Tech questions (music)

[Avatard]

Originally Posted by Triple

How can you determine the quality of a track online before downloading it? I don't want to download stuff that doesn't match what I've ripped from my own CD's.

You can't, unless someone labels it.

Once downloaded, you can up/down-sample using Goldwave, or any other editor that can re-save as .mp3 (Fraunhofer codec).

Don't worry too much about sample/bit rates. Today, much like aspect ratios for video, shit just varies. Bottom line; if it sounds good, it is good. Some things get hurt by compression more than others. It's very source-material dependent.

[Triple]

Originally Posted by pauldun170

Sansa - Menu selection sucks but since you're new to it all, its not a big deal for you. My old Sansa 8gb has lasted me awhile and i still keep it as a back up in my bag (incase my iTouch battery dies)

There is an add-on for firefox that allows you to rip those files off Myspace\Youtube\interwebz. the name escapes me but its probably one of the more popular addons if you browse around on mozilla.org.
I keep an old XP box with an audigy2 sound card in it to use the "Record what you hear option" when all else fails.

Audacity should be able to do whatever you want (manipulate music) (Free and awesome)

Ended up with one of these:

Philips GoGear SA2VBE08K/17 Flash Portable Media Player 8GB

Easy to use for a novice like me; only complaint is that the connector for the ear buds fits very loosely into the player. Any slight movement interrupts or completely disconnects the sound. Not a big deal if you're just sitting at a desk, but if you're walking/running/exercising, forget about it.

I also need to find a cord that lets me run the player through my car stereo. It didn't come with one.

About ripping files from Myspace, Youtube, etc: there are lots of different programs and hacks to be found via Google, but the easiest method I discovered was just using the Stereo Mix function in Audacity. Not that I want to do this often; sound quality of music on Myspace playlists sucks. In fact, I'll keep my online downloads in general to an absolute minimum. Just judging by ear, music ripped from even a burned CD is superior to what I've downloaded from online sources.

Something I can't figure out: the songs I've ripped from Myspace and saved as MP3's play fine from my PC, but will not transfer to my media player.

[Triple]

Originally Posted by Triple

Ended up with one of these:

Philips GoGear SA2VBE08K/17 Flash Portable Media Player 8GB

And ended up returning it. Couldn't keep the ear buds connected to the device. *useless*

Looking into one of these:

Microsoft Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player - $76.49

Is there a way to run an MP3 player through a car stereo directly, without having to play it through an FM radio station? The "car kits" I keep finding for these things all play through the radio. This requires you to change stations if you're traveling long distance, and your sound quality will alway be in a state of coming and going. I want it to play consistently, as if I were playing a CD.

[EpyonXero]

Originally Posted by Triple

And ended up returning it. Couldn't keep the ear buds connected to the device. *useless*

Looking into one of these:

Microsoft Zune 30 GB Digital Media Player - $76.49

Is there a way to run an MP3 player through a car stereo directly, without having to play it through an FM radio station? The "car kits" I keep finding for these things all play through the radio. This requires you to change stations if you're traveling long distance, and your sound quality will alway be in a state of coming and going. I want it to play consistently, as if I were playing a CD.

The radio transmitters suck. The only way to play directly through your stereo is if your head unit has some kind of auxillary input. New head units have them on the fron and some have them on the rear where you have to remoe the unit to access it. Also, if you have a cassette player you can get an adapter that plays through the cassette player.

[Homeslice]

Yeah, the iTrip transmitter gizmo was garbage IMO......sound quality sucked compared to direct aux.