Plays mp3s and much, much, more
Written: May 22 '03 (Updated Jun 17 '03)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Easy mp3 ripping/burning, internet radio options, robust controls
Cons: additional features cost extra, not completely stable - internet trafffic can cause crashes
The Bottom Line: Musicmatch Jukebox is an all-in-one music player that not only plays music from CDs and Mp3s, but also rips music to mp3 format and streams internet radio.
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| kyuushu's Full Review: Pearson Education Musicmatch Jukebox 7.0 Deluxe MP... |
Musicmatch is a versatile, all-in-one PC application ideal for playing, burning, and ripping mp3s and other audio file types. There are two versions: one that is free, and a more robust version that costs $19.99. Both versions can be downloaded from the Internet via www.musicmatch.com. Additionally, musicmatch may also be purchased in a retail store, or come with a computer-related device. (It should be noted that Musicmatch is NOT an application where you can actually download MP3s. As far as MP3s are concerned, Musicmatch only plays, rips, and burns them.) Additionally, Muiscmatch also offers a subscription to its Internet radio service for a small monthly charge.
Basic Version (Free)
The basic version of Musicmatch Jukebox can be downloaded for FREE on the Internet. This version plays, burns, and rips audio to mp3 format. Burning however, it is limited to 2x. Since CD-RWs burn at speeds of 52x these days, the basic version is definitely lacking in speed. Users who want to burn faster, should either upgrade to Musicmatch Plus, or use some other burning software like Easy CD Creator, or Nero Burning Rom. The basic version of Musicmatch rips audio from CDs to mp3 fast, but this depends largely on a PC's capabilities. The quality of mp3s can also be specified. The default encoding is set to 128kbps, but can be varied from a low 8kbps to high quality 320kbps. Musicmatch can also keep track of mp3s and other audio files with its Music Library feature. Basically, Musicmatch will scan a PC's hard drive and build a database of music that a user can access and play quickly. Users who have a portable mp3 player can use Musicmatch's Portable Device Manager to transfer mp3s easily. With a drag-and-drop interface, users can quickly transfer mp3s to their portable with ease. This free version also has the ability to stream Internet radio with a limited number of free genre stations: Rock, R&B, Rap, Country, 80s hits, etc.
Musicmatch Jukebox Plus ($19.99)
The basic Musicmatch Jukebox should suffice for most people who need an audio program that plays as well as rips mp3s. Users who want Musicmatch Jukebox as their primary burning software and want more control over mp3 creation should upgrade to Musicmatch Jukebox Plus. This version is often the version that is sold at retail stores, or sometimes comes free with a device such as a CD-RW drive. (It can also be downloaded from within the free version.) The added features with Musicmatch Jukebox Plus are: 1) Faster burning - up to 40x depending on the PC; 2) Ability to encode using higher quality mp3pro format; 3) better tagging of MP3 files (manage artist, song, and genre information); 4) Ability to record from the line-in jack (audio-in); 5) CD-Labeling options 6) A slideshow enables users to cycle their own images during playback; 7) Full tech support provided; 8) Exclusive "skins" that change the look of the interface itself. Out of all these features, the improved burning speed, the better sound encoding, and the ability to manage song/artist information should appeal to anyone who has or wants a large mp3 collection. Also, the ability to record from the line-in jack makes it possible to rip audio from all those old cassette tapes and vinyl records. All these features definitely won't disappoint anyone who decides to upgrade to Musicmatch Plus ($19.99).
Musicmatch Internet Radio
Like other internet radio services, Musicmatch MX streams music over the Internet to users. The advantage over traditional radio is that there are many more stations available, and the genres and artists can be controlled by the user. Song selection however, is chosen randomly by Musicmatch itself. (For example, a user could select a station that plays the Rolling Stones only, but the songs would be chosen randomly.) There are a good number of free stations to listen to by clicking on Musicmatch's "Radio" tab: Adult Alternative, Rock, 80s hits, Classic Country, Latin hits, Dance, Indie, Gospel, Jazz, R&B, Rap&Hip Hop,etc.
Musicmatch MX (Paid Internet Radio)
Additionally, Musicmatch offers a subscription to its Musicmatch MX Internet radio service. While many of the stations are free to anyone, many more are available only to subscribers of Musicmatch MX. (New users should try the free stations first to see if the selection is to their liking.) Like the Musicmatch Jukebox application itself, Musicmatch MX comes in two versions. Musicmatch MX Gold costs 2.95/mo and gives access to all the stations that Musicmatch offers in Internet radio. It also has CD-quality streaming sound, ability to make a custom playlist of artists, and the absence of pop-up ads. Playlists are customized programs of artists that the user chooses. A user could have any artist from any genre in a playlist. Musicmatch MX Platinum has all the previous features, but adds a bit more control over custom playlists for $4.95/mo. "Artist on Demand" is a new feature exclusive to Musicmatch MX Platinum that allows the user to play sets of songs from one artist. Another feature is song skipping. This is a feature that allows a user to instantly skip a song and start the next one immediately. This is great if for some reason the user has grown tired of hearing a particular song. (Although the Musicmatch website says, "unlimited" song skips for Musicmatch MX subscribers, there is in fact a limit per station - around 20 skips per day in my experience.) Truth be told: I use Musicmatch MX Platinum and to be honest, it's not much different than the Gold version. Sure, I can skip songs and I have slightly better control over what music is played, but it's not that significant really. Unless a user is really interested in playing long sets of the same artist (which I'm not) then, Musicmatch MX Gold should be good enough for most people. Then again, it's only another $2 a month ($24 more a year), so it's really up to the user to decide if it's worth the extra cash for the added control.
It should be noted that Musicmatch isn't completely stable. There have been numerous times that Internet traffic or server lag has caused Musicmatch to either hang or completely crash. This can happen while using internet radio, or whenever Musicmatch accesses its online database of music information (when playing CDs or MP3s, Musicmatch will access its online database). Whenever Musicmatch crashes, I would simply close the program and start it up again. Also on a minor note; when using internet radio, Musicmatch will cause the PC to pause, or become unresponsive for a second or two as it switches from one song to another.
At the very least, Musicmatch Jukebox is a great MP3 ripper that is free over the Internet in its basic version. The $19.99 upgrade gives top-notch controls for enthusiasts, but is not necessary for casual users. Musicmatch MX is also another nice feature that should appeal to those who want more control over their internet radio. In any case, Musicmatch aims to please the casual listener as well as the hardcore music fan.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
kyuushu
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Location: CA
Reviews written: 52
Trusted by: 4 members
About Me:
I'm an artist at a video game company who, besides games, also likes high-tech gadgets.
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