How do I download mp3 files?
I don't have a fast connection to the internet and am having problems downloading.
How do I play an mp3 file?
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Background to downloading music over the internet
What is a digital music download?
Do I need a high level of technical knowledge?
Where do I get music online?
Why isn't the piece of music I am looking for available?
How do I search for music?
How much do digital downloads cost?
What is a digital audio player?
Can I use my digitally downloaded music anywhere?
Can I play my digital music through my stereo system?
What is Digital Rights Management (DRM)?
Q: How do I download mp3 files?
A: You can click on a link to download the file, and save it to your computer. Depending on your set-up, you might need to right click or hold down your mouse button and select "Save As..." or "Save Target As..." in the menu that pops up.
If a player application such as Windows Media Player starts to try to play the file before you have downloaded it you need to start again and make sure you get to Save the mp3 to your computer.
mp3s will take a short time to download over a very fast connection such as broadband but will take longer to download on a slow connection such as a 28k modem.
Once you've downloaded an mp3 file you can listen to it at your own convenience.
Q: I don't have a fast connection to the internet and am having problems downloading.
It can take a matter of hours to download long pieces of music if you do not have a fast internet connection. This can be a problem as your connection might be interrupted or your ISP might limit how long you can be online.
Q: How do I play an mp3 file?
Double clicking on the mp3 after it has downloaded to your computer will usually invoke an application which will play it.
You may find that mp3s, by default, will play in iTunes on a Mac and in Windows Media Player on a Windows PC because these are standard media player applications for these operating systems.
Your particular computer set-up may result in mp3s playing in a different player by default.
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Background to downloading music over the internet
Music in digital form that can be downloaded from the Internet has been around for more than a decade, but it is only in the past two years that it has taken root as a new way of accessing music. There are more than 85 services covering most genres of music, so for anyone with a fast connection to the Internet the choices are almost limitless.
The increase in the availability of broadband has made finding and downloading music files a swift process. However, it is the enormous popularity of digital audio players, such as Apple's iPod and Creative's Zen Micro, that has propelled the new wave of digital music services and the downloading of music files in general.
The majority of digital music available for download on the web is protected by digital rights management (DRM) software. DRM is a process that involves embedding special code in digital audio files that restricts their use, however, the downloads that are available as part of The Beethoven Experience are not subject to DRM.
The digital music scene is developing and so the quantity of classical music available for download is increasing all the time. There are some sites and services that focus on certain composers, conductors, orchestras and instruments. The more general sites and services also offer a range of classical pieces, so it's worth checking them regularly as their catalogues will be growing all the time.
Music downloads are available online through websites, digital music services (DMS), mobile phone networks and kiosks, Some music is available for free from DMS or artists' websites, the remainder is available through paid-for services such as iTunes, Napster, MSN Music etc.
To get hold of the music, you will need a computer connected to the Internet or a digital audio player that can either be connected to a computer or device such as a kiosk in order to download the music files.
Q: What is a digital music download?
A: A digital music download is simply a computer file that contains music. Like any computer file, these downloads can be formatted in many ways. These formats restrict where and how the music in that file can be played. Some formats such as MP3 are more generic and will play on all major computer platforms and digital audio players.
Q: Do I need a high level of technical knowledge?
A: No, often playing digital music files is as easy as double clicking on the file. Once you have downloaded a file, you should be able to play it with the standard music playing software on your computer.
Other digital music services are also very simple to use with intuitive design and software combined to offer a straightforward click and listen approach.
Q: Where do I get music online?
A: There are about a dozen major stores providing Digital Music Services offering a wide range of genres and quite a few specialist services that offer a particular genre of music. Not all stores are compatible with all computers or DAPs, so be sure to check your setup is matched with your chosen service. The paid services generally offer free samples so you know what you're getting, guarantees of quality and a refund policy if there are any problems.
There are also quite a few sites offering free music or speech pieces, usually in MP3 format. These are simple to use and often focus on one area of music or speech. However, they don't always come with the same consumer guarantees that paid services offer. Be careful in your choice of site or service as you could find yourself inadvertently breaking the law by infringing the rights of the artist or rights owner.
Digital Music Downloads - Classical Services
Q: Why isn't the piece of music I am looking for available?
A: Downloading services are relatively new and still developing. Many of the rights agreements required for digital distribution are still not in place. The available catalogues are expanding daily so it is worth revisiting sites.
The music labels are trying to make everything they have rights for available on digital platforms but they're still working through the physical process of converting their assets. Some have made their entire current catalogue available and are now working to make deleted items as well as previously unavailable international items available through digital means.
Q: How do I search for music?
A: You can search for music in the same way that you can search for any information on the web, by using search engines such as BBC, Google and Yahoo.
All services and music-based web sites also offer search tools and there are also dedicated search engines for music fans. These include Alta Vista, Lycos, GoFish, SingingFish and more.
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