How to download an MP3 file.

[micky]

Is there a good, active ng to talk about stuff like this, or can
someone here tell me:

What is the difference between downloading a podcast, subscribing to a
podcast, and just downloading an MP3 file like I used to do only 3
years ago.

It's getting harder and harder to just dl the mp3 file, like I want
to.



In this case NPR had a button marked Download, but instead of sending
the file to my Firefox-set download directory, it put the file in
C::\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp , a temp
directory!

And it started to play it as soon as download was complete, when I was
in the middle of listening to Diane Rehm.

Fortunately the Firefox download list has a right-mouse-key option
called "Open Containgi Folder" or I would have had to hunt hard for
the file.

I would like to just dl the files to my regular download directory,
then copy them to a flash drive and play them in my car.

Thanks.

 

[micky]

Is there a good, active ng to talk about stuff like this, or can
someone here tell me:

What is the difference between downloading a podcast, subscribing to a
podcast, and just downloading an MP3 file like I used to do only 3
years ago.

This is the webpage that confuses me:

http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=7454969 .

I don't have a preferred podcasting tool:

 

[Bert]

In micky

I would like to just dl the files to my regular download directory,
then copy them to a flash drive and play them in my car.

You're just up against Web sites that are tailored for the growing
number of users of mobile devices, for which "download" is often
meaningless.

 

[Mayayana]

| What is the difference between downloading a podcast, subscribing to a
| podcast, and just downloading an MP3 file like I used to do only 3
| years ago.

It's the same thing. You have to download it to play it.
But a lot of sites would prefer that you think you're
receiving a broadcast, so they set it up to stream and
try to prevent you from accessing the file on disk.
That way you'll come back and see more ads every time
you want to listen to/see the recording.

A podcast is just a silly name for an audio recording.

Do you know about Download Helper for Firefox? That
can sometimes get MP* and FLV downloads from
streaming sites, though it doesn't seem to work on many
sites other than YouTube.

There's a bit of an arms race, with some sites constantly
trying to improve the obfuscation of linked media files,
so that you won't be able to get them.

| I would like to just dl the files to my regular download directory,
| then copy them to a flash drive and play them in my car.

In options -> General select "Always ask me where to save files."
Also make sure that no program is assigned to handle MP* files
in Firefox. If those file types are listed at all in the Applications
tab you should select the "Always ask" option.


| http://www.npr.org/rss/podcast/podcast_detail.php?siteId=7454969

That one works fine for me. Near the bottom it says:

Download MP3/4 inside a round-cornered box. I right
clicked that, clicked "Save link as...", and got the
download.

 

[Nil]

What is the difference between downloading a podcast, subscribing
to a podcast, and just downloading an MP3 file like I used to do
only 3 years ago.

Subscribing to a podcast registers it with a podcast aggregator,
which is a program that stores, organizes and plays podcasts (audio
or video content, usually analagous to a magazine or TV/radio
series) and alerts you when new episodes are available. Similar to an
RSS aggregator. iTunes may be the most common such program.

Podcast sites usually also let you download individual episodes. The
audio ones will usually be in mp3 format.

In this case NPR had a button marked Download, but instead of
sending the file to my Firefox-set download directory, it put the
file in C::\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local
Settings\Temp , a temp directory!

That's because you have Firefox set to automatically play mp3s when you
click on a link to one. You could do what I do, and set it up to ask
me whether I want to play it or to save it, and if so, where.
Otherwise, you can right-click on the link and choose "Save link
as..." and chose your own download location (or have it go to the
default location you indicated in FF's options.)

It's not a problem with podcasts in general or the NPR site, it's how
you have chosen to have Firefox deal with mp3 files.


[Although I find iTunes highly bloated and annoying, I haven't found
anything else that I like better for dealing with podcasts.]

 

[Paul]

Is there a good, active ng to talk about stuff like this, or can
someone here tell me:

What is the difference between downloading a podcast, subscribing to a
podcast, and just downloading an MP3 file like I used to do only 3
years ago.

It's getting harder and harder to just dl the mp3 file, like I want
to.



In this case NPR had a button marked Download, but instead of sending
the file to my Firefox-set download directory, it put the file in
C::\Documents and Settings\Administrator\Local Settings\Temp , a temp
directory!

And it started to play it as soon as download was complete, when I was
in the middle of listening to Diane Rehm.

Fortunately the Firefox download list has a right-mouse-key option
called "Open Containgi Folder" or I would have had to hunt hard for
the file.

I would like to just dl the files to my regular download directory,
then copy them to a flash drive and play them in my car.

Thanks.

This won't work with all sites, but if in Firefox you use Viewage Source,
you may see a link which is related to the music download.

For example, a page with some blather about Schubert, had this link.

"http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2011/09/20110902_atc_17.mp3?dl=1"

I snip the end off that, and enter this into my browser.

http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2011/09/20110902_atc_17.mp3

It prompts me to Save or Open, and I choose Save. Since I have Firefox
set up to ask me where to save as well, I'm actually prompted twice.
(I had to do that, as a security precaution, after an incident months ago).

Now, I have a 2,895,958 byte file in my Download folder. It
opens in Windows Media Player, and turns out to be an interview.

*******

On your podcast page, there was a download link on there as well.
I didn't even have to use the Viewage Source for this one. Copying the
link from the download button gives me this string

http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/totn/2011/09/20110902_totn_01.mp3?dl=1

Snip the end off that, and see if it downloads...

http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/totn/2011/09/20110902_totn_01.mp3

That gives me a 5,957,509 byte file, and that also opened in Windows
Media Player. That contains a program aired on Friday (today).

*******

Many sites protect their content, such that it is very difficult to
get a copy. For example, keeping the file in RAM, so it can't be
copied, and forcing the user to use special tools to make copies.
The ones on the NPR site, seem to have been put there with the
intention of you getting a copy, which is why it was so easy to do.
In fact, I can't think of too many sites that allow this. This
is more of an exception, and not something I expect to run into
again.

Paul