Do you still think that music is only listened to on the radio? Are you attached to old-school technology? Has the younger generation of your family suggested that you learn how to download music? No matter the reason, you can learn how to access all of your favorite music online. Here’s how:
Always make sure that you download your music from a legal website. If you download music illegally, you can face harsh fines. In many cases you can be fined up to $500 per song. The artists deserve to be paid for the music they make, so download only legal copies of the songs that you love.
Try browsing the daily deals sections on Amazon.com and iTunes for some great music downloads. Some of the tracks sell for about a penny a piece. Most of this is older music, but a lot of it is considered “classic.” This is also a great way to find some interesting albums or tracks that you may never have considered for your collection.
One way to get free music is to rip it from YouTube videos. The upside of this is that you can use simple software to accomplish the task, and it allows you to avoid paying for each song that you download. The downside is the quality of the music might not be the highest.
Always use antivirus programs when you download new music. It’s best to be safe rather than sorry. Be cautious about downloading. This is especially crucial if you’re using P2P clients. Be sure to scan files before opening. Downloading unintended material, such as viruses, is all too easy to do.
Use a subscription service if you end up downloading a ton of songs. Services, such as Rdio and Spotify, let you shop from lots of songs and just charge a low monthly fee. You can then download music you like to hear offline just like if you were to pay for the download. It is a much cheaper way to build your music library.
Watch the file sizes of your music downloads carefully. A normal music download will be somewhere between 2 megabytes and 5 megabytes. If you see something much less or much more, there could be something fishy about the file. It may be spyware and not the song you were hoping it was.
If you are downloading music from a site where the songs are free, you run the risk of getting a virus on your computer. Before downloading, check the size of the file. Although these file can be small, most range from 2MB-5MB. If the file is less than 250KB, steer clear since it is probably a text file. Most viruses are transmitted through maliciously coded text files.
Never download any music without having a current antivirus program running on your computer. This is essential because it will protect your computer in two ways when it comes to downloading music files. First, it scans the file to ensure it is safe, and if anything is downloaded that isn’t safe, the virus program detects this and can remove the virus or harmful file.
If you plan to download music online, be sure to install a reputable antivirus program. This will ensure that all songs you download don’t contain any malicious code. You don’t wan to end up ruining your computer just to get a free song! Antivirus software protects you from that fate.
When downloading through peer to peer networks, play with your settings until you are getting good results. While they may seem complex and over your head, you can find explanations of what those settings do online, making the process of tweaking them much easier. The more you fiddle, the better your downloads can be.
Do not download music illegally through file-sharing websites. What seems like a good idea to get free music can come back to bite you. Many internet service providers are now working with publishing companies to find and prosecute online pirates, and you do not want to be one of the unlucky ones.
If you install peer to peer networking software, don’t install any of the add-ons or extra software which it offers you. These programs are often adware which can eat up resources on your computer or internet connection, plus they add no benefit to the software itself, so just uncheck those boxes.
To avoid getting ripped off when downloading music, choose a website that is popular such as Amazon, Rhapsody or iTunes. These popular download services are generally more secure than lesser known ones since they have to maintain their reputation. Therefore, you don’t have to worry as much about having your personal information stolen.
Prior to any downloading, get some antivirus software and update it with the latest virus patches. Downloading a virus with a song is too easily done. The anti-virus program scans downloads for malware prior to being saved on your computer. It can also scan it afterwards and clean off any malware that slipped through.
Keep your eyes out for promotions. Some online music retailers offer free music downloads when you make other purchases. Other online music stores offer discounted titles on a regular, revolving basis. Some popular food and beverage companies also sometimes offer free music download codes with each purchase of their products.
Rhapsody makes it easy to download all the music you want legally. This program offers a free trial, and then just $10 each month to download all the music you would like. You get a huge amount of music legally at a very low price.
As you can see, downloading music can be quite simple. Take the time to review each of these suggestions. Then, start downloading your favorite bands. You will be amazed at how simple and exciting it really is. Refer back to this page if you need to. In no time, you will be an expert!
