Editing AllOfMP3 (section)

===Download formats===

AllOfMP3 (and now MP3Sparks) allows users to choose from a variety of [[audio codecs]] for audio files. Lossy formats are offered in [[constant bitrate]]s up to 320&nbsp;kbit/s or [[variable bitrate]]s up to maximum quality in the following formats:
*[[MP3]]
*[[Windows Media Audio|WMA]]
*[[Ogg Vorbis]]
*[[Advanced Audio Coding|MPEG4-AAC]]
*[[Musepack|MPC]]
Select albums are also being made available in [[Lossless data compression|Lossless audio codecs]] in the following formats:
*[[FLAC]]
*[[Pulse-code modulation|PCM]]
*[[Monkey's Audio]]
*[[OptimFROG]]
*[[Windows Media Audio#Windows Media Audio Lossless|WMA Lossless]]
Most music is encoded straight from source, which is dubbed ''Online Encoding Exclusive'', so gapless albums could provide [[gapless playback]], unlike most other music services. There is no extra charge for using the Online Encoding Exclusive service. The user sets the codec parameters, including the desired bitrate, allowing for superior quality over other music download services such as iTunes and Napster.

Downloaded files do not contain [[digital rights management]] information, allowing unrestricted use between multiple computers and [[digital audio players]]. This differentiates AllOfMP3 from many other music download services, which limit the use of the music the user may purchase and the platforms on which it may be played.

The websites also offer free, full album previews, streamed at a bitrate of 24 kilobits per second (roughly equivalent to analog [[telephone]] audio quality). Registered users who have spent less than $50 have access to 90 second samples, and unregistered users have access to 30 second samples.

==== Music for Masses ====

In late 2006, AllOfMP3 experimented with a feature called "Music for Masses" which allowed users to download [[digital rights management|DRM]]-protected music for free.<ref>"[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/18/technology/18musiccnd.html?hp&ex=1161230400&en=b3505998b2c3b2a7&ei=5094&partner=homepage Moscow Music Site Defends Free Downloads]" [[The New York Times]] October 18, 2006</ref> The files were encoded in a proprietary MP3 format (.mp3x) that could only be played in the Music for Masses player, and could not be transferred to a portable media device. However, the DRM protection was cracked within a week.<ref>"[https://www.engadget.com/2006/10/25/musicforme-cracks-allofmp3s-drm-hilarity-ensues/ MusicForMe cracks AllOfMP3's DRM, hilarity ensues]" [[Engadget]], October 25, 2006</ref> Although AllOfMP3 released a compulsory update to the player software which rendered the original crack unusable, they eventually removed the service in December 2006.