How Do I Play Digital Music?
By: Erik Sherman Source: AARP.org Date Posted: 2007-02-01 19:49:51.045066-05:00
By Erik Sherman
Thanks to relentless computer miniaturization and advances in music player computer software, your stereo's CD player is no longer the only way to enjoy digital tunes.
You can tune into the radio on the Internet or you can listen to CDs and music stored on your computer's hard drive, or music copied from your computer's hard drive on portable digital music players. On CD players, you can listen to CDs only.
| The Device | What You're Listening To |
|---|---|
| Your Computer | Internet radio, music stored on your hard drive, and CDs |
| Portable Digital Music Players | Tunes copied from your computer's hard drive |
| CD Player | CDs only |
Music Player Computer Software
Without a music player program, your computer or portable player would be useless for listening to tunes. With one, though, your computer takes over, and your stereo is left gathering dust. Here's what the software allows you to do:
- play music you've downloaded from the Internet
- play streamed music
- play CDs
- transfer music from CDs to your computer
- copy songs to CDs from your computer
- transfer music to an MP3 player, such as an iPod
Many computers ship with a player program installed. You typically need only one, though each has its own look and feel. If your computer doesn't have player software, or if you're dealing with an Internet site that needs a specific type, you can download any of the following brands for free:
All the software packages use familiar control symbols: stop, play/pause, reverse, and fast forward.
Some also allow you to group songs on your computer into a play list and play it as often as you want. You can also play individual tracks or albums, or choose music from an artist or group in a certain category.
How To Play Internet Radio
Internet sites can act like radio stations. This means they stream music, or send it over the Web, to your computer, which plays songs as they arrive. You need music player computer software to do this. Chances are your computer came with a program installed, but certain sites require special software. In that case you'll see a link to download a free version.
Using an Internet radio site is easy:
- Point your browser to the site.
- Look for the link to start listening to the music. (The site should make it obvious.)
- Click that link. Your browser will use the music player computer software to play the tune.
To find radio stations, go to a search engine and look for "Internet radio."
The quotation marks direct most search engines to return sites that contain this phrase. For a particular genre of music—whether reggae, classical, or big band—add it to the search field.
Or try directory sites such as Google Directory or Yahoo! Directory, which categorize and group Web pages. Search for "Internet radio" again. This doesn't locate individual sites, but categories of sites you'd want. In Yahoo! Directory, search for "Internet broadcasts" as well, or click on this phrase in the Related Directory Categories list.
Conversely, try individual sites that offer collections of links. Here are some that list Internet radio stations:
Then there's AARP Jukebox powered by Pandora, a unique Internet service that builds a custom channel of music you might like based on initial choices you submit. All you need is the Internet graphic display browser plug-in called Flash. It may already reside on your browser. Here's how to check:
- Click on the link titled Flash in the paragraph above.
- Look for a little rectangle that shows an animation. If you see it, you have Flash installed.
- If you don't, click on the link to get it free.
Once you have Flash, go to the Pandora service. Follow the instructions on the screen to build your custom music channel:
- Type in the name of a song or artist that you like. (Sorry, no classical music yet.)
- The service will play different selections within the artist's or song's genre. For each, click a thumb up or thumb down icon to judge the song.
- If you change your opinion, you can simply start over with a new artist or song.
Any channel can be specific—for example, you could have music similar to Fred Astaire singing Cole Porter songs. You could add songs or artists to broaden your mix. You could even select up to 100 channels at any time and email your friends with links to stations you create.
Although you provide the initial song or artist, you can't specify which songs you'll hear afterward. In fact, Pandora often doesn't even start with your requested artist; and if you've submitted a song, Pandora never starts by playing that song. Instead, in both cases, it will play similar selections. Find something you like? Then save the track information. You can also buy specific songs from iTunes to download and store on your computer, or order a complete album in CD from Amazon.com to be delivered to you.
Portable Digital Music Players
One of digital music's great features is that it requires so little storage space. Portable digital music players let you bring the tunes with you while leaving the computer at home. Here are some popular ones:
- Apple iPods and iPhones
- Archos 104
- iAudio X5
- Creative Zen
- iRiver clix
- Microsoft Zune
- Samsung NeXus50
- Sony Hard Disk Drive Walkman
These devices are commonly called MP3 players for a type of music file, an MPEG-1 Audio Layer 3, that encodes a standard for compressing digital audio. Also, a growing number of devices – including cell phones, personal digital assistants (PDAs) such as a Palm handheld, and even some high tech watches – can play digital music. You can review any of these devices on the Internet.
Transfer music from your computer to an MP3 player over a cable, or even wirelessly. Your music player computer software performs the transfer. Most programs support a variety of devices, though Apple's iTunes application works only with the company's iPod. Check the software you use to see how to transfer music.
Leave the cable plugged into the computer to easily connect the device and transfer music. This also recharges the battery when the computer is on. A separate charger plugs directly into wall outlets when you're on the road without your computer.
Or try a docking station. These devices stay connected to your computer and provide a place where you can plunk down the player to recharge and update your latest music programming.
Another type of docking system doesn't connect to the computer. Instead, it connects the player to a set of external speakers, turning the device into a miniature entertainment center. Some docking stations combine these concepts, connecting to both computer and external speakers.
CDs
Compact discs (CDs) brought you the original form of digital music. Your computer makes them more versatile. Try three major tasks with your music player computer software:
- play
- rip
- burn
To play a CD, insert it into your computer's drive, wait for your music player computer software to start, and use the software's controls to play tracks.
To "rip" a CD means that you copy the music onto your computer. Again, you put the CD into the drive and wait for the music player software to start. Each program does this differently, so check the software's documentation or help system. When you rip a CD, it's useful to let the software store such information as the artist, the song title, and the album.
Last but not least, you can "burn" music, or copy it from your computer to a CD. Your software should give you a choice of standard CD format or compressed music file formats, which let you squeeze more music onto a disc. Not all CD players can handle compressed formats. As always, check the software for instructions.
Additional Related Links:
Where Can I Find Digital Music?
How Should I Manage My Digital Music?
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