OggConvert: Easily Convert Proprietary Formats Like MP3 Into Free Formats Like OGG [Linux]
Sadly enough, the famous MP3 format for music is a proprietary product, and all devices which can play them have (or at least should have) a license to legally play them. In order to make a statement that you don't support something proprietary, or to make sure that you are being 100% legal with your playback of music, it's best if you convert your MP3 and similarly proprietary music files into a free format.
Who Owns That MP3? Rights & Ownership In The Digital Era
This is pretty new ground - what happens to your legally purchased MP3 collection when you die? When one of the least trustworthy British newspapers around reported that Bruce Willis was going to sue Apple because he couldn’t bequeth his digital music collection, the Internet at large jumped at the chance to spew their vitriolic Apple hate. The story was completely false of course - but it raised an important question worth considering - who does own that mp3?
mp3DirectCut Lets You Manipulate MP3 Files In Almost Every Way [Windows & Linux]
Every so often I stumble across a piece of software that will eventually end up on every computer that I touch from there on. Such names would be Dropbox, Spotify, uTorrent, Skype, Steam, and so on. One of the lesser-known applications that belong in this same category for me is mp3DirectCut. While audio software like Audacity isn't foreign to most of us, this little tool has some major advantages.
How To Create Valid MP3 Files With Audacity
One of the more popular open source audio applications, Audacity, has recently upgraded to version 2.0 and is now no longer in Beta. Audacity has some great tools and effects that can be used to deliver great results. However, despite the facility to save your audio in a number of different formats, Audacity doesn’t natively allow you to export data as MP3.
The iPod Classic: Still The Best MP3 Player For Music Lovers [Opinion]
Back in 2001, the release of Apple's iTunes brought me back to listening to jazz, and a little of rap and R&B music. A few years before then, I was reluctant to shell out $15 for music CDs only to get a couple of great songs. And above all I wanted iTunes go with me wherever I went. Toting around CDs in the trunk of my car wasn't my idea of music appreciation. But then a few years later, the iPod changed everything.
The Pros And Cons Of Streaming vs Downloading MP3s
I've been a long-time user of streaming music services – from Pandora, to the now defunct online music locker Lala.com, and now as a monthly subscriber to Rdio.com. If you have a computer and a good Wi-Fi connection, streaming music services are arguably a better way to listen to music than downloading MP3s. Allow me to make my case.
Music Streaming With Spotify: What You Get For Free
The long awaited streaming music service, Spotify landed in the U.S. last week. Unlike other streaming services, however, Spotify offers an ad-supported free option, which makes millions of albums and songs available to you through the Spotify desktop client. Let’s explore what else you get for free and what you don’t.
AOL Releases Play For iOS Devices [News]
If you‘re on the lookout for more streaming music over the Internet, AOL provides yet another option. It has just released its PLAY app for iOS devices. Originally available for Android only, PLAY by AOL is an application for both listening to free songs and albums and sharing them with your friends and followers.
Edit & Record Compressed MP3 Files Without Decompressing With MP3DirectCut
MP3 is a digital audio encoding format, in which audio files are compressed to reduce the amount of data, without losing sound quality in the ears of most listeners. mp3DirectCut is a freeware audio editor and recorder that can work with compressed MP3 files. It allows you to cut, copy, and paste audio bits or change the volume without decompressing the audio file.
Anvil Studio: A Free & Powerful Song Builder [Windows]
As an amateur musician who uses GarageBand, the most common question I get asked is what's the GarageBand alternative for Windows? When I answer that there's none, most of them just can't believe it. So far, I still haven't found any that can match all of the requirements. Still there are alternatives worth mentioning. One of them is Anvil Studio.
How To Create Your Own Music Stream With Icecast [Linux]
There are a handful of people who find creating their own streams a useful thing to do, for whatever reason they want or need. Ever since the YouTube era started video streaming has been hot and music/audio streaming is still a pretty common thing to find. The process in Linux, though pretty easy for basic configuration, is somewhat lengthy.
Find, Listen To, Or Promote New Music With Amazing Tunes
Here's a little something for those of you who love to make or listen to new music. The Internet has given us yet another awesome way to discover and promote music: Amazing Tunes. The idea behind Amazing Tunes is so incredibly simple that you'll probably jump on board instantly.