolt.

FASTFORWARD Click Wheel

Be sure that the AC Adapter is plugged into the proper connection. The AC Adapter connection is the furthest to the right when looking at the options for plugging in the device. The middle connection is a Line-out plug and is not meant for the power adapter. If you are still experiencing problems, be sure the Hold Switch on the front of the device is set to OFF.
Problem: I am hearing some popping or skipping in some MP3/WMA tracks, it is always in the same place, why is this?
Try playing the same track(s) on your computer. If the same sounds are present on the computer, it could be that the file has a sound defect that was transferred when your CD was created. Try re-encoding the same audio track again or verify with the source of the file that it was created correctly.

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Problem: I cannot get the Program function to work on the player. It always tries to set an A-B loop instead, whats wrong?
The player must be stopped to create a playlist. When the player is not playing, press the Prog. button and you will be able to add tracks to your playlist.
Problem: My Macintosh software application is telling me it has expired, what do I do?
If your software displays a message noting an expiration time period, please visit our support section at http://www.riohome.com for update information.
Frequently Asked Questions

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What type of CDs can I play with the RioVolt?
You can play CDs that have MP3 and/or WMA music files or you can play regular CD audio music discs.
Can I mix CD Audio with MP3 and/or WMA files?
No. You can play either CD Audio discs or CDs with MP3 (and/or WMA) music content. They cannot be mixed together.
Can I put both MP3 and WMA files on the same CD?
Yes. You can play a CD with both MP3 and WMA files and can choose tracks however you like.
What is the maximum number of songs I can put on a single CD?
You can put up to 999 music tracks per CD depending on the size of the music tracks and the available space on your CDR.
After creating a CD using DirectCD the RioVolt will not read it properly.
If the RioVolt is having trouble reading a CD created using DirectCD, make sure that the CD is formatted with compression OFF. If compression is ON, the RioVolt will not read the tracks properly. Check with the documentation that came with your burning software for further assistance with this.

Will the RioVolt play Variable Bitrate (VBR) files?
VBR is supported with the most recent Xing encoder. If you have VBR issues, like repeating sections of the song, check with the software manufacturer for the encoder in use. There is no standard for VBR files, so we cannot guarantee that every encoding software package will properly function with the RioVolt.
Where is the battery indicator on my RioVolt?
The battery indicator on the RioVolt is located in the top-left corner of the display. As the battery life decreases, the bands in the battery icon will disappear.
How much playtime can I get from 2 AA batteries?
Playtime varies with battery type and music content. However, as a guideline the following applies: MP3/WMA CDs get up to 15 hours of music playtime. Audio CDs playtime will have approximately 6 hours of playtime with ESP on and 8 hours with ESP off.
What kind of skip protection is there on the Riovolt?
The Riovolt uses Electronic Shock Protection to help prevent skipping during playback. When playing MP3/ WMA files, you get up to 8 minutes of skip protection. When playing Audio CDs, you have the option of up to 160 seconds or 40 seconds of skip protection*

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*There is an ESP switch on the back of the device to choose this option. This only affects Audio CD skip protection and is available to help increase battery life.
The CD seems to stop during playback, is this normal?
Yes. This is part of the skip protection and battery life protection. When the CD is stopped, the RioVolt plays songs from memory. This serves as absolute shock protection during this time as the disc is not even spinning!
How do I encode, "rip", the songs from my CDs so I can listen to them on my RioVolt?
We have included the Real Jukebox(PC) and ITunes (Mac) programs for your use, but there are many encoder programs available on the Web, many of which are free. To install the programs available on the RioVolt CD: 1.) Put the CD in your computers CD-ROM drive. If it does not autorun on your PC, click Start, Run, type in D:\setup32.exe, and click OK. If your CD-ROM drive is a letter other than D, type in that letter. If it does not autorun on your Mac, double-click the RioVolt CD icon that appears on your desktop and then double-click Install. 2.) When the installation splash screen displays on your monitor, click Install and then the program you wish to install. 3.) Follow the instructions on the screen to finish the installation. 4.) Refer to the Real Jukebox Help or the ITunes Help document available within the program for instructions on how to use the program, including how to encode MP3s, create and manage playlists, and download digital music files from their website.

Can I use any set of headphones with the remote control?
Yes. As long as you have a 1/8 stereo connection, this can be used with the remote control in place. You can also connect any 1/8 stereo headphones directly to the device.
RioVolt SP250 Specifications

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Category Item
Number of Channels Frequency Range Headphone Output AUDIO Line out Level Signal vs. noise ratio Frequency Characteristics CD Type CD SUPPORT CD-R/RW Read File Type FILE SUPPORT POWER SUPPLY Bit Rate Tag AC Adapter Battery Dimension GENERAL ITEMS Weight Operational Temperature

Specifications

Stereo (left and right) 20Hz-20KHz 7mW(left) + 7mW (right) (160 d) 0.57V ms(47kd ) max. volume 89dB(CD-DA), 89dB(MP3 CD) +/- 2dB CD-DA, CD-Text CD-ROM Mode 1, Mode 2 Form 1 Enhanced CD, CD-Plus Packet Write, ISO9660, Joliet, Romeo, MultiSession MPEG 1/2/2.5, Layer 3, WMA Supports 32 Kbps ~ 320 Kbps ID3 V1 Tag, ID3 V2 2.0, ID3 V2 3.0 DC 4.5V, 5W 1.5V, two AA batteries Approx. 130(W) x 140(L) x 27(H) mm Approx. 230g (excluding batteries) 0C - 40C
Battery Lifetime (based on the alkaline battery) CD Type

ESP Max. Playback Time

General Audio
40 seconds 8 hours 160 seconds 6 hours

MP3/WMA

8 minutes 15 hours
One Year Limited Warranty

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Our warranty to you:
SONICblue Incorporated warrants that your product will be free from defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of original retail purchase. If you discover a defect covered by this warranty, we will repair or replace the product at our option using new or remanufactured components. SONCblue Incorporateds liability is limited solely to the repair or replacement of the defective product. This warranty is extended to the original end user purchaser only and is not assignable or transferable to any other party. Any parts or boards removed in the replacement or remanufacture process shall become the property of SONICblue Incorporated.
How to obtain service under this warranty:
To obtain service under this warranty, please contact the dealer from whom you purchased this product or SONICblue Incorporateds Customer Care Center at (541) 967-2450 for return instructions. The Customer Care hours of operation are: Monday through Saturday, 8 am to 5 pm, PT You must deliver the product and the original sale receipt to the dealer from whom you purchased this product or to SONICblue Incorporated in order to obtain service under this warranty. If you return the product to SONICblue Incorporated, you must pay for shipping to SONICblue Incorporated. Our mailing address is: SONICblue Incorporated 7101 Supra Drive SW Albany, OR 97321 USA

Glossary

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Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) is one of the audio compression formats defined by the MPEG-2 specification. AAC used to be called NBC (Non-Backward-Compatible), because it is not compatible with the MPEG-1 audio formats. AAC may eventually replace MP3 since it offers better sound quality and greater file compression.
Bitrate, file compression
Bitrate denotes the average number of bits that one second of audio data will consume. The size of a digital audio file is determined by the bitrate used when encoding the file. The higher the bitrate used, the higher the sound quality and the larger the file size. For example, for MP3s a bitrate of 128k is usually very close to CD quality, and takes up about 1MB per minute of music. At a 64k bitrate, the MP3 sound quality is similar to that of an FM radio signal, but you may get around two minutes of music in that same 1MB of storage space.
Depending on the context and kind of technology involved, codec may be defined in two ways. In telecommunications, a codec is usually a "coding/decoding" chip used to translate between digital and analog transmissions. A modem uses one to interpret incoming analog signals and converts the digital data stream coming from the computer into analog. A codec is also defined as a compression/decompression algorithm. Codecs are used to shrink large files or data streams, often for efficient transmission over a network, and then decode them when they are displayed. The RioVolt supports the following digital audio file codecs: MP3 WMA

DRM, security

Digital Rights Management (DRM) technologies protect copyright ownership of digital information. DRM became an issue with the rise of MP3 technology and Internet distribution of music. DRM platforms serve as a security wrapper around digital audio supporting Internet distribution while at the same time protecting and managing rights related to that digital information.

Encode, Rip (a CD)

Encoding, or ripping, refers to converting an audio file from a CD-ROM into a compressed digital audio format, such as MP3 or WMA, that may be played on the RioVolt, on the computer, or on a portable Rio Digital Audio Player.

ID3 Tag

This is the part of the encoded MP3 file that contains information about the digital music file such as song title, artist, album title, bitrate encoding, time duration of track, and so on.

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MPEG-1, Layer 3 Audio (MP3) is a compressed digital audio file format. This format allows for near CD quality sound, but at a fraction of the size of normal audio files. MP3 files encoded from CD-ROM may be compressed to under 10 percent of their former size. This digital sound encoding and compression process was developed by the Fraunhofer Institut fur Integrierte Schaltungen and Thomson Multimedia. MP3 uses perceptual audio coding and psychoacoustic compression to remove all superfluous informationmore specifically, the redundant and irrelevant parts of a sound signal that the human ear doesn't hear. It also adds a Modified Discrete Cosine Transform (MDCT) that implements a filter bank, increasing the frequency resolution 18 times higher than that of layer 2. MP3 shrinks the original sound data from a CD-ROM with a bitrate of 1411.2 kilobits per one second of stereo music by a factor of 12 down to 112-128kbps, without sacrificing sound quality. The MP3 encoding process is well suited for the transfer of high quality audio files with small file size over telephone or ISDN lines, and over the Internet.
Windows Media Audio (WMA) is the compressed audio format created by Microsoft as an alternative to MP3. WMA offers comparable quality at greater file compression than MP3, enabling you to store more music on your PC or portable player.

Contacting Customer Care

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Technical Support - US

Hours of Operation: Mon.- Sat. 8am-5pm PT Email customersupport@riohome.com Telephone 1(541)-967-2450 Fax 1(541)967-2401 TDD 1(541)967-2451 Technical Support Wizard www.riohome.com

Customer Service - US

Hours of Operation: Mon.-Sat. 8am-5pm PT Email customersupport@riohome.com Telephone 1(800)-468-5846 1(541)-967-2450 Fax 1(541)967-2485

Website www.riohome.com

Rio Product Support
With every Rio product you receive the following support services:
Unlimited access to the Rio web-based technical information resources, which are available 24 hours a day every day at www.riohome.com. Here you will find up-to-date FAQ files, a knowledge base search engine, product updates and other useful tools. Unlimited email support for the duration of your Rio product hardware warranty period. Access to the latest software updates and enhancements for Rio product via our web site.

New Product Support

In addition to the services mentioned above, all retail purchasers of Rio products receive: Person-to-person telephone support for the first 90 days of ownership. To extend support after the expiration of New Product Support, we offer an affordable, fee-based, Extended Service Option. Please see web site for details, at www.riohome.com.