the Mp3 Player Basics

Introduction

In the early days of buying music on vinyl records, cassette tapes and eventually compact discs, no one had to worry about if the media would play correctly or play at all. You simply placed the record on the record player, the tape in the cassette player or the disc in the CD player and pressed Play. Today, music playback has advanced to the point where the consumer is not only the listener, but the producer as well. People have to know what format a song file is in. Then they have to know whether it is compatible with an MP3 player. And there are other factors about using the MP3 player which are out of most consumer's control, such as copyright. Nonetheless, if you know the basics of the MP3 player, you can enjoy music as if were as effortless and entertaining as years past.

Step 1

Compatibility:

• An MP3 player should have compatibility across several operating system versions, including Microsoft Windows XP, Windows Vista and Windows 7. The MP3 player can last several years, while PC users might buy a new desktop or laptop every couple of years or so when Microsoft releases a newer OS version. If your player does not have compatibility with the most recent OS, at the very least, then it may fail to work in later versions.
• The MP3 player's manufacturer, such as Sandisk or Creative, publishes updates to the firmware and device drivers. After you purchase the MP3 player, you may need to periodically update the device so that it continues work without problems. Firmware is just simply software on the MP3 player itself, including the user interface and functionality on the display screen. Device drivers help the Windows operating system recognize the player when you connect it to the PC via a USB cable.
• The manufacturer might develop its own MP3 playback software program, as a complementary or additional offering with your purchase. This program functions like the Windows Media Player application that Microsoft includes for free for all Windows users. You can use either program. However, you may find it simpler and more convenient to use WMP since Microsoft is good about publishing updates for its programs. If the MP3 playback program on your PC becomes nonoperational you may lose the ability to transfer songs to the MP3 player device.

Step 2

Music Transfer:

• If you have a vast CD collection you can rip those songs into the MP3 format using Windows Media Player. This application stores all of your songs on the hard drive in the Music folder. In many cases WMP can keep your albums intact, storing songs in folders by name instead of putting hundreds of songs on the hard drive with no discernible method of the media is organized. The application may even include album art.
• You can also purchase and download music from several online retailers. This is similar to buying a CD at the store. You own the music media for life. Also, WMP may encrypt your music files using Digital Rights Management, or DRM, meaning the file can only be transferred and played on a limited number of devices, such as between your PC and the MP3 player. Other sites exist that offer free music downloads. Be careful of any legal or security issues with downloading music from an unfamiliar source.
• The transfer process is straightforward after you connect the MP3 player to the PC via the USB cable, and then open the Windows Media Player. You simply drag and drop music files and albums from your hard drive to the memory inside the MP3 player.

Step 3

MP3 Player Functionality:

After you finish the music transfer and disconnect the MP3 player from the PC, it is on its own. You must now manage your music via functions on the player itself, instead of using programs like WMP on the computer. Most players have familiar buttons that clearly indicate Play, Stop, Rewind and Fast Forward.

Create playlists to help you manage your MP3 music listening experience. Most devices have a Main Menu that gives you all of the available options. You can even sort your vast music collection by artist, group, genre and year.

Activate functions like repeat and shuffle to make the MP3 player more enjoyable and random.

Charge the battery for the MP3 after every use so that you don't unexpectedly run out of power.

Tips

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