Downloading Music: What You Need To Know
Downloading music need not be something left just to the kids to enjoy. The fact is that everyone can start accessing music this way as long as they have a little knowledge of how the process works. The article that follows can be a wonderful resource for anyone who wants to get started today.
A good tip to think about when you're looking to download music is to be completely sure that you're downloading the right version of whatever it is that you want. You might want something specific, perhaps the radio version of a song. It can be difficult to make sure you download exactly what you want.
In order to make sure the music you want to download fits into your monthly budget, consider using a site that charges a subscription fee, rather than a fee for each download. You can budget the exact amount of money you want to spend on downloads each month and know that you won't go over that amount.
Choose your P2P service wisely. This can be your key to getting the music you want. Read up on reviews and talk to people you know to find the best service to suit you. Look for testimonials by other users to make sure that you won't regret using any particular service.
You should make sure you take advantage of using the "Preview" option on each track of an album before you download it. This is a good idea for songs that are new to you. That way, you can just download tracks that you like. This can save you money since you won't need to buy a whole album for just a few songs you like.
Stick with trusted websites for your music downloads. The biggest problem with untrusted sites is that they can contain viruses, but you might also be putting yourself in legal jeopardy if you download music from a less respectable site. Take the time to research a site before you download to make sure it is both safe and legal to use.
If you plan to download music online, be sure to install a reputable antivirus program. This will ensure that all songs you download don't contain any malicious code. You don't wan to end up ruining your computer just to get a free song! Antivirus software protects you from that fate.
If money is tight, you may want to buy a CD from Amazon.com instead of buying a digital track for 99 cents. CDs these days, especially used ones on Amazon, are really cheap. You can buy many of your favorites for just a few dollars. Then when you get it, burn the songs from the CD to make them digital downloads. So for the price of 1 or 2 songs, you've just gotten 10 to 15 songs.
There are many forums online where the sharing of MP3s happens every day. They allow you to check out new artists and songs in the genre you enjoy. That said, be aware that files can contain viruses and that sharing of these songs, unless they are posted by the owner, is hip hop illegal.
Listen to songs prior to purchasing them. You should verify that the file is clear before making your purchase. This is particularly true when you buy from a company that is not as well-known. Trying a sample is also a good way to make certain you get what you think you are buying.
Any website that offers legal music downloads will have a copyright notice somewhere on their site. This notice will show that the site's owners are authorized to sell and distribute the music legally online. This notice should also tell you what you are and are not allowed to do with the music after you purchase.
Check out mainstream MP3 stores and look for their free music section. Often this is populated with songs from up and coming artists which are worth checking out. For example, MP3.com has a whole category dedicated to free songs. You can sample each and then download those that sound great.
Torrents are still around for sharing all sorts of files. If you are looking for songs which are hard to find but posted by their authors, that's a good place to look for legal MP3s. You can find a great deal of independent artists that way, exposing yourself to new music.
Avoid downloading music from websites that do not let you test the quality of their music. Some sites claim that they have the highest quality downloads of the music, but when you purchase and download it, it is low quality or edited. Avoid this by only sticking with sites that have some type of "Preview" or "Sample" options.
Want access to thousands of songs without clogging up your hard drive? Invest in a subscription from a site like Spotify instead of purchases on iTunes or Amazon. This allows you unlimited streaming of songs from their massive catalog, plus it's totally legal. That said, you need an internet connection to listen, of course.
It is vital that you learn everything you can about your daily tasks. Regardless of what you do, it is vital to do your homework on the subject. Using what you've learned from this article, downloading music should now be a snap.