SOFTWARE
MEDIA
PLAYERS
AND OTHER SOFTWARE
Media players are designed to play
MP3
files, MIDI files, wav files, CD's, or some combination of these
formats. Some offer "visualizations", which are abstract visual
patterns that play along with
the
music. Some offer "skins", which give the player a different look. Some
players are free to download but
also bring you ads and other intrusions. Computers generally come with
a
media player such as
Windows Media Player.
If you decide to install a different or additional media player, it may make itself the default program for playing files of various types. If you don't want the player to be the default, follow the installation program closely to make the appropriate choices as you install.
Below are sections on 1) software media players, with the focus on MP3, 2) dedicated MIDI players, 3) a format converter, 4) MP3 resources, 5) a CD burner, 6) lyric hunters.
I don't have a section on hardware media players but here is one guide to them.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/guides/guide-display
Also, the Basics page on this web site looks briefly at common music file formats.
1. Software media players
Ashampoo
http://www.ashampoo.com/frontend/products/
(Yes, that really is its name.) Calls itself the “next generation player”. A very sharp-looking, circular design. To view a menu, put the mouse over the main icon and right click. Can register (free) and then use without small ads that otherwise appear. But they will keep sending ad offers. Can burn a CD with it.
iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
Excellent standard player for Apple and PC. Free
Media Juke Box
http://www.newfreeware.com/audio/532/
Excellent, full-featured player. Shareware, $28 to purchase. The above link is a shareware site, which has good information on MJB.
MediaMonkey
http://www.mediamonkey.com/
Can play and convert many formats. Supposed to be good for organizing large collections. $20-$30.
Real Player
http://www.real.com/r
Another popular, full-featured player. Plays many formats. Free trial version. Some say it wants to "take over your computer" (that is become the default player, etc.).
Virtuosa
http://www.virtuosa.com/
Dynamite do-it-all program, but costs $40. Can play, burn and convert to MP3. Also has a non-standard, cluttered although customizable design. Extensive display of file parameters and conversions.
Winamp
http://winamp.com/
Very popular and very fine player. Free version and $15 for Pro version with additional features.
Windows Media Player
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
Comes with many computers, free. Great display of files. Popular player. Also may want to be the default player.
2. Dedicated MIDI players
Tutto Gratis
http://free.tuttogratis.com/free_software/free_midi_players.html
Links to and descriptions of dedicated MIDI players. (Also can download the following 3 players from this site.)
Megamid
http://www.neutrio.com/megamid_dos/
Free player. You can solo or try out different instrument sounds on your midi file (a rare feature for a media player).
Noteworthy Player
http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/player/
Free player. Displays a score as the midi file plays (another rare feature for a media player) and works with other Noteworthy notation software.
vanBasco's karaoke
http://brucesplace.net/midi.htm (have to go down half a page)
Very attractive free midi player with user-friendly interface. My favorite of the 3.
MIDI Notate
http://www.notation.com/index.htm
More than a MIDI player but not quite a sequencer. Has highly customizable automatic chord notation feature. Can change instrument sounds and do much more. $35.
3. Format Converter
Easy CD-DA
http://www.poikosoft.com/
Terrific format converter. Intuitive, easy-to-use layout. Can customize the output file including bit rate and constant/variable process. Converts Wav to MP3, MP3 to Wav, rips CDs, etc. Demo is free, $20 to purchase. Does not play files.
4. MP3 Resources
mpeg.org A list of MP3 players.
http://www.mpeg.org/MPEG/MPEG-audio-player.html
mp3 portals A list of MP3 portals.
http://www.mpeg.org/MPEG/mp3.html#links
2FindMP3
http://www.npssoftware.com/2findmp3/
Popular MP3 searcher. Uses search engines to search the net for MP3 files and loads them fast.
5. CD Burner
ITunes has a built in burner as do other medial players.
Nero Burning
http://www.nero.com/us/index.html
Popular CD burning software. Price varies but c. $40. Won PC Mag's award for 2003.
6. LYRIC HUNTERS
Evil Lyrics
http://www.evillabs.sk/evillyrics/
Lyrics search program. Free. Works with many media players. Comes as a plug-in with WinAmp.
Lyrics Collection
http://www.lyricsconnection.com/
A lyrics search web site and resource.
If you decide to install a different or additional media player, it may make itself the default program for playing files of various types. If you don't want the player to be the default, follow the installation program closely to make the appropriate choices as you install.
Below are sections on 1) software media players, with the focus on MP3, 2) dedicated MIDI players, 3) a format converter, 4) MP3 resources, 5) a CD burner, 6) lyric hunters.
I don't have a section on hardware media players but here is one guide to them.
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/guides/guide-display
Also, the Basics page on this web site looks briefly at common music file formats.
1. Software media players
Ashampoo
http://www.ashampoo.com/frontend/products/
(Yes, that really is its name.) Calls itself the “next generation player”. A very sharp-looking, circular design. To view a menu, put the mouse over the main icon and right click. Can register (free) and then use without small ads that otherwise appear. But they will keep sending ad offers. Can burn a CD with it.
iTunes
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
Excellent standard player for Apple and PC. Free
Media Juke Box
http://www.newfreeware.com/audio/532/
Excellent, full-featured player. Shareware, $28 to purchase. The above link is a shareware site, which has good information on MJB.
MediaMonkey
http://www.mediamonkey.com/
Can play and convert many formats. Supposed to be good for organizing large collections. $20-$30.
Real Player
http://www.real.com/r
Another popular, full-featured player. Plays many formats. Free trial version. Some say it wants to "take over your computer" (that is become the default player, etc.).
Virtuosa
http://www.virtuosa.com/
Dynamite do-it-all program, but costs $40. Can play, burn and convert to MP3. Also has a non-standard, cluttered although customizable design. Extensive display of file parameters and conversions.
Winamp
http://winamp.com/
Very popular and very fine player. Free version and $15 for Pro version with additional features.
Windows Media Player
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/default.asp
Comes with many computers, free. Great display of files. Popular player. Also may want to be the default player.
2. Dedicated MIDI players
Tutto Gratis
http://free.tuttogratis.com/free_software/free_midi_players.html
Links to and descriptions of dedicated MIDI players. (Also can download the following 3 players from this site.)
Megamid
http://www.neutrio.com/megamid_dos/
Free player. You can solo or try out different instrument sounds on your midi file (a rare feature for a media player).
Noteworthy Player
http://www.noteworthysoftware.com/player/
Free player. Displays a score as the midi file plays (another rare feature for a media player) and works with other Noteworthy notation software.
vanBasco's karaoke
http://brucesplace.net/midi.htm (have to go down half a page)
Very attractive free midi player with user-friendly interface. My favorite of the 3.
MIDI Notate
http://www.notation.com/index.htm
More than a MIDI player but not quite a sequencer. Has highly customizable automatic chord notation feature. Can change instrument sounds and do much more. $35.
3. Format Converter
Easy CD-DA
http://www.poikosoft.com/
Terrific format converter. Intuitive, easy-to-use layout. Can customize the output file including bit rate and constant/variable process. Converts Wav to MP3, MP3 to Wav, rips CDs, etc. Demo is free, $20 to purchase. Does not play files.
4. MP3 Resources
mpeg.org A list of MP3 players.
http://www.mpeg.org/MPEG/MPEG-audio-player.html
mp3 portals A list of MP3 portals.
http://www.mpeg.org/MPEG/mp3.html#links
2FindMP3
http://www.npssoftware.com/2findmp3/
Popular MP3 searcher. Uses search engines to search the net for MP3 files and loads them fast.
5. CD Burner
ITunes has a built in burner as do other medial players.
Nero Burning
http://www.nero.com/us/index.html
Popular CD burning software. Price varies but c. $40. Won PC Mag's award for 2003.
6. LYRIC HUNTERS
Evil Lyrics
http://www.evillabs.sk/evillyrics/
Lyrics search program. Free. Works with many media players. Comes as a plug-in with WinAmp.
Lyrics Collection
http://www.lyricsconnection.com/
A lyrics search web site and resource.