# MP3 Compress Compress an MP3 by re-encoding at a lower bitrate > Canonical page: https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/mp3-compress - **Category:** Media - **Keywords:** mp3, compress, bitrate, audio ## Overview The MP3 Compress tool reduces the file size of your MP3 audio files by re-encoding them at a lower bitrate. This helps save storage space, speed up file transfers, and optimize audio for online use while maintaining acceptable quality. ## Inputs - **MP3 File** (file): Select an MP3 file - **Target Bitrate** (select) - **Sample Rate** (select) - **Audio Channels** (select) - **Keep Metadata** (checkbox) ## When to use - When you need to shrink MP3 files for easier sharing via email or cloud storage. - When preparing audio for web streaming, such as podcasts or background music, to improve loading times. - When storage or bandwidth is limited, and you want to compress audio without changing the file format. ## How it works - Upload your MP3 file using the file selector, with a maximum size of 50 MB. - Select a target bitrate from options like 96 kbps, 128 kbps, 160 kbps, or 192 kbps to balance size and quality. - Optionally adjust sample rate and audio channels, or keep original settings with 'Auto' choices. - Enable 'Keep Metadata' to retain details like artist and title, then compress and download the smaller file. ## Use cases - Compressing podcast episodes to reduce hosting costs and ensure faster downloads for listeners. - Shrinking MP3 music files to attach to emails without exceeding common size limits. - Optimizing audio for mobile apps or websites where bandwidth efficiency is crucial. ## Frequently asked questions ### What bitrate should I choose for compression? Lower bitrates like 96 kbps reduce file size more but may lower audio quality. 128 kbps is a common choice for good quality and smaller size. ### Will compressing MP3 affect audio quality? Yes, re-encoding at a lower bitrate can reduce quality, but the impact varies. Higher bitrates preserve more detail, especially for music. ### Can I keep the original metadata after compression? Yes, enable the 'Keep Metadata' option to retain information such as song title, artist, and album in the compressed file. ### What is the maximum file size allowed? The tool supports MP3 files up to 50 MB in size for upload and compression. ### Does this tool work with other audio formats? No, it is designed specifically for MP3 files. For other formats like WAV or AAC, you would need a different converter. ## Related tools - [MP3 to Low Quality](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/mp3-to-low-quality): Convert MP3 to a lower bitrate for smaller size - [WAV Compress](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/wav-compress): Compress a WAV file by converting to MP3, AAC, OGG, or Opus - [Audio Codec Swap](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-codec-swap): Change the codec of an audio file within a chosen output format - [MP3 to WAV Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/mp3-to-wav): Convert MP3 audio to uncompressed WAV with optional resampling and channel selection - [AAC to MP3 Converter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/aac-to-mp3): Convert AAC audio to MP3 with controllable bitrate, resampling, and channel selection - [Audio Profile Setter](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-profile-setter): Set a specific encoding profile (e.g., AAC-LC, HE-AAC, Opus voice/audio) - [Audio Set CBR](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-set-cbr): Re-encode audio using Constant Bitrate (CBR) - [Audio Set VBR](https://elysiatools.com/en/tools/audio-set-vbr): Convert audio using Variable Bitrate (VBR) for efficient quality ## Samples - [Copyright-Free MP3 Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/mp3-samples): Collection of royalty-free audio samples for testing and development purposes including nature sounds, meditation music, and ambient audio - [Copyright-Free FLAC Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/flac-samples): Lossless FLAC audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music - [Copyright-Free WAV Audio Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/wav-samples): Uncompressed PCM WAV audio samples for testing and development, mirrored from MP3 set with nature sounds and meditation music - [WebRTC Real-Time Communication Samples](https://elysiatools.com/en/samples/webrtc-samples): Comprehensive WebRTC samples for peer-to-peer audio/video communication, data channels, screen sharing, and signaling server implementation ## Related content - [Audio Encoding and Format Conversion Tools](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/audio-convert): Compare audio format conversion, bitrate changes, sample-rate conversion, codec swaps, and export tools in one hub for delivery and archive workflows. - [Audio Editing and Cleanup Tools](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/audio-utility): Compare audio trimming, silence removal, fades, mixing, and denoise tools in one hub for podcast, voiceover, and music cleanup workflows. - [Audio Preview, Tone, and Effect Generator Tools](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/audio-generate): Compare audio preview generation, silence creation, ringtone building, fingerprinting, loudness reports, and effect-style audio generators in one hub. - [Audio Measurement and Inspection Tools](https://elysiatools.com/en/hubs/audio-analyze): Compare loudness, dynamic range, peak, BPM, key detection, spectral inspection, and metadata review tools in one hub for audio analysis.