MPEG-1 is the designation for a group of audio and video coding standards agreed upon by MPEG (Moving Pictures Experts Group). MPEG-1 video is used by the Video CD format. The output quality at usual VCD bitrates is less than that of a VCR. MPEG-1 audio layer 3 is the full name for the popular audio format MP3.

MPEG-1 consists of several parts, as follows:

1. Synchronization and multiplexing of video and audio.
2. Compression codec for non-interlaced video signals.
3. Compression codec for perceptual coding of audio signals. The standard defines three "layers," or levels of complexity, of MPEG audio coding.
4. Procedures for testing compliance.

Reference: ISO/IEC JTC1/SC29/WG11 (http://www.chiariglione.org/mpeg/standards/mpeg-1/mpeg-1.htm) (June 1996)

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