Free MP3 Downloads
MP3s have revolutionized the music industry as we know it. Online
music distribution is here to stay, offering music lovers a huge
selection of songs at unbeatable prices. With MP3s, you can download
music in a short amount of time, have access to thousands of songs
online, and even make your own playlists. MP3 technology has liberated
music lovers worldwide, freeing them of intrusive commercials
of radio and music video stations.
What is an MP3?
MP3s (MPEG Audio Layer 3) make large music files smaller without
compromising audio quality and gives you a place on your computer
to keep them. MP3s enable you to download songs quickly. A minute
of music in MP3 format is about 1 megabyte, so your average song
may be about 4 megabytes. With a 56 Kbps modem, you can download
a song in just a few minutes. If you have a high-speed connection,
it takes only seconds.
To play MP3 files you need an MP3 player, which comes in two
varieties: portable players and software players. The portable
MP3 players are hardware
devices similar to CD or cassette players. Software players are
applications you install on your computer. When you download a
song, it exists in a small file that you can move around on your
computer. This makes it easy to create playlists allowing you
to listen to your music anywhere you get internet access. If you
want to take your music on the road, purchase a portable MP3 player.
These nifty portables are only one-third the size of a Sony Discman.
How to start downloading:
Install an MP3 player onto your computer. There are many opportunities
to find a free MP3 on
the internet. The formats below are just some of the free MP3
software available.
- For Windows, you may choose Musicmatch. The basic format allows
you to play, rip, and burn CDs and transfer songs to a portable
player. Musicmatch also offers Jukebox for $19.99. Jukebox burns
and rips CDs at a faster rate and is advertisement free, unlike
the free MP3 standard format. Go to musicmatch.com
- Macintosh (and Windows) users may use iTunes. iTunes 4.1 is
available for Mac OS X. iTunes 4.1.1 is available for Windows
XP and Windows 2000. ITunes lets you play, rip, and burn CDs
and transfer songs to an MP3
player and converts music quickly into high quality MP3's
from CD, AIFF, QuickTime, and WAV formats. Go to apple.com.
- Linux-XMMS
Check out the following websites for free MP3 downloadable files:
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