Tech questions (music)

[Triple]

I decided to finally step into 2003 and buy a portable MP3 player. Probably going with the SanDisk® Sansa® (http://www.sandisk.com/products/sansa-music-and-video-players/sandisk-sansa-clipplus-mp3-player), pretty much because a friend recommended it and I don't know enough about these things to look elsewhere.

Questions:

Is it possible to download songs hosted on sites like Myspace (or other sites where there is no obvious "download" option)? There is some music I can't find anywhere but an old Myspace playlist.

When ripping songs from CD's onto my computer, is it possible for me to edit the track? For example, there are a few hidden tracks I want to rip, but they are in fact just extensions of existing tracks. The last song on the CD will play, followed by three minutes of silence, followed by the hidden song. Can I cut the first song and the dead air off the track?

[pauldun170]

I decided to finally step into 2003 and buy a portable MP3 player. Probably going with the SanDisk® Sansa® (http://www.sandisk.com/products/sansa-music-and-video-players/sandisk-sansa-clipplus-mp3-player), pretty much because a friend recommended it and I don't know enough about these things to look elsewhere.

Questions:

Is it possible to download songs hosted on sites like Myspace (or other sites where there is no obvious "download" option)? There is some music I can't find anywhere but an old Myspace playlist.

When ripping songs from CD's onto my computer, is it possible for me to edit the track? For example, there are a few hidden tracks I want to rip, but they are in fact just extensions of existing tracks. The last song on the CD will play, followed by three minutes of silence, followed by the hidden song. Can I cut the first song and the dead air off the track?

Sansa - Menu selection sucks but since you're new to it all, its not a big deal for you. My old Sansa 8gb has lasted me awhile and i still keep it as a back up in my bag (incase my iTouch battery dies)

There is an add-on for firefox that allows you to rip those files off Myspace\Youtube\interwebz. the name escapes me but its probably one of the more popular addons if you browse around on mozilla.org.
I keep an old XP box with an audigy2 sound card in it to use the "Record what you hear option" when all else fails.

Audacity should be able to do whatever you want (manipulate music) (Free and awesome)

[EpyonXero]

Sansa - Menu selection sucks but since you're new to it all, its not a big deal for you. My old Sansa 8gb has lasted me awhile and i still keep it as a back up in my bag (incase my iTouch battery dies)

I also have a Sansa Fuze which I bought when I briefly lost my iPod Touch a few years ago and I havent used it since. The menu system and the way it orders playlists is really anoying on the Sansa but it does play mp3s and its cheap which is fine if thats all you need.

If youre going to keep your entire audio library on one of these devices (like i do) the interface is going to be invaluable anbd its worth paying more for something that really works. Ive been frustrated a lot with the way the Sansa would re-order my playlists making it almost impossible to listen to some audiobooks.

[pauldun170]

I also have a Sansa Fuze which I bought when I briefly lost my iPod Touch a few years ago and I havent used it since. The menu system and the way it orders playlists is really anoying on the Sansa but it does play mp3s and its cheap which is fine if thats all you need.

If youre going to keep your entire audio library on one of these devices (like i do) the interface is going to be invaluable anbd its worth paying more for something that really works. Ive been frustrated a lot with the way the Sansa would re-order my playlists making it almost impossible to listen to some audiobooks.

I didn't even bother with playlist on my Sansa. The huge benefit to the sansa over my iTouch is drag and drop\multiple formats. Much quicker to load stuff on it and the battery life rocked.

Not really a big fan of interface (for music) on my itouch but it gets the job done. So far my best experience has been with Creative products, but it has been awhile since I had one.

[EpyonXero]

I didn't even bother with playlist on my Sansa. The huge benefit to the sansa over my iTouch is drag and drop\multiple formats. Much quicker to load stuff on it and the battery life rocked.

Not really a big fan of interface (for music) on my itouch but it gets the job done. So far my best experience has been with Creative products, but it has been awhile since I had one.

For music, drag and drop works great but when you have an audio book or a backlog of podcasts you need to be able to control the play order.

[sherri_chickie]

I have my own question.. how the hell do I get my music from itunes onto my iphone from my PC? I can\t seem to get it to synch music.. wtf? ( would synch from my work mac, but I dont have that this year on maternity leave)

[Particle Man]

I have my own question.. how the hell do I get my music from itunes onto my iphone from my PC? I can\t seem to get it to synch music.. wtf? ( would synch from my work mac, but I dont have that this year on maternity leave)
It should detect it just like any other iPod device...

[pauldun170]

I have my own question.. how the hell do I get my music from itunes onto my iphone from my PC? I can\t seem to get it to synch music.. wtf? ( would synch from my work mac, but I dont have that this year on maternity leave)

Install latest iTunes.
Plug phone in using USB cable after itunes is installed
you have to authorize the device in itunes
the iphone should show up.
You can either use itunes to manage your libraries or you can open up windows explorer and drag them (music and folders you want to add) onto the iphone icon in the itunes window

[Triple]

You guys are not speaking a language I understand.

I want a device that plays music like one really long CD, or like my online playlist. A bunch of individual tracks I can play in order or scroll through.

[Akilldema]

I have had a few mp3 players, still think ipods are the best option, ease of use for noobs is nice and they have a really user friendly system for finding music/organizing. Plus they have nice continuous playback options and stuff. If you're worried about the price, hit craigslist up and buy a used one. I don't have any of the touch screen ones.

[Triple]

What equipment/software do you need to record music from a cassette tape or vinyl record to your PC?

[pauldun170]

What equipment/software do you need to record music from a cassette tape or vinyl record to your PC?

Easiest is rca to minidin cable
plug into input of soundcard

[Triple]

This is getting more and more confusing. I just ripped about 200 songs before I realized I was recording in WMA format. Deleted them all and was about to start over in MP3 format when I noticed the different sound qualities to choose from. 320Kbps, VBR-whatever, V0, etc. What is all this crap and which is best?

I want to fit about 1,000 songs onto an 8GB device with the best quality possible.

[Gas Man]

Just pick a setting so tt each cd is abt 100mb. That's a nice balance. Then get to rippin.

I myself hate itunes cause its steve jobs and he takes the fun out of even an orgasm. In this case changes all the files into his secret spy children that masturbate onto ur children's dreams. So just stay away from itunes and use the nice copy/paste functions of ur pc.

[Avatard]

Here's a helpful editor:

http://www.goldwave.com/

Rip your stuff to .mp3 at 128K, I doubt you'll hear the difference choosing any higher bitrate. I can hear very slight difference between a 128K file, and a 320K file, but only under more careful observation in a decently controlled listening environment...and I'm a sound engineer.

In order to properly rip material from vinyl LP albums, you will need a computer interface with a proper pair of RCA phonograph inputs, a unit that can act as a proper preamp, and one that supports the RIAA equalization curve, so shit sounds right when decoded from LP.

You don't need to know any of that, however, just look for something that has two RCA jacks labeled; PHONO INPUT.

Lastly, unless your LPs are in perfect condition, you'll probably want to run it through the de-clicking software filters in GoldWave, or some other product, such as BIAS Soundsoap:

http://www.google.com/products/catalog?hl=en&expIds=17259,18168,26637,27404&sugexp=ldymls&xhr=t&q=soundsoap&cp=8&um=1&ie=UTF-8&cid=12315656284564507133&ei=Zw7VTJCZJMT48AaGy5n2Cg&sa=X&oi=product_catalog_result&ct=result&resnum=3&sqi=2&ved=0CC8Q8wIwAg#

[Avatard]

Just pick a setting so tt each cd is abt 100mb. That's a nice balance. Then get to rippin.

I myself hate itunes cause its steve jobs and he takes the fun out of even an orgasm. In this case changes all the files into his secret spy children that masturbate onto ur children's dreams. So just stay away from itunes and use the nice copy/paste functions of ur pc.

I put everything in .mp3 file format, and copy it all to my iPod just fine.

I bypass Steve Jobs, and whatever bullshit fucking circus act he has going on.

Don't ever allow iTunes to organize or sync fucking anything, and you're fine.

I just use it a shell to copy my shit onto their player.

Hell...boot into Ubuntu Linux (you can download the .ISO @ http://www.ubuntu.com - it boots and runs off the CD, no need to install), and you just copy shit right to it like a regular Linux drive (which essentially, it is). You just have to look at the folders, and put yer shit in the right one.

[Gas Man]

Yeah but you are riping them to MP3 first then into itunes. Which I think means you have 2 copies of the same song.

[Avatard]

I don't store or "library" my songs in iTunes...that's just it.

I just use iTunes as a utility to transfer files over to the iPod, Let's me have full control. I just keep my .mp3s in a separate folder, and don't let iTunes touch shit, or sync shit.

[Gas Man]

Oic. I do one more. Leave it completely off my pc and out of my life.

[Triple]

How can you determine the quality of a track online before downloading it? I don't want to download stuff that doesn't match what I've ripped from my own CD's.

[Avatard]

How can you determine the quality of a track online before downloading it? I don't want to download stuff that doesn't match what I've ripped from my own CD's.

You can't, unless someone labels it.

Once downloaded, you can up/down-sample using Goldwave, or any other editor that can re-save as .mp3 (Fraunhofer codec).

Don't worry too much about sample/bit rates. Today, much like aspect ratios for video, shit just varies. Bottom line; if it sounds good, it is good. Some things get hurt by compression more than others. It's very source-material dependent.

[Triple]

Sansa - Menu selection sucks but since you're new to it all, its not a big deal for you. My old Sansa 8gb has lasted me awhile and i still keep it as a back up in my bag (incase my iTouch battery dies)

There is an add-on for firefox that allows you to rip those files off Myspace\Youtube\interwebz. the name escapes me but its probably one of the more popular addons if you browse around on mozilla.org.
I keep an old XP box with an audigy2 sound card in it to use the "Record what you hear option" when all else fails.

Audacity should be able to do whatever you want (manipulate music) (Free and awesome)

Ended up with one of these:

Philips GoGear SA2VBE08K/17 Flash Portable Media Player 8GB (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Philips-GoGear-SA2VBE08K-17-Flash-Portable-Media-/380251865142)

Easy to use for a novice like me; only complaint is that the connector for the ear buds fits very loosely into the player. Any slight movement interrupts or completely disconnects the sound. Not a big deal if you're just sitting at a desk, but if you're walking/running/exercising, forget about it.

I also need to find a cord that lets me run the player through my car stereo. It didn't come with one.

About ripping files from Myspace, Youtube, etc: there are lots of different programs and hacks to be found via Google, but the easiest method I discovered was just using the Stereo Mix function in Audacity. Not that I want to do this often; sound quality of music on Myspace playlists sucks. In fact, I'll keep my online downloads in general to an absolute minimum. Just judging by ear, music ripped from even a burned CD is superior to what I've downloaded from online sources.

Something I can't figure out: the songs I've ripped from Myspace and saved as MP3's play fine from my PC, but will not transfer to my media player.

[Triple]

Ended up with one of these:

Philips GoGear SA2VBE08K/17 Flash Portable Media Player 8GB (http://cgi.ebay.com/NEW-Philips-GoGear-SA2VBE08K-17-Flash-Portable-Media-/380251865142)

And ended up returning it. Couldn't keep the ear buds connected to the device. *useless*

Looking into one of these:

Microsoft Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player - $76.49 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180404131054&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)

Is there a way to run an MP3 player through a car stereo directly, without having to play it through an FM radio station? The "car kits" I keep finding for these things all play through the radio. This requires you to change stations if you're traveling long distance, and your sound quality will alway be in a state of coming and going. I want it to play consistently, as if I were playing a CD.

[EpyonXero]

And ended up returning it. Couldn't keep the ear buds connected to the device. *useless*

Looking into one of these:

Microsoft Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player - $76.49 (http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180404131054&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT)

Is there a way to run an MP3 player through a car stereo directly, without having to play it through an FM radio station? The "car kits" I keep finding for these things all play through the radio. This requires you to change stations if you're traveling long distance, and your sound quality will alway be in a state of coming and going. I want it to play consistently, as if I were playing a CD.

The radio transmitters suck. The only way to play directly through your stereo is if your head unit has some kind of auxillary input. New head units have them on the fron and some have them on the rear where you have to remoe the unit to access it. Also, if you have a cassette player you can get an adapter that plays through the cassette player.

[Homeslice]

Yeah, the iTrip transmitter gizmo was garbage IMO......sound quality sucked compared to direct aux.