Explains in plain English how to evaluate online music services, download music, select a portable player, turn a PC into an audio jukebox, burn custom CDs, and create and edit music files from commercial CDs
Apple iTunes reported 50 million music downloads as of March 2004, and the new Napster had 5 million downloads after just 4 months of operation
Covers the leading online pay music sites (iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody) as well as free alternatives (with advice on what's legal and what's not) and profiles Apple's iPod and other top portable players
Part I: Playing Music on Windows XP.
Chapter 1: Are You XPerienced?
Chapter 2: Wiring Your Computer for Sound.
Chapter 3: Basic Operations.
Chapter 4: Windows XP Media Center Edition.
Part II: Making Windows XP Your Digital Jukebox.
Chapter 5: Stalking the Wild Jukebox Software.
Chapter 6: Ripping Music Files from CDs, DVDs, and More.
Chapter 7: Buying Songs at the 99-Cent Store.
Chapter 8: Radio Station WNXP.
Part III: Goin’ Mobile: Taking Your Songs on the Road.
Chapter 9: Choosing an Okay Player.
Chapter 10: Feed Me, Seymour! Transferring Songs to Your Portable Audio Player.
Part IV: Quiet in the Studio.
Chapter 11: Building Your Studio.
Chapter 12: Laying Down a Few Tracks.
Chapter 13: Recording, Looping, and Editing.
Chapter 14: Mixing the Music.
Chapter 15: Finishing Up Your Song.
Part V: The Part of Tens.
Chapter 16: Ten Valuable Ways to Tune-Up Your Digital Music.
Chapter 17: Ten Legal Download Sites.
Chapter 18: Ten Download-Friendly Artists.
Chapter 19: Ten Songs You’ll Never Want to Download.
Chapter 20: Ten Digital Music Toys for the Truly Geeky.
Chapter 21: Ten non–Windows XP Sources for Digital Music.
Chapter 22: Ten Other Ways You Can Use Windows XP for Music.
Appendix A: Glossary.
Appendix B: Cutting the Wires to Your Music.
Index.
Ryan Williams is the Digital Multimedia Development Specialist for the Indiana University School of Dentistry. He graduated from the Indiana University School of Music with a master’s degree in music technology, along with a bachelor’s degree in communications from DePauw University. In addition, he writes for indianapolismusic.net, a Web site focused on the musical happenings in and around the greater Indianapolis metropolitan area.
As a bassist, Ryan has played in most known genres of music and some additional ones that seemed invented on the spot. While he was named “Best Bassist In Indianapolis” by shotgunreviews.com in 2002, he will happily provide you with the names of several local musicians who both inspire and embarrass him on a regular basis. He currently shares stages and studios with the members of Mother Grove, a Celtic rock band featured in shows and festivals from Ohio to Colorado.