downloading music - some basic questions!

[sjp63]

Hi

I dont have an ipod yet but can i download music to my computer and then play it through the pc or burn it to CD. Ive got a fairly new multi media PC.

Assuming the answer is yes....can anyone recomend a good download site, not looking for thecheapest but a good all round mainstream site.

Thanks.

[hugh_]

If you are going to get an ipod then it might be worth considering using the service within iTunes. iTunes is the media player that ipods run and update through and many (myself included) think its the best media player available. It has its own build in media store, its quick and easy to get music and it automatically adds it to your library.

Its probably not the cheapest, but for the limitted amount of music I download its what I use.

[sjp63]

hugh_ said:

If you are going to get an ipod then it might be worth considering using the service within iTunes. iTunes is the media player that ipods run and update through and many (myself included) think its the best media player available. It has its own build in media store, its quick and easy to get music and it automatically adds it to your library. Its probably not the cheapest, but for the limitted amount of music I download its what I use.

Probably will get an ipod but for now want to burn to CD so I can use it in the car.

[SlidingSideways]

If you're planning on getting an iPod, iTunes is the way to go.

All of the others use Windows Media format files which the iPod won't play. The only one of these I've used is Napster. You pay a monthly fee and can download as much music as you like and play it from the PC. If you want to be able to burn it to disk or transfer it to a portable player (doesn't support iPods though due to media formats) you have to pay another fee per track (i think).

There is also another site (AllOfMP3.com I think) where you pay by size of your download (£x/Mb) and you can vary the quality of the downloads to your liking/wallet size.
These are MP3's so should play on your iPod, but I've not used it before so can't say for sure.

[catretriever]

SlidingSideways said:

There is also another site (AllOfMP3.com I think) where you pay by size of your download (£x/Mb) and you can vary the quality of the downloads to your liking/wallet size. These are MP3's so should play on your iPod, but I've not used it before so can't say for sure.

That's the one I use, cheap as chips. Install their download manager software and you'll be laughing. To get the downloaded MP3's onto an ipod you would need to do a search for the files from within iTunes in order to add them to the iTunes library. All pretty simple stuff.

[sjp63]

sorry one more question would you trust this Russian site with your credit card details?

[chris.mapey]

sjp63 said:

sorry one more question would you trust this Russian site with your credit card details?

Yes - I've been using them for over a year. No problems, and don't forget that your CCard co will cough up if you get ripped off anyway...

I use the combination of AllofMP3 & iTunes. Works well & I love the facility in iTunes to burn the CDs at a louder volume & run the equalizer over them, so they sound better in the car.

Download your tracks as MP3's at 192kps bit rate and they'll sound great. Watch iTunes as it defaults to 128kps bit rate which sounds like an AM radio - you change it in the prefernces menu.

Hope that helps

Chris

[sjp63]

chris.mapey said:

sjp63 said: sorry one more question would you trust this Russian site with your credit card details? Yes - I've been using them for over a year. No problems, and don't forget that your CCard co will cough up if you get ripped off anyway... I use the combination of AllofMP3 & iTunes. Works well & I love the facility in iTunes to burn the CDs at a louder volume & run the equalizer over them, so they sound better in the car. Download your tracks as MP3's at 192kps bit rate and they'll sound great. Watch iTunes as it defaults to 128kps bit rate which sounds like an AM radio - you change it in the prefernces menu. Hope that helps Chris

Thanks I've burnt a disc from the site....cool

>> Edited by sjp63 on Friday 17th February 23:01