What websites do you like for getting MP3 files? Would you trust a site that claims the downlaods are free (after the Napster mess)?
Bonus Question: Are there such websites that cator to those seeking hard to find oldies, etc.?
What are your recommendations?
I just use the Itunes Store. (for protected AAC though, not mp3.) They have a pretty big collection but it’s definitely not complete.
I still use CDs.
And I really can’t switch over.
My comupter’s sound is non-existant, & I don’t know how to uses mp3s anyway.
I don’t have anybody to ask, & I don’t even know if I need to buy & install a program, or if this function comes with my OS.
I mainly use itunes. I’ve also used emusic. They have lots of obscure stuff you can’t find on itunes, including the Zappa catalog, if that’s your thing. emusic’s pretty simple - it’s just straight-up mp3 files you can load on any player.
I also noticed rhapsody has tons of stuff I can’t find on itunes or emusic but it’s a pain in the ass. You subscribe and can get streaming music and discounts on downloads but not everything is available to download and the program itself always seems to want to update itself whenever I log in. I just started using it, though, so hopefully it’ll smooth out. They have lots of Tull and Yes.
I’m a big fan of puretracks (in canada) and napster canada. Always mean to try itunes, but never get around to it.
Also love having store-bought CDs some times.
I still get the majority of my music the (comparitively) old-fashioned way: by buying it on CD.
There are several reasons for this, including[ol]
[li]I am primarily an album-oriented rather than a song-oriented music listener[/li][li]I like having the physical CD, with its artwork, photos, credits, lyrics, etc.[/li][li]CDs are sometimes cheaper, especially if you buy them used or on sale[/li][li]I’m just set in my ways[/li][li]I have a dial-up connection at home, and it would take forever to download music at anywhere near CD quality (though I can download stuff at work if I have to)[/li][/ol]
With that said, amazon.com generally has a few free downloadable tracks. Artists’ own websites often have free “sample” songs you can download; or if you have to pay for them, it’s at least likely that the artists themselves are getting the money. Years ago mp3.com used to be a good source of music.
I try to only download free music if it’s pretty clear the creators of the music meant for it to be offered free. Not only is this ethical, I think it probably keeps me pretty safe from nasty viruses and suchlike. And, of course, it would be against board policy to encourage illegal downloading.
I use New Napster. They use WMA format but there are programs to convert them to MP3 (I use SoundTaxi). For something like $10 a month you get unlimited downloads. Sometimes the selection can be a little weak and some tracks you still need to buy for $0.99