Do you still think that music is only listened to on the radio? Are you attached to old-school technology? Has the younger generation of your family suggested that you learn how to download music? No matter the reason, you can learn how to access all of your favorite music online. Here’s how:
One way to get free music is to rip it from YouTube videos. The upside of this is that you can use simple software to accomplish the task, and it allows you to avoid paying for each song that you download. The downside is the quality of the music might not be the highest.
If you download music from the Internet, it is vital that you always cover yourself with current anti-virus software. You don’t want to regret it later. Be cautious about downloading. This is especially important when you are using P2P clients. Always scan any file you download before you try to open it. It’s not hard to download a file you had no intention of downloading.
If you really like an artist, always consider buying their entire album, rather than purchasing music track by track. It is almost always less expensive to buy an entire album than it would be to purchase 10 individual tracks, so using this method will save you money in the long run.
If you really love an artist, check out their website for music. Most bands maintain an online presence where they offer information on music and tours, and they will sometimes offer free music there. This might include otherwise unreleased tracks or a song off of a new album they are trying to promote.
Watch the file sizes of your music downloads carefully. A normal music download will be somewhere between 2 megabytes and 5 megabytes. If you see something much less or much more, there could be something fishy about the file. It may be spyware and not the song you were hoping it was.
Aside from the legalities of downloading free music, you also have something else to worry about when choosing free music files from different sites. Hackers often offer these files, so think twice before you join the bandwagon and download free music. It’s much better to legally get your music by paying for it the right way.
Make sure that your MP3 player is completely compatible with the music you are downloading. Different sites offer downloads in different formats, and if the site you are turning to for your music offers a different format than your MP3 player uses, it could cause you problems. To avoid costly and time consuming issues, check before you download.
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.
If you do want to download music through peer to peer software, be sure to pick a reputable program. That said, you may find that the music you seek isn’t available on the network you have chosen. Be very careful of the programs you choose to ensure you don’t end up with a virus.
Keep an eye on bit rates and compression formats. Even a great song isn’t enjoyable if the quality is terrible. Different sites and distributors can vary on their sound quality. Shop around. Pay attention to the quality of the files you are downloading, and only buy music that sounds like it should.
Do not download music illegally through file-sharing websites. What seems like a good idea to get free music can come back to bite you. Many internet service providers are now working with publishing companies to find and prosecute online pirates, and you do not want to be one of the unlucky ones.
As you can see, downloading music can be quite simple. Take the time to review each of these suggestions. Then, start downloading your favorite bands. You will be amazed at how simple and exciting it really is. Refer back to this page if you need to. In no time, you will be an expert!