Ultimate Digital Music Guide, The

List of contents

Introduction     1 Part I: Understanding Digital Music
1 The History of Music Distribution-From Piano Rolls to iTunes     11
How Do You Collect Music When There's No Music to Collect?     12
Between the Sheets    13
Going on Record     14
The Rise of Radio     15
It's a Long-Playing World     16
The Singles Life     18
The Tale of the Tape     19
Say Hello to My Little Friend, the Compact Disc     21
Going Digital     22
What's Next     24
2 Exploring the Different Ways to Listen to Music Today     29
Going Old School with Compact Discs     29
Ripping Digital Tracks from CD     31
Downloading Digital Tracks-Legally     32
Downloading Digital Tracks-Not So Legally     34
Getting All You Can Eat from a Subscription Service     35
Listening Anywhere on Any Device from the Cloud     36
Listening to Internet Radio     37
3 How Digital Music Works     39
The Way We Were: Remembering Analog Audio     39
The New Wave: Understanding Digital Audio     41
Making a Digital Recording     41
Storing and Playing Digital Audio     43
Dealing with Digital Compression     43
The Benefits of Digital Music     44
Quality     45
Easier Storage     45
Easier Organization     45
Streaming     46
4 Understanding Digital Audio File Formats     49
Evaluating File Formats     50
Uncompressed Formats     50
Lossy Compressed Formats     51
Lossless Compressed Formats     53
Comparing Formats, in a Nutshell     54
Considering Bitrate     55
Comparing the Major Digital Music Ecosystems     56
The MP3 Ecosystem     56
The Apple Ecosystem     57
The Windows Media Ecosystem     59
Choosing the Right File Format     59
What Works with What     60
Choosing an Ecosystem     61
Choosing a Bitrate     62
5 Understanding Copyright, Piracy, and Other Legal Issues     65
Understanding Copyright and Royalties     66
How Copyright Works     66
Calculating Royalties     66
Royalties on Online Performances     67
The Dark Side of Downloading: Online Piracy     68
The Spread of Piracy     68
The Impact of Illegal Downloading     69
What's Legal-and What's Not     70
6 Understanding DRM     75
What DRM Is and What it Does     76
The State of DRM Today     76
Problems with DRM     77
Dealing with DRM     79
Part II: Downloading Music
7 Understanding Music Downloading     83
How Music Downloading Works     84
Requirements for Downloading Music     84
How to Download Music to Your Computer    85
Where to Download From     85
Online Music Stores     85
Subscription Download Services     88
Free Download Sites     89
File-Sharing Sites     89
Choosing the Right File Format     89
Why Downloading Makes Sense     90
8 Downloading Music from the iTunes Store     93
iTunes Over the Years: A Musical History Tour     94
Getting to Know the iTunes Store     95
Installing the iTunes Software     96
iTunes Store Pricing     96
Navigating the iTunes Store     97
Creating an Apple Account     98
Searching the iTunes Store     100
Browsing the iTunes Store     101
Purchasing Items from the iTunes Store     103
Introducing iTunes in the Cloud     104
9 Downloading Music from the Amazon MP3 Store     107
Amazon.com-From Books to Tunes     108
Getting to Know the Amazon MP3 Store     108
Amazon MP3 Store Pricing     109
Creating an Amazon Account     110
Setting Up an Account     110
Enabling 1-Click Ordering     110
Navigating the Amazon MP3 Store     111
Navigation Controls     112
Left Column     113
Center Column     113
Right Column     114
Searching the Amazon MP3 Store     115
Conducting Basic Searches     115
Conducting an Advanced Search     116
Browsing the Amazon MP3 Store     117
Purchasing Items from the Amazon MP3 Store     118
Introducing Amazon Cloud Drive and the Amazon Cloud Player     120
10 Downloading Music from Other Online Music Stores     123
Why Switch from Apple and Amazon?     123
What Can Other Stores Do That Apple and Amazon Can't?     125
Exploring the Competition     126
Google Play Music     126
Bandcamp     127
CD Baby     129
Classical Archives     130
eMusic     132
Zune Marketplace     134
Discovering High Resolution Music Online     135
B&W Society of Sound     135
HDtracks     136
iTrax     138
Linn Records     139
11 Finding Free Music to Download     141
Downloading from Official Label and Artist Sites     142
Downloading from Free Artist Communities     143
ARTISTdirect     143
BeSonic     143
dmusic     145
MP3.com     145
PureVolume     146
SoundClick     147
Finding Tunes with MP3 Search Sites     148
Downloading Music from MP3 Newsgroups     149
12 Downloading Music from P2P File-Sharing Sites     151
Understanding File Sharing     152
A Short History of File Sharing     152
How P2P File Sharing Works     153
Then There's BitTorrent…     153
A Few Good Reasons Not to Use File-Sharing Sites     154
It's Illegal     154
You're Helping to Starve Musicians to Death     155
Quality Is Questionable     155
It's Likely Infested with Malware     156
Yes, Virginia, There are Some Benefits to File Sharing     157
It's Free     157
You Can Choose Your Format     157
You Can Find Stuff You Can't Get Anywhere Else     158
A Quick Look at the Most Popular File-Sharing Sites     159
Gnutella     159
eDonkey     160
Kad     160
BitTorrent     160
Considering Legal File Sharing Networks     160
Protecting Yourself (and Your Computer) When File Sharing     161
Protecting Against Viruses     161
Protecting Against Spyware     162
Use Anti-Malware Software     162
Just Don't Do It     162
Part III: Managing Your Music
13 Storing Your Digital Music     167
How Much Storage Space Do You Need?     168
Storing Digital Music on Your Home PC     169
When Local Storage Makes Sense     169
When Local Storage Isn't Enough     171
Storing Digital Music on a Dedicated PC     171
What Is a Media PC?     171
When Using a Dedicated PC Makes Sense     174
When a Dedicated PC Doesn't Do the Job     174
Storing Digital Music on a Home Server     175
What Is a Home Server?     175
When Using a Home Server Makes Sense     177
When a Home Server Is Overkill     177
Sharing Your Library Over a Home Network     178
Backing Up Your Digital Library     179
Backing Up Locally     179
Backing Up Over the Network     180
Backing Up Online     180
14 Organizing Your Digital Music Collection     183
Organizing Audio Files on Your Computer     184
Understanding Song Tags     185
What Can Possibly Go Wrong?     189
Editing Tags     190
Editing Tags Directly in a File     190
Editing Tags in iTunes     191
Editing Tags in Windows Media Player     193
Editing Tags with Third-Party Software     194
Five Tricks for Better Organized Music Libraries     195
Delete Duplicate Tracks     195
Combine Multi-Disc Albums into a Single Album     196
Separate Combination Albums into Individual Albums     197
Assign Multiple Genres     197
Add Song Lyrics     198
15 Finding and Downloading Cover Art     201
Understanding How Cover Art Works     202
What Can Go Wrong with Cover Art     203
Where to Find Cover Art     204
How to Change Cover Art     206
Changing Album Art Files Manually in Windows     206
Changing Album Art in iTunes     206
Changing Album Art in Windows Media Player     207
Changing Album Art with a Third-Party Program     207
16 Creating the Perfect Playlist     213
Why Listen to Playlists?     214
Creating a Playlist from Your Digital Music Collection     214
Creating and Sharing Playlists on the Web     216
8tracks      216
FIQL      216
Greatestplaylist     217
Jog.fm     217
Mixtape.me     219
Playlist.com     219
ShareMyPlaylists     219
Tips for Creating the Ultimate Playlist     221
1: Tag Tracks Before You List     221
2: Keep the Beat     221
3: Build a Mood     222
4: Mix It Up     222
5: Program by Sub Genre     222
6: Program by Activity     222
7: Consider the Length     223
8: Put Tracks in Multiple Playlists     223
9: Discover New Music Online     223
10: Share Your Playlist with Friends     223
11: Experience Serendipity     223
12: Don't Stop Editing     224
13: Get Creative     224
Part IV: Streaming Music
17 Understanding Streaming Music     229
Understanding Streaming Audio     230
How Streaming Audio Works     
Compromises and Requirements     232
Streaming Music Services     232
Internet Radio     233
Cloud-Based Music Services     233
18 Listening to Music with Spotify     237
Getting to Know Spotify     237
Subscribing and Getting Started     238
Getting Around Spotify     239
Importing Local Files into Spotify     240
Importing Files     240
Viewing and Playing Imported Music     241
Listening to Local Files on Your Mobile Device     241
Viewing and Playing Music     241
Playing an Individual Track     242
Playing an Album     243
Playing Music in a Queue     243
Viewing Artist Information     244
Listening to Spotify Radio     245
Creating a New Radio Station     245
Playing a Spotify Radio Station     246
Working with Playlists     247
Creating a New Playlist     247
Adding Tracks to a Playlist     247
Playing a Playlist     247
Listening to Spotify Offline     248
Making a Playlist Available for Offline Listening     248
Listening Offline     249
Sharing Your Music with Spotify Social     249
Adding Facebook Friends     249
Adding Other Spotify Users     250
Sharing Tracks     250
Sharing Albums     251
Sharing Playlists     251
Sharing Artists     251
Sharing Everything You Listen To     251
Collaborating on a Playlist     251
Extending Spotify with Apps     252
Scrobbling to Last.fm     254
Listening on the Go with Spotify Mobile     254
19 Listening to Music with Other Streaming Music Services     257
Grooveshark     257
Last.fm     259
MOG     259
Pandora Radio     260
Raditaz     260
Rara.com     261
Rdio     262
Rhapsody     263
Slacker Radio     264
Turntable.fm     265
Zune Music Pass     266
20 Accessing Your Music in the Cloud     269
How Cloud-Based Music Services Work     270
Pros and Cons of Streaming Music from the Cloud     271
Advantages of Cloud Streaming Services     271
Disadvantages of Cloud Streaming Services     272
Comparing Cloud Music Services     273
Amazon Cloud Player     275
Google Play Music     277
iTunes Match     278
MP3tunes     280
mSpot     281
MyMusicCloud     282
Streaming Music from Your Own PC     283
Audiogalaxy     284
Subsonic     285
21 Listening to Internet Radio     289
Understanding Internet Radio     289
What's Out There     290
Listening to Web-Only Radio     291
Searching for Internet Radio Stations     294
Listening to Terrestrial and Satellite Radio Online     295
Part V: Playing Your Music-At Home
22 Understanding Home Digital Music Playback     301
Music Is for the Home     302
Different Ways to Listen to Digital Music in Your Home     302
Digital Music via PC     303
Digital Music via Network Music Player     304
Digital Music via iPod     305
Other Items to Consider     306
23 Ripping Your Physical Music Collection     309
Ripping CDs to Digital     310
Understanding the Process     310
Choosing the Best Digital File Format and Bitrate     310
Choosing the Best Ripping Application     311
Ripping a CD with iTunes     313
Ripping a CD with Windows Media Player     314
Ripping Lots of CDs     316
Filling in the Metadata     317
Ripping Vinyl Discs and Analog Taps to Digital     317
Understanding the Process     318
Choosing the Right Equipment     319
Choosing the Right Software     322
Splitting a Side     323
24 Playing Digital Music on Your Computer     327
Choosing and Using a Music Player Application     328
What a Music Player Does     328
Evaluating Music Player Programs     329
Using the iTunes Player     331
Using Windows Media Player     335
Using MediaMonkey     337
Improving Your Computer's Sound     339
Using an External Digital to Analog Converter     340
Choosing Better Speakers     344
Using Headphones     355
Connecting Your Computer to Your Home Audio System     355
Making the Connection     355
Choosing a Ten Foot Interface     358
Controlling Your System     366
25 Playing Digital Music on a Home Media Player     375
What Exactly Is a Home Media Player?     376
Choosing a Home Media Player     377
Evaluating Home Media Players     380
Sony SMP-N200     380
Apple TV     380
Western Digital WD TV Live     382
Seagate FreeAgent GoFlex TV HD Media Player     383
Microsoft Xbox 360     383
Netgear NTV550 HD Media Player     385
D-Link Boxee Box     385
Logitech Squeezebox Touch     386
Sonos Connect     388
Denon DNP-720AE     389
Pioneer N-30 Audiophile Networked Audio Player     390
Marantz NA7004 Network Audio Player     391
NAD C446 Digital Music Tuner     391
Logitech Transporter SE Network Music Player     392
Musical Fidelity M1 CLiC     393
Connecting via DLNA     394
26 Building a Whole House Digital Audio System     397
How Whole House Audio Works     398
Using Personal Computers     399
Using Networked Media Players     400
Using Media Center Extenders     402
Using Freestanding Media Players     403
Part VI: Playing Your Music-On the Go
27 Playing Music on a Portable Music Player or Smartphone     411
Choosing a Portable Music Player     412
Apple's iPods     412
Other Portable Music Players     415
Playing Music on a Smartphone     419
Apple's iPhone     419
Android Phones     421
Windows 7 Phones     423
Playing Music on a Tablet     424
Apple's iPad     424
Amazon's Kindle Fire     424
Other Android Tablets     425
Managing Music on Your Portable Device     425
Syncing Your iPod or iPhone     426
Configuring Sync Options     427
Syncing Your Music     428
Improving Your Device's Sound Quality     428
Upgrading Your Earbuds (or Headphones)     428
Adding an Outboard DAC     432
28 Listening to Streaming Music on a Portable Music Player or Smartphone     437
Evaluating Streaming Audio on Portable Devices     438
Listening to Streaming Music Services on the Go     439
Listening to Internet Radio on the Go     441
Listening to Streaming Music from the Cloud     442
29 Playing Your Portable Music in the Living Room     447
Connecting Your Device to External Speakers     448
Connecting to Powered Speakers     448
Connecting to a Tabletop Speaker System     449
Connecting Your iPod to Your Home Entertainment System     453
Connecting via an Adapter Cable     453
Connecting via an iPod Dock     454
Part VII: Sharing Your Music
30 Burning Your Music to a CD or USB Drive     461
Burning Music CDs     462
A Short History of Home Recording     462
Understanding CD Burning     462
Understanding CD Standards and Formats     463
Choosing CD Burning Software     465
Before You Burn: Preparing Your Hardware     465
Before You Burn: Configuring Your Software     466
Burning an Audio CD     467
Burning an MP3 CD     469
Burning Music Files to a USB Drive     469
31 Sharing Your Music Over a Network or Online     473
Sharing Music Over a Network     473
Sharing Music via Email     474
Sharing Music via a Cyberlocker      475
32 Sharing Your Music-Socially     479
Sharing Music on Facebook     480
Sharing Music from Another Music Service     480
Viewing Your Friends' Music     481
Sharing Music via Live Chat     483
Sharing Links to MP3 Files     483
Sharing Music on Twitter     484
Sharing Music via Spotify     486
Sharing to Facebook     486
Sharing to Twitter     487
Sharing to Other Spotify Users     488
Sharing via Windows Live Messenger     488
Sharing to Anyone via Email     489
Sharing Music via iTunes Ping     489
Posting to Ping     490
Viewing Your Ping Page     491
Finding Friends to Follow     493
Part VIII: Discovering New Music
33 Discovering New Music with Last.fm and Pandora Radio     497
Discovering New Music with Last.fm     498
Scrobbling from Other Music Services     498
Scrobbling from PC-Based Music Players      499
Investigating Last.fm's Recommendations     500
Creating Radio Stations     501
Discovering New Music with Pandora Radio     503
Creating a New Radio Station     504
Fine-Tuning Your Radio Stations      505
34 Discovering New Music in the Amazon and iTunes Stores     509
Discovering New Music on Amazon     510
Viewing General Recommendations     510
Viewing Music Recommendations     510
Fine Tuning Amazon's Recommendations     513
Discovering New Music on Your Own     514
Discovering New Music on iTunes     517
What's Interesting (and Promoted) in the Store     517
Previewing New Music     520
Getting Genius Recommendations     522
35 Discovering New Music via Social Media     525
Discovering New Music on Facebook     526
Discovering New Music on Twitter     528
Discovering New Music on MySpace     528
Exploring the Social Aspects of Spotify and Other Music Services     530
36 Exploring the Best Music Review Sites and Blogs     535
Exploring Music News and Review Websites     536
Discovering Music Blogs     539
Reading Online Music Magazines     542
Using Music Recommendation Sites     545
Index     549

About the author

MICHAEL MILLER has written 100+ non-fiction how-to books, establishing a worldwide reputation for clearly explaining technical subjects to non-technical readers, and for offering exceptionally useful real-world advice on complex topics. A longtime musician and unwavering audiophile who owns an immense music collection (26,000+ tracks and growing), his many books on music include The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music Theory and The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Music Business. His recent technology books include The Ultimate Web Marketing Guide and Facebook for Grown-Ups.

Summary

Everything You Need to Know about Digital Music!

Your hard-core, up-to-the-minute, how-to guide
Download, rip, store, organize, play, stream-anything, anywhere

Seriously into digital music? Best-selling how-to author, serious audiophile, and eclectic music-lover Michael Miller will help you get all the digital tunes you want, whenever and wherever you want them! Miller guides you through today's best new options, from iTunes to Spotify…helps you make the most of social music, Internet radio, and cloud music services…even shows how to transform your home into a digital music paradise. This book is packed with practical answers, easy step-by-step instructions, insider tips, great ideas, and new music sources you never knew existed!
 
For everyone who's passionate about music!
      •     Discover brand-new digital music services, sites, and devices that fit your lifestyle
      •     Find great new music on iTunes, Amazon, and sites you've never heard of
      •     Get the truth about piracy, file sharing, and copyright
      •     Find huge amounts of legally free music
      •     Rip, store, and organize: Build your perfect music library
      •     Determine the best audio file format and compression rate for your collection
      •     Create simply amazing playlists
      •     Stream songs anywhere, with Spotify, Pandora, Internet radio, and the cloud
      •     Get great sound from your iPod or iPhone on your home audio system
      •     Build a whole-house digital audio system, the easy way
      •     Choose your best next media player (Apple or otherwise)
      •     Find and share tunes on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and beyond

Product details

• Authors: Michael Miller
• Publisher: Pearson Academic
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Released: 31.12.2012
• EAN: 9780789748447
• ISBN: 978-0-7897-4844-7
• No. of pages: 600
• Dimensions: 174 mm x 228 mm x 32 mm
• Weight: 911 g
• Series: Que; Que
• Subjects: Guides; Natural sciences, medicine, IT, technology > IT, data processing > Application software