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Start Your Own MP3 Collection

So you want to start your own collection of MP3 files? The first thing you will need is a good MP3 player (software, for your computer--I will give you links later for portable MP3 players). My recommended software is WinAmp by Nullsoft. You can download it at their web site here www.winamp.com. This is the simplest one that I have found and it has many skins (they customize the appearance of your player) and plug-ins (ways to change the way the sounds play and other stuff) to choose from. The only drawback is that there is no way to catalog your files once your collection grows.

If you want to be able to keep a database of your MP3 files then I recommend you download RealJukebox by RealNetworks. You can download it at their web site here www.real.com/jukebox/. When you go to download make sure you click on the link for the free basic player. If you have a CD burner you can also make your own CDs.

Where do I find files to play?

The easiest way to get started is to download them from the Internet. If you go to CNet you can find many links to file sharing programs and sites where you can download MP3 files directly. The easiest and most controversial is Napster. You can also find unsigned artists at MP3.com.

• CNET Music Center
• Napster
• MP3.com
• Download One Of My Favorite U2 Songs (Ultra Violet [Light My Way])

You must decompress the file above after you've download it using a program like WinZip (make sure you download the free evaluation version) to access the MP3 file. It's simply clicking the download link doesn't work then you must right click and then click either Save as or Save file as.

 

How do I make MP3 files from my personal CD collection?

You might be asking yourself "Why would I want to do that?". I can give you several reasons:

1. keep your whole collection in one convenient place (i.e. your hard drive)
2. if you have a CD burner (a.k.a. CD writer) you can easily take your collection with you (I was able to make 100 CDs fit on 8 CDs in MP3 format)
3. there are several portable MP3 players you can buy that work like walkmans so you can listen on the go

You will need a MP3 Ripper/Encoder. I recommend using AudioCatalyst, you can download my copy of it here. It is a slightly older version what you don't need to register it. You can download the latest version at www.xingtech.com (you will need to register it after the trial period).

You may need to try several different programs to see what works best on your system. I tried about six different programs before I found one that worked best on my computer. You can find other software at CNET.