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[D646]Download Music Without Software

by Timothy Rea, Tim

Everyone has heard about the legal rulings on downloading music and you may therefore be afraid to trust any site that tells you their music downloads are free and legal.

The fact is that the face of music downloading has changed dramatically since the judicial system has gotten involved in protecting the rights of artists, composers and distributors who were previously receiving NO royalties for the music that was shared by thousands of teenagers and adults.

But, if you know what you are doing, you can find music to download for free or for a very small fee.

If you are an audiophile and you really love to download music, you'll want to join a program that allows you to download a large number of files, or even an unlimited number of files, so you can keep up with the latest musical trends.

It is best to avoid sites that do not GUARANTEE that their files are safe, or you could end up with more than music on your machine.

Some of these fly-by-night sites allow anyone to upload songs and you might get a virus or other bug on your computer that might corrupt your machine.

If you are downloading songs to an iPod or MP3 player, be sure that the site you choose supports your format and device.

You may have to download a small software program to support the transfer of music from the music download site you select.

Try to stick with sites that have been reviewed and approved by web music critics or publications. Sites like My Music Inc., Free Music Downloads, MP3 Download HQ, and All Cool Music have been extensively reviewed by CNET, CNN, Tucows, OnlineReviewBoard, and Web Reviews for features like customer service, technical support, virus free guarantees, frequency of upgrades and pricing, and speed of download time.

Sites like RhapsodyMusicService and iMusicShare offer per song or per month rates for downloads.

Even if the old standbys like Napster and Kazaa, who were responsible for the initial flap over the violation of artistic rights and royalties, are now legitimate pay as you go sites that offer a full library of downloads for a per song or subscription fee.

And companies like AOL, Apple (through its iTunes and iPod business) and Real.com (with their Real Rhapsody program) are now offering free or subscription downloads with millions of songs in each catalogue.

Big retailers like Amazon and Wal-Mart have joined the fray with their own version of downloadable music for ?pay and play?.

Sites like GoingWare and SoundClick offer downloads of cutting edge bands and musicians who have yet to be signed to a label, so you'll find plenty of the newest music there.

Try to avoid P2P (Peer to Peer) programs if you can, because they are designed to allow users to ?share? songs from one stored portfolio of music to another and if you are downloading a song from another person's library, your computer is open to security breach and virus threats.

In general, you should watch out for: Ease of Use, Speed of Download and song SELECTION, SELECTION, SELECTION. You should also be careful to check out the search capacity and techniques on each of the sites you are considering.

Some sites make it nearly impossible to find the song you want, or they have 20 versions of the same song listed and you have to plow through all of them to find the one you want.

Even then, when you download it (and possibly PAY for that download) you may end up with the dance mix of a song that was not properly labeled on the site.

If you know other people who are downloading music and you are not sure of a site and whether you should sign up for their program, talk to some friends and find out what program they are using and which ones to avoid!

Want to find out how to listen to all your favorite songs whenever you want? If so, you'll want to learn more about music software and how you can install some programs onto your computer. Here are some descriptions of some basic music software programs you will want to learn more about:

CD Ripper

A CD Ripper program allows you to convert tracks from a compact disc to your mp3 player, or onto your computer. You can make your own mp3s from audio CDs, so that you make your own song selections. You can also convert batches of WAV decoded files at a time to mp3 files on the CD Ripper, and if you want to download this program onto your computer, you'll need to have Microsoft Windows 95, 98, or 2000, and a CD-ROM drive. For most CD Ripper programs, you can try a free download first before purchasing the product.

Audio Editors

If you are into recording and creating your own music, an audio editor program may be a good investment. An audio editor program allows you to save your own studio sessions or songs to modify later. Most include a metronome (to keep music and vocals in rhythm) and an audio mixer. The mixer allows you to adjust different music track settings like tone, pitch or volume. On some programs you can even ?beat match? between tracks, thus allowing for a smoother transition between songs. One audio editing program you may want to try is Blaze Media Pro, a program which is also a CD burner and converter. And, if you're recording a large file, most audio editors will be able to support your files with no problem at all. If you are using a multi-track editor, one thing to keep in mind is whether your sound card and memory capabilities are up to the task of handling large volumes of songs,.

Although most audio editor programs are commercial (and not freeware) and have a standard price tag, you can receive free trials for audio editor programs as well. Be aware of the memory and sound card requirements as designated by the company who produces the software. Depending on who makes the software, it may be available for Windows XP, Windows 98, ME, 2000 and even Mac OSX.

Mansi aggarwal writes about .

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Timothy Rea has sinced written about articles on various topics from Religion, Breast Enlargements and Home Improvement. Learn about programs you can use to download music safely and without frustration. Visit our web site to learn everything you need to know about music downloading: