New Computer - Player/Ripper Recommendations

[waxwing]

I just got a new souped up Dell with Windows Media Center XP installed.
Dell MusicMatch was preinstalled. Windows Media Player 10 is also
installed. Finally, I added a Creative Soundblaster Audigy ZS Platinum
Pro which came with similar software (Media Source) for playing,
organizing and ripping. Plus I know there are free packages out there.

I'm totally confused on which to use. I prefer to standardize on one.
Prior to the new computer I used WMP which worked fine. I rip to MP3s
(not WMAs) because I also have a TIVO DVR which can play MP3s found on
my home network through the home theatre. WMP is also handy since
someone wrote some code that allows the Tivo to "see" the playlist and
entire directory structure seen in WMP.

However, I'm curious what, if anything, I'd be giving up from the other
packages. I've played CDs through Jukebox and they sound fine.
Surprisingly, they sound terrible through MediaSource but so bad I'm
sure there is some incorrect setting.

I was surprised to find that WMP 10 on my new computer does not rip to
MP3 without additional purchases. The WMP 10 on my old computer does
rip to MP3 and I never payed for an MP3 encoder. Why would that be?

Finally, are some packages better for ripping and others for
playing/categorizing.

Thanks for the advice.

- John

 

[Galley]

I just got a new souped up Dell with Windows Media Center XP installed.
Dell MusicMatch was preinstalled. Windows Media Player 10 is also
installed. Finally, I added a Creative Soundblaster Audigy ZS Platinum
Pro which came with similar software (Media Source) for playing,
organizing and ripping. Plus I know there are free packages out there.

I'm totally confused on which to use. I prefer to standardize on one.
Prior to the new computer I used WMP which worked fine. I rip to MP3s
(not WMAs) because I also have a TIVO DVR which can play MP3s found on
my home network through the home theatre. WMP is also handy since
someone wrote some code that allows the Tivo to "see" the playlist and
entire directory structure seen in WMP.

However, I'm curious what, if anything, I'd be giving up from the other
packages. I've played CDs through Jukebox and they sound fine.
Surprisingly, they sound terrible through MediaSource but so bad I'm
sure there is some incorrect setting.

I was surprised to find that WMP 10 on my new computer does not rip to
MP3 without additional purchases. The WMP 10 on my old computer does
rip to MP3 and I never payed for an MP3 encoder. Why would that be?

Finally, are some packages better for ripping and others for
playing/categorizing.

Thanks for the advice.

- John

Try iTunes. http://www.itunes.com/

 

[Mike Williams [MVP]]

I was surprised to find that WMP 10 on my new computer does not rip to
MP3 without additional purchases. The WMP 10 on my old computer does
rip to MP3 and I never payed for an MP3 encoder. Why would that be?

Are you sure? Have you checked the Rip Music settings?

Finally, are some packages better for ripping and others for
playing/categorizing.

Yes, but everyone's preferences differ so you may just have to suck it
and see. FWIW here's my list of bugs in the WMP library features:
http://msmvps.com/thinice/category/998.aspx

 

[waxwing]

Yes, I'm sure and surprised. I have a laptop and a desktop both of
which have WMP 10. They originally had 9 but when I learned that 10
could rip MP3s without buying an extra encoder, I upgraded. The new
computer already has 10. In the rip settings, instead of showing "mp3"
it shows "MPEG-Layer 3". When attempting to rip, I receive an error
stating that an encoder was not found but I can buy plugins. It could
be that this PC has XP Media Center installed so perhaps the Media
Player is different. Help > About shows Version 10.00.00.3646. Check
for updates states I'm up to date. This is the same version number as
on the PC that can rip them.

I'll post another message to determine if there is a way to move the
codec from one PC to another.

Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[Guest]

Yes, I'm sure and surprised. I have a laptop and a desktop both of
which have WMP 10. They originally had 9 but when I learned that 10
could rip MP3s without buying an extra encoder, I upgraded. The new
computer already has 10. In the rip settings, instead of showing "mp3"
it shows "MPEG-Layer 3". When attempting to rip, I receive an error
stating that an encoder was not found but I can buy plugins. It could
be that this PC has XP Media Center installed so perhaps the Media
Player is different. Help > About shows Version 10.00.00.3646. Check
for updates states I'm up to date. This is the same version number as
on the PC that can rip them.

I'll post another message to determine if there is a way to move the
codec from one PC to another.

Thanks for the help and advice.

 

[waxwing]

Eventually, I removed the preinstalled Windows Media Player 10 and then
downloaded and installed the current version from Microsoft's site.
Now it rips to MP3 just fine.

- John