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CD Rippers A ripper is a program that reads data from a music CD and converts the music to MP3 format. Once you have a ripper, you can create MP3 files from your own CDs. You can then listen to the files, share them with people, or (if you have a rewritable CD drive) make your own custom audio CDs. Web:
Karaoke Software To use your computer as a karaoke machine, you need special software. First, you will need a karaoke player, a program to play karaoke files and display the lyrics. Most karaoke music is stored in files with the extension .kar, which is simply a MIDI format with lyrics added. Aside from a karaoke player, you may also want programs to help you: (1) create and manage song lists, (2) create a CD+G (CD plus graphics disc), and (3) make your own karaoke files by removing the voice from music files (a "vocal remover"). Web:
MIDI Archives and Search Engines MIDI is one of the most popular systems for sharing instrumental music on the Net. Here are some archives and search engines where you can find a huge variety of music, just waiting for you to listen, listen, listen. Web:
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MIDI Software MIDI (Musical Instrument Digital Interface) is a communications system that allows electronic music devices -- including instruments, computers and signal processors -- to interact with one another. Using MIDI, you can play, compose and arrange synthesized music. There are a number of different types of MIDI software available. The most important programs are: (1) MIDI players to play MIDI files (which have the extension .mid), (2) sequencers, patch editors and librarians to record, store, replay and edit MIDI data, and to control the output of musical instruments and signal processors. Web:
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MP3 MP3 is a sound compression system that is used to store music in computer files. Since MP3 files are digital, just like audio CDs, the sound is perfect and can be copied over and over. Once you have MP3 files, you can listen to them on your computer or on a digital music player (a small, portable hardware device about the size of a Walkman). I have a friend named Noel who has collected a huge number of songs as MP3 files. He listens to them in his car by using a special tiny computer he built that mounts in the car instead of a regular stereo. MP3 is indeed the music system of the future. If you would like to learn more about MP3, music on the Internet, and how it all works, see my book Harley Hahn's Internet Advisor. Web:
MP3 Archives and Search Engines There are an enormous number of MP3 music files available on the Net, if you know where to find them. Here are some good places to start looking. As long as you have the Net, you'll never run out of music. Web:
MP3 Players To listen to MP3 files on your computer, you need a program to act as an MP3 player. There are a number of good MP3 players available for free on the Net. You will find that some of these programs are true multimedia players, being able to handle a variety of audio formats, such as music CDs, MP3 files, WAV files, MIDI files, streaming RealAudio, streaming MP3 and even streaming video. Experiment and see what you like best. Web:
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