Intro:
Before you begin
Step 1:
Install an MP3 player
Step 2:
Review the player
Step 3:
Find your music
Step 4:
Download the MP3 file
Step 5:
Play the file
Step 6:
Convert CDs into MP3 files (optional)

2torial #0859:
Learn2 Download and Play MP3 Files

Digital killed the video star

The name is shorthand for MPEG Audio Layer 3--the audio coding scheme within a video compression program--and while this bit of trivia isn't too exciting, what the technology can do definitely is. Before it, saving high-quality audio onto a personal computer just wasn't practical. Even a few songs could take hours to download and would devour an enormous chunk of memory. Now, however, a song can be downloaded in about a minute, entire CDs in a few more, and digital audio can be compressed into a fraction of the disk space once needed, with virtually no loss in quality.

What's created is a storable, downloadable, CD-quality computer file, popularly known as an MP3, that gives you music at your fingertips. And with electronics manufacturers embracing the technology and creating hand-held MP3 players, all music--from your own collection or from the Internet--will soon be easily accessible no matter where you are.

While much of the music available online is handled by sanctioned websites, there are enough pirated MP3s being offered free to the public to set the music industry scrambling to regulate the technology's use. Whatever the future outcome, one thing is clear--MP3s and their distribution have created a whole new ball game. If you're interested in playing, then climb aboard the latest recording revolution.

Before you pick your MP3 songs, you need an MP3 player. No, this isn't the newest pricey piece of stereo equipment--it's software downloaded off the web, and it's usually free.

Check for default players. Before you start surfing, check to see if your computer comes with a default MP3 player in its hard drive (most newer PC and Macintosh models do). The easiest way to check is to download an actual MP3 and see if the system routes it to the player. Skip to Step 3 and Step 4 to do this. If your computer already has the software, and you're happy with its sound and features, then move on through the rest of the 2torial from there. If you're lacking a player (or if you have one you're not happy with), continue with this step to download a new player.

Research downloadable players. There are dozens of players available on the web, some for free, some for a fee. To check what's out there, try typing "mp3 player" or "music downloads" into your search engine, or click onto a consumer electronics site to see what they recommend--they'll usually provide direct links to the player sites. Once you see what's available, follow these criteria to choose the player that's right for you:

• PC or Macintosh? The player you choose needs to be compatible.

• How much memory does the player require? Make sure your system can handle it.

• Free or fee? Certain software that offers extensive recording and playing options can cost money, but most free players will have all you need for stereo-quality sound.

• What features does it have? While you may not need a karaoke button, other options like a playlist editor (which lets you create a list of songs playable in the order you wish), or graphic equalizers (to tweak the sound) can be a must.

Note: If you're getting what you think is a free download, check if the software is "freeware," "shareware," or "demoware." Freeware is what it says--software that's free. Shareware, on the other hand, is free to download, but if you choose to keep the software, you're sometimes asked to register with the site and pay a small fee for its use. Finally, demoware is "demonstration software"--it's free, but you can use it for only a certain period of time before it stops working.

Download the player. Once you've made your choice (or choices), it's time to download. To do so, follow the steps in 2torial #0804: Download Files (create a folder for the player on your hard drive, download it into the folder, decompress it, and you're done).

Review the player

The more you know about your player's capabilities, the more you'll get out of your MP3 listening experience. If you open the downloaded player's folder, you should see several files in addition to the actual player's file. Some contain additional software, others explanations of what the software can do. Open the files containing the player instructions--usually labeled "Read Me" or "Documentation"--and read through them carefully. Here's a list of the more important items and functions:

Player window. If you open the actual player, the window for the software should look similar to the face of a stereo system, with control buttons you can manipulate with your mouse cursor. In MP3 lingo, this interface graphic is called a skin. Most players come with several skins you can choose.

Control buttons. These range from the basics, like play, pause, volume, and so on, to finer commands, like changing the equalizer levels, song speed, or playlist. In most players, you can manipulate the controls through several locations--the skin window, the toolbar at the top of the screen, or through keyboard commands.

Playlist. This is an additional window (opened using the control buttons) that houses the list of songs--or entire CD--that you've cued up for your player. The function is particularly handy because you can enter separate MP3s into your playlist and save them all together as a whole file (check the toolbar under "File" for the "Save As" or "Save Playlist" command), thereby creating your own personal albums.

Default. Most players will have an option to make it the default MP3 player for your computer. If you like the player, follow the steps given in the documentation to make the changeover.

Register. If you're getting your player from a shareware site, do the right thing and click open the register link. If there's a fee, it's usually small (about $10 to $25 U.S.) and will help promote more of these types of applications on the Internet. It can also entitle you to free technical support and software upgrades.

Find your music

Before you can download MP3s to play, you have to find them. Here are some guidelines to help you surf for song:

• If you're after a particular recording artist or genre, try typing the artist's or genre's name along with "MP3" in your search engine. If you just want to browse, try typing "MP3 directory."

• There are search engines dedicated solely to finding MP3s. These are downloadable and will query multiple sites at once for the songs or artists you're seeking. Try typing "MP3 search engine" to find one.

• Sites generally fall into two categories: those that have their own compilation of MP3s, and those that connect you with other sites. If you found the site using a search engine (or linked to it from a search engine site), the odds are very slim that it has pirated MP3s. Still, you should check to see if there's a copyright policy posted. A link should be visible somewhere on the home page.

• The most common music format offered is individual songs, some for free, some for a price. Some artists have entire MP3 albums available, usually for a price that's cheaper than the CD would be at a traditional retail outlet.

Download the MP3 file

Once you've found what you're looking for, it's time to reel it in. Again, you can refer to 2torial #0804: Download Files to do so. The download button or highlighted words should be located close to the song title. As you start the process, keep these guidelines in mind:

Download in an orderly way. You don't want your MP3s scattered all over your hard drive. It's a good idea to save them all in one, clearly labeled master folder, then categorize them into sub-folders (one for individual songs, one for a CD, and so on).

Different MP3 sites have different downloading options. For example, you might see a Play option along with a Download option. The Play option will play the music using the player on your web browser, without downloading it onto your hard drive. You'll hear the music more quickly, but you can't replay the song after disconnecting from your browser.

Another trend among MP3 sites is to "co-brand," or configure their MP3s to a particular player. When you double-click the music download button, a window opens asking you to download their player (if you don't already have it). This player is necessary only if you want to play the song immediately on your web browser. You can bypass the window by navigating to your download folder on your hard drive and saving the file there. (If you're having trouble opening the dialog box to do this, press the option key on your keyboard at the same time you click to begin the download, then use the pull-down menu to navigate to the folder.) Once the MP3 file is saved on your hard drive, any MP3 player should be able to play it.

Download times depend on your Internet connection. With a 28.8K modem, downloads take 15 to 30 minutes for a three-minute song. Modems with a speed of 56K take about seven minutes per song. With high speed connections like ISDN, DSL or a T1, you'll probably be waiting less than a minute.

Play the file

Time to harvest your downloading labors. There are three ways to play your MP3s:

Drag and drop the file. This surefire method works even if the MP3 is configured for a player you don't have. Open your player, then on your hard drive find the MP3 file you want to listen to and drag its icon onto the player window. The song should start playing automatically (if it doesn't, try clicking the play button on the window). Note: If the MP3 was created for a particular player, this method will automatically reconfigure the file to the player it's dropped into (and the file will reconfigure again if dropped into yet another player).

Double-click the file. Double-clicking the file icon will open the MP3 if the file is already configured to your player. It may also work if your player is set as the computer's default player, but even if this is the case, your system might not recognize where to play the file. If this happens, drag and drop the file into your player.

Open the file from within the player. On most players, the button for opening files has an underlined triangle on it. By clicking this, you should get a dialog box that lets you navigate to a particular MP3 song or playlist file on your hard drive. Open the file you want. If it doesn't start playing automatically, press play.

Convert CDs into MP3 files (optional)

One of the attractions of MP3s--as opposed to many other audio formats--is the ease with which you can create audio files from your own CD collection. Here's how it's done:

Install a ripper/encoder. A CD ripper is shorthand for a program that extracts (or rips) music tracks from a CD onto your hard drive. After this is done, the encoder converts the file to the MP3 format. You can download these programs off the web separately, but these days you'll find "all-in-one" software (usually just called an encoder) that does both jobs automatically. To find and download a ripper/encoder, use the same methods as you did with the MP3 player: Try typing "MP3 encoder" into your search engine to find and choose an encoder, download it onto your hard drive, then review the documentation carefully (and don't forget to register if necessary!).

Encode the file. Different encoders will have different ways of converting your CD tracks. However, you'll usually follow these basic steps: Put the CD into your disk drive--the CD's icon should appear on your desktop. Next, open the encoder on your hard drive and follow the documentation instructions for selecting and encoding the tracks.

Some encoders use the drag and drop method (drag the CD icon onto the encoder icon, or open the CD on your desktop and drag the particular tracks), but most will have a button for navigating to the CD, at which point you can select the entire album or certain songs for encoding. You can also select where you want your tracks saved as MP3s, and what player you want to use when you play the files.

With your songs stored on your computer, a new world of music enjoyment opens up (no more misplaced CDs, to start with). Want to hear your MP3s away from the computer? Try a portable MP3 player. Interested in listening to MP3 playlist mixes on your stereo? A CD burner--hardware that will record your MP3s onto a blank CD--will do just that. With the MP3 revolution growing at an amazing rate, more innovations are surely on the way, so get in on the ground floor and enjoy the ride.

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