File Extension MSA

File type: Memory Stick Audio Format

The MSA file type is primarily associated with 'Memory Stick Audio Format' by Sony Corporation. Memory Stick Audio Format specifies the audio recording/playback system that uses a copyright-protecting Memory Stick as a recording media. It defines recording method and requirements for recording/playback devices. MagicGate is a music copyright protection technique applicable for a PC or record/playback device that uses semiconductor media (Memory Stick). By adopting the encryption of contents and the authentication of a MagicGate compliant Memory Stick and its device, to mutually validate that they are a music copyright- protecting semiconductor media and device, it becomes possible to playback or move music contents only by an authenticated Memory Stick and device to avoid illegal playback or copying. Under the Memory Stick Audio Standards, the HIFI directory is created under the root directory, and the following four types of files are stored in it; The Playback Management File (PBLIST.MSF), a group of ATRAC3 data file in which more than one piece of encrypted music data (A3Dnnnnn.MSA) is stored, the Revocation Management File that records illegal Memory Stick IDs (MGCRL.MSF), and the EKB file. The number of ATRAC3 data files is restricted up to 400 files. ATRAC3 data files are created at the users' option for each device, after they are registered in the Playback Management File. Whenever the Playback Management File is created, the Revocation Management File must be created accordingly. The EKB file is the information file for acquiring the encryption key for the generation of the encrypted ATRAC3 data.

When windows gives you an error message saying that it
"Cannot open MSA files", this means either:

A. You need to identify a program that can open the file
B. Or your registry may be damaged

In both cases it is strongly recommended that you
run a free scan for registry errors.

'Identifying characters' used on FILExt.com are
provided by Marco Pontello from his TrID database

System Info for File Extension .MSA

The following listing is compiled from the database produced by the 'Associate This!' program, selected data from the main FILExt database and information FILExt collected directly from user systems.

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