The future of MP3 might be here. Is Rhapsody the answer?

[Piano Man]

Ok, let me preface by saying I've only used this program for about 5 minutes, but I've already found Miles Davis's entire In a Silent Way Sessions, and 3 Bobby Mcferrin albums. I've also been searching for artists and songs that I've never been able to find. This program has about 95% of those files. Pretty cool. Its a pay service, but its only $10 a month for unlimited listening!!!! Only thing is that you can't download.......yet, and that many popular albums are not listed yet(ie no Beatles) due to problems with some labels. However, on the FAQ page, they say they are working on it. This might be the future right here. Try it free until 9/15.


Get Rhapsody here.

 

[Rallispec]

how's the quality?

 

[Rallispec]

and IMO, streaming isnt the answer. Thats like paying for the radio... and not even cool radio, like XM.

if i'm paying to listen to MP3's, i'd better be able to keep them.

 

[Piano Man]

Quality is near-CD but not quite from initial experience. Let me listen to some more and repsond.

 

[Piano Man]

I've found that switching from DirectSound Out to Wave Out has helped in audio quality.

I have a Terratec DMX 6fire 24/96 and Cambridge Soundworks Megaworks 510D's, but I'm currently listening through my head phones which are Sony MDR-V600's.

 

[neomits]

aren't there still programs that let you record whatever is playing thorugh your soundcard?


but I guess that still requires more work than the average mp3 moocher puts forth

 

[Piano Man]

Yes, I can record at real time only right now using some audio recorders, but the stream is encrypted so you can't go as fast as it downloads.This will probably be cracked within a week, though.

 

[DaveSimmons]

I'd be willing to pay $10/month for a service like this IF the files were available for downloading in high-bitrate unprotected MP3. Otherwise I'll stick with radio and buying CDs to rip myself.

Streaming just isn't relaible enough or high-quality enough for me, I can't stand the stalls and clicks in the middle of some song I really like.

 

[neomits]

sound quality is pretty good and it buffered fast



lol but the first thing I searched for wasn't available "Tool"

 

[Piano Man]

It seems that Capitol Records hasn't signed up yet. Can anyone verify this and other labels?

 

[Piano Man]

I'm having a hard time with some big British names. Beatles, Stones, Led Zepplin. I hope they fix this. But for jazz, this thing is the sh!t.