What is the best way to compress files?

[Be Well]

I am not a technical wizard to put it mildly. I hope someone knows the answer (I am sure there are many who do) and can give me a bit of advice.

Here's the problem: A friend asked me to read some books and record them, since I read out loud to hub often anyway. Hub already has a digital recorder, I think a Sony, that we also have other plans for. So I recorded in about 7 takes a small 90 odd page book. I tried emailing and only a very short piece could go through. So I figured I need to compress the files and send them that way.

Someone suggested 7 Zip, I also saw that WinZip is widely used. But before just jumping in with both feet, if anyone has experience I'd love to hear it. I want something that is free and safe. After I started downloading 7 Zip, Norton alerted me of some trojan attack, but that may have been utter coincidence.

My friend is waiting her her audio book and I want to start another.

Any and all help much appreciated.

[Ambros]

7zip and winzip are both free and very user friendly... ive had 7zip for years and i promise its not a trojan of any sort assuming you download it from a reputable place...

http://www.7-zip.org/download.html

that is the correct place to download it, and unless their site was hacked, it will be trojan free. also, what version of windows are you running? windows 7(and i think xp-sp3?) has the ability to create compressed archives built into the OS itself...

[Satanta]

7zip is fine and it also decompresses files Winzip will not.

[DefVoid]

Go with winRAR, i think its probably what your looking for. Ive been using it for years.

[Be Well]

Big Thank You for all responses. I have Windows 7. I will give 7 Zip a try from the link above since it can also unzip/compress files and hope for the best! (If I have ?s can I ask em I hope.)

I will report back in the interests of full disclosure.

[hypoluxo]

What is he file format that the audio recording is currently in? If it is wav or aiff, you should convert to mp3. If it is voice only, the bit rate doesn't need to be above 64 kbps mono - even 32 kbps should should fine. It is likely that you would not need further compression to send by email.

[H2O]

I have been using winRAR for years, and have been happy with it. Of course, for those really big files, we have a friend who weighs almost 280 pounds - we just slip the files under the seat cushion of his chair

[Be Well]

What is he file format that the audio recording is currently in? If it is wav or aiff, you should convert to mp3. If it is voice only, the bit rate doesn't need to be above 64 kbps mono - even 32 kbps should should fine. It is likely that you would not need further compression to send by email.

I'll have to check with hub because those tech details are unknown to me!

[Sysman]

Another vote for WinRAR here, I've been using it since around 2003...

It can handle several compressed file formats, including .ZIP files...

.

[RCSAR]

I use winrar and winzip both for over a decade no problems at all!
My versions are 7 years old and have not tried the newer versions. If its broke don't fix it is one of my computer rules.
I'm sure if they have made improvements than they both are better than great.

I agree with converting them to.mp3 just for the fact they can play with any player.

[Maverick]

deleted - just read you wanted audio compression.

[Be Well]

Again a Thank You to everyone. Will attempt to download and use it this afternoon and will report back.

[Be Well]

It's MP3 and voice only. Other recordings will be guitar and voice.