Perhaps only peripherally DIY but there's such a lot of computer expertise
here.

I was surprised today to see a reference to "a poor quality fifth-generation
mp3 file" - I thought that digital files (of whatever format) reproduced
exactly from generation to generation with no deterioration at all. Am I
mistaken? If mp3s do indeed get progressively worse when repeatedly dubbed
I'm going to have to rethink the audio project I'm currently working on.

Thanks.