Puzzled About Downloading Music? THESE POINTERS Can Help!
Most people download today, more than buy CDs. You may have no clue where to begin. The ideas below will get you on track.
Make sure to employ anti-virus software whenever you download music. This protects you from any malicious files that could damage your computer. Be careful as you download. This is especially crucial if you're using P2P clients. Always scan the downloaded file before you open it. Otherwise, you may end up with something more than music!
Amazon and iTunes are popular markets for finding downloaded music. You can set up a free account and browse songs from millions of artists. In many cases, you can even listen to a small sample of a song before you buy it. This is a great way to access a lot of music all in one place.
Proceed with caution when downloading from free sites. Hackers are notorious for giving away free music but adding on a little something extra. If one is attached to a download, you may not realize this until it's far too late.
If you tend to spend a lot on music, you may find a subscription service to be a much more affordable route in the long run. These services typically cost no more than $10 a month, and they open up a world of music. In fact some have near 20 million different songs that you can listen to and download.
If you are looking for music for your iPod, consider a subscription based site. There are several available, and they allow users access to a huge library of tunes for a one time membership. In most cases, the membership is for life. This is a great way to save money while still finding the music that you love.
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.
When deciding on a site to download your music from, check out reviews for their user interface. This is especially important if you are a newbie. Some have very complex user interfaces that can be difficult to navigate. Others are more user friendly, and they are a better choice for a beginner.
If you are worried about the legality of the site you are downloading from, the easiest way to tell is if they charge you for each song. If there are no charges associated with the music you are downloading, then the website is probably stealing music and you could end up breaking the law.
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.
Always ensure that when you're downloading music files, they really are music files. Most music files will be around 2MB to 5MB, but in some rare cases may even go up to 10 MB. However, if the file you are downloading is less than 1MB, so it is measured in kilobytes, they are generally text files.
If you are having problems downloading with a peer to peer program, check your firewall. Unless you allow the program, you won't be able to do any uploading or downloading. Windows comes with a firewall built in, and this will have to be altered to allow for your program's actions.
Once in a while, even the big MP3 stores offer free songs, so keep tabs on what they're up to. You can sign up for email updates or their enewsletter to be updated when they put up such a promotion. In the end, free is free, so it's worth downloading!
Stay away from websites that offer free music downloads. Most of them are not only illegal, but they are scams. Some will ultimately force you to download software which can damage your computer and is often riddled with viruses. Other websites Shingeki no Kyojin are downright illegal and take money away from the musicians.
It is always a wise idea to have a backup for the music that you download. Lots of download sites limit how many times you are permitted to get a given track, but you need to protect what you have already purchased. Buy a hard drive that's external or store your songs on a CD for later use.
A great way to access music for free is by turning to a web site that works with independent artists. NoiseTrade allows independent artists to get more exposure while allowing users to enjoy music for free. This site helps you support a small artist without downloading illegal content from the Internet.
One way to get access to free music that most people wouldn't consider is liking an artist's page on Facebook, particularly if they are not a huge mainstream artist. Sometimes, they may allow you to access free content just for helping spread their name. You can do them good while getting awesome music!
There is no denying the fact that many if not most people these days purchase their music through downloads. However, it is also true that many folks who would like to do so, still do not really know how to go about it. Hopefully the above information has changed that for readers of all ages and backgrounds.