A few questions about music

Alright, I'm completely new at putting music into the game, so don't get angry.

1. Importing it isn't too hard, but how do I know where to find it so I can make it into a variable?

2. What format should the music be for best results yet low file size?

3. In case the orginal muisic file is large, where can I get a (preferrably free or trial) program to shrink it but keep relativly good quality?

Thanks for any help!

1. Sound Editor (F5)

2. MP3

3. I use WavePad (http://www.nch.com.au/wavepad/). Open the original file, and save with lower quality.

I use the sound recorder that comes with windows XP. Start > accessories > entertainment > sound recorder. Open your music go to file > properties > convert now. I use PCM format. The bigger the compression (higher up on the dropdown) the smaller the file size but it can lose quality so try messing with it until you get the right one. DO NOT overwright the old file! I usually save mine as soundfile_compressed.wav/mp3.

I'll try this wavepad stuff too...hope it's better than sound recorder -.-