Question about MB file size

[grh]

This may be a dumb question, but lets say I have a mp3 file that is 490 MB (514,702,353 bytes). Is the real file size 490 MB or the second larger part that says (514,702,353 bytes)?

 

[VomitHatSteve]

The second one is more precise, but both are accurate to their level of measurement

490 MB is 1024 KB, each of which is 1024 bytes, so it's actually 513,802,240 B. 491 MB is 514,850,816, so your value is being rounded down to 490

 

[grh]

I ask because the us copyright office will not allow me to copyright a digital title that is over 500mb. Should I consider the first or second one to be correct?

 

[TalismanRich]

As VHS said, TECHNICALLY, a megabyte is 1024 kilobytes, because it's based on base2 numbering system (2^20)

Some people (like hard drive manufacturers) are using 1000kB as a MB. Hence you buy a 1 TB drive and find out that you only have 913MB. Computers still think in base2 notation.

What the US copyright office uses, should be spelled out in their documentation, but you know how gov't agencies are. If you are on the borderline, you can always drop the bit rate, or try using variable bit rate instead of fixed. You are only documenting a work, not using it for a recording master.

 

[gecko zzed]

You are only documenting a work, not using it for a recording master.

This ^^^


There are many ways of reducing the file size because qual;ity is not the primary concern.

 

[grh]

I wan't to thank everyone who posted above. I am just going to reduce the file size of the specific mp3 copyright title mentioned.

 

[VomitHatSteve]

I ask because the us copyright office will not allow me to copyright a digital title that is over 500mb. Should I consider the first or second one to be correct?

Both numbers are accurate, and both are less than 500 MB.

500 MB is 524,288,000 B