APE and MP3 File Formats
Monkey’s Audio is a proprietary software, it is often too slow to decode on portable audio devices, and it has limited/problematic support on software platforms other than Windows. There are alternatives that provide the user with more freedom and official support for more platforms, such as the FLAC and ALAC formats.
Like other methods of compression, the main advantage of using Monkey’s Audio lies in a reduction of bandwidth and/or a reduction in storage requirements. A digital recording (such as a CD) encoded to Monkey’s Audio format can later be decompressed into an identical copy of the original audio data. Like the Apple Lossless format, files encoded to Monkey’s Audio are typically reduced to about half of the original size.
Monkey’s Audio generally achieves compression rates which are slightly better than FLAC and significantly better than Shorten. (Shorten is an older format that is no longer being developed.) Both encoding and decoding are generally slightly slower than both FLAC and Shorten, and the decoder is problematic to implement on portable digital audio players. It suffers from relatively slow seeking, depending on the compression level chosen.
Converting APE to MP3 with NoteBurner Converter
NoteBurner APE to MP3 Converter has the excellent capability of converting APE to MP3, WMA and WAV. This versatile APE to MP3 Converter can also convert AAC, M4P, WMA, AA, WAV, AIFF and many other audio files to MP3, WMA and WAV.
NoteBurner APE Converter converts any DRM protected music files (such as M4P, M4A, WMA, M4B) and unprotected music (APE, WMA, MP3, rax, MP4, WAV, RA, snd, OGG, aif) to plain MP3, WAV, WMA formats with Virtual CD-RW drive.
NoteBurner APE Converter uses virtual CD burning technology to simulate the burning and ripping process and can convert APE files to MP3. This amazing CD burner emulator easily automates the whole workflow for converting protected music or audio files to normal music files: ripping, burning, encoding are within only ONE click. This unique All-in-One feature helps NoteBurner convert any DRM protected WMA, M4P music and APE, M4B, MP3, rax, MP4, WAV, RA, snd, OGG, aif music to unprotected MP3, WAV, WMA formats at fast speed and high quality.
Officially, Monkey’s Audio is only available for the Microsoft Windows platform, though discussion on the Monkey’s Audio website hinted at future support for Linux and Mac OS. A developer using the moniker SuperMMX released an unofficial port in early 2005, which also includes plugins to allow playback using the audio players XMMS and Beep Media Player.
