# MP3 players - questions from a newbie. **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 30, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341 "2016-07-30T23:44:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2016, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/1 "2016-07-30T23:44:10Z")
I still buy music CDs. My CD player - a [Sony X111ES](http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/NjcxWDE2MDA=/z/z1YAAOSwNSxVSsRJ/%24_1.JPG) - recently crapped-out on me. ☹ I loved this CD player because it has an “A-B Repeat” function. I like to play my bass guitar to music, and I use the A-B Repeat function to loop between two places in a song that are only a couple seconds apart. This makes it easier to learn the bass riffs. Anyway, now that my CD player is dead, here are my options: 1. Try and fix the CD player. (Am going to try and do that next week.) 2. By the same model on eBay (around $100 + shipping). 3. Invest in a modern replacement. My main questions are about #3. I know nothing about MP3 players. Can I purchase an MP3 player that has an A-B Repeat function? Would it be software that I run on a PC, or a stand-alone piece of hardware? As a bonus, it would also be nice if the MP3 player had a pitch control. ---
**Author:** ![Anamorphic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/anamorphic/32/3057_2.png) [@Anamorphic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anamorphic)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/2 "2016-07-31T00:42:45Z")
I don’t know of any dedicated mp3 players do this inherently (there certainly may be; I just don’t know). You could get an iPod Touch, and download one of the many audio players on the app store that do this ([here’s just one](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/ab-player/id560440657?mt=8) I found on a quick search, but there look to be many). I don’t know much about the Android world, but I’d be very surprised if you couldn’t do the same on that side of the platform ocean. There are also apps that are specifically for figuring out songs, so they have pitch control, and I wouldn’t be surprised if some of them also had AB repeat. [Here’s one](https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/anytune-slow-down-music-bpm/id415365180?mt=8). I’m sure this is all stuff you can also find for your computer, without the need to get an mp3 player. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/3 "2016-07-31T01:53:58Z")
I use the Amazing Slow Downer software on a pc. [http://m.en.softonic.com/app/amazing-slow-downer](http://m.en.softonic.com/app/amazing-slow-downer) Works great. It will play a selected segment over and over. Slows down without changing pitch. I paid the small fee and registered my copy ---
**Author:** ![Spiderman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spiderman/32/230_2.png) [@Spiderman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiderman)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/4 "2016-07-31T15:02:46Z")
There’s all sorts of software that will let you edit an MP3. You can download one of the many FREE options, edit the song to just the 20 second clip you want, save that & then play that 20 second ‘song’ on your MP3 player (or computer) to play along with. ---
**Author:** ![Wesley\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wesley_clark/32/20581_2.png) [@Wesley\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wesley_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/5 "2016-07-31T15:13:54Z")
On my ipod touch I had several years ago, I downloaded an app that let me create A-B loops in my music. I don’t think it was this app, it was a different one. But apps that let you do that exist. > > > Audio/Video Player designed to make AB Repeating, Jump, and Bookmarks easy... You may want to buy a used smartphone with a microSD card and use that as an MP3 player. ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/6 "2016-07-31T20:11:21Z")
> [@Spiderman](#): > > There’s all sorts of software that will let you edit an MP3. You can download one of the many FREE options, edit the song to just the 20 second clip you want, save that & then play that 20 second ‘song’ on your MP3 player (or computer) to play along with. Fan of [Audacity](http://www.audacityteam.org/) here. Free, and user-fiendly enough that a klutz like me can use it. It also has the “slow downer” function – changing speed without changing pitch. (Or changing pitch without changing speed. Lots of options!) It doesn’t have repetition per se, but you can cut and paste, so you could isolate 20 seconds you like, and duplicate it a whole bunch of times. 128 reps enough? 256? Just one click and you’ve got 512… ---
**Author:** ![Me\_Billy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e480ec/32.png) [@Me\_Billy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Me_Billy)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/7 "2016-07-31T21:12:40Z")
> [@Wesley\_Clark](#): > > …You may want to buy a used smartphone with a microSD card and use that as an MP3 player. I’ve been going through the same situation as you. I decided a used Android cell phone used in “airplane mode” (turns off cell phone) was the best option. Plus used cell phones are cheaper than tablets! Turn on Wi-Fi and you can still download apps from google play free (need account). I just copy all my CD’s to a folder called “Music” on the SD card for the cell phone. I purchased a 16GB SD card on sale for $14. Actually what you are doing is using an Android tablet! But those cost $80. Get one of these cords to connect the cell phone ear phone jack to your stereo… [![](https://www.scan.co.uk/images/products/1171625-a.jpg) ](https://www.scan.co.uk/images/products/1171625-a.jpg) P.S. I like the Rocket Player app because you can easily go to any folder on the SD card - It has a folders selection at the top. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [July 31, 2016, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/mp3-players-questions-from-a-newbie/761341/8 "2016-07-31T22:59:58Z")
> [@Me\_Billy](#): > > Get one of these cords to connect the cell phone ear phone jack to your stereo… > [https://www.scan.co.uk/images/products/1171625-a.jpg](https://www.scan.co.uk/images/products/1171625-a.jpg) Or better yet, if your phone has Bluetooth, buy an [adapter](https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B016NUTG5K/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1470005066&sr=8-3&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=bluetooth+adapter+logitech&dpPl=1&dpID=41H8RO%2B%2BGFL&ref=plSrch). This one plugs into the wall, so no worries about having to recharge it. It has RCA jacks to plug into any stereo and has about a 35 foot range. Better audio fidelity than comes out of your headphone jack and you can keep your phone close to you so you have the controls by your side.