Good site for MP3 dowloads

[KathyFP]

DD got an MP3 player from Christmas. What are suggested sites for dowloading???

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

iTunes Music Store (you can convert your downloads to MP3 or MP4 format if you don't have an iPod).

I believe Yahoo has a music store now.

Napster is back but once you stop paying you lose your music (though I'm not sure how you'd lose it if you burned it to CD)

Avoid P2P sites such as limewire; they are virus laden.

Don't forget that you can load up all your CDs onto your MP3 player too.

 

[kadaten]

iTunes Music Store (you can convert your downloads to MP3 or MP4 format if you don't have an iPod).

I believe Yahoo has a music store now.
Yep! This is the route we're going for DH's new MP3. They have a special running where you can pay $59.99 for the first year (instead of $12.95 or $14.95 per month). Best value and he liked their selection the best. It's subscription based....meaning you have access to all their music, but only as long as you pay for the subscription service.

Napster is back but once you stop paying you lose your music (though I'm not sure how you'd lose it if you burned it to CD)
The trick is, you can't burn it to CD. It's protected so you can only listen on your computer, or load it to your MP3 player if you pay for the "to go" version. You have to connect to the web at least every 30 days to renew your license (prove you paid) so your music will continue to work.

Avoid P2P sites such as limewire; they are virus laden.

Don't forget that you can load up all your CDs onto your MP3 player too.

We went the NON-iPod route as DH will download 1000's of songs by the end of the week. So we're doing the $60 for a year of Yahoo music. If we paid per song (iPods only have the pay-per-song format capability) it runs between 88 cents and $1 per song and I can't afford that!!! He never did rebuy all his music on cd's so there's LOTS of music out there he wants/needs to download!

 

[Sparx]

iTunes Music Store (you can convert your downloads to MP3 or MP4 format if you don't have an iPod).

You can also get them in MP3 and play them on any regular mp3 player if you know what you're doing.

 

[KathyFP]

Thanks - I might try yahoo

 

[WebmasterAlex]

Be careful on the "free" sites, virus laden is an understatement

 

[KathyFP]

I have a question about the difference in services. For additional money they have to go (both napster and yahoo) is this the service that I will need for the MP3 player or is there a way to convert the music files??

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

I have a question about the difference in services. For additional money they have to go (both napster and yahoo) is this the service that I will need for the MP3 player or is there a way to convert the music files??

I think every computer music program now plays mp3s.

 

[dcentity2000]

Just to point out at this moment the following:

1. iPods will NOT play any legally downloaded songs that are not from iTunes (and possibly Real)
2. All legal download services use a special download format, not the standard MP3s
3. AAC (iTunes) is generally considered to deliver the best sound quality
4. iTunes offers music videos and TV shows
5. iTunes is currently the market leader by a LONG way
6. iTunes sports the greatest range of music available

Rich::

 

[KathyFP]

Thanks for everyones opinions. I think I might do a free trial, but hope I remember to cancel if I do not want it.

 

[DarkSideMoon]

Just to point out at this moment the following:

1. iPods will NOT play any legally downloaded songs that are not from iTunes (and possibly Real)

1. You can convert them into iTunes format though.

 

[KathyFP]

does itunes have a subscription?

 

[DarkSideMoon]

nope. it's roughly a buck per song.

 

[KathyFP]

I wonder if that then makes the monthly subsriptions a better deal, but then I heard once you stop the subscription you can't play the songs. I really don't understand. If you sync the player why would it stop working?

 

[WatchinCaptKangaroo]

From the sound of it you're pretty much just renting the music with the subscription services.you have to sync your player to the computer once a month to keep the songs playing. You cannot burn them to CD either.

iTunes and the iPod will play any music you have on your computer regardless of how you aquired it. If it is not in the proper format (which is wma at this point) it will convert it.

The iTunes musc store is about $.99 a song. Sometimes more, sometimes less. The albums are a pretty good deal. They also have weekly free downloads of newer music.

 

[kellimomo3]

I got the Sony Walkman Bean MP3 player for XMas. I am planning on setting it all up tomorrow. It comes with software toconnect me with the Connect Music Store for my downloads. Anyone have any input on that site??
Kelli

 

[TomD]

mp3search.ru is a decent site.

 

[Twinkles6892]

You can convert them into iTunes format though.
[/list]

No you cannot. If you download something from Music Match, or anything other than iTunes (or free sites) it won't convert it. You have to put it on a cd and then put it back into iTunes.

 

[bicker]

Be careful on the "free" sites, virus laden is an understatement

And also keep in mind that ISPs will generally cooperate with recording companies and authorities to identify customers who were heavy users of such sites. It's just not worth it. It's better to pay the folks who make and distribute music for their work IMHO.

 

[dcentity2000]

You can convert them into iTunes format though.
[/list]

I don't believe you can, not legally at least. All downloads are encryted, either as AAC (iPod compatible), RM (possibly compatible) or as WMA (NOT compatible). Removal of that encryption and/or transfer is illegal.



Rich::