What's the best Media Player?

I've searched the forums, and didn't readily get the info I was looking for, so here we go:

First, I'll tell you what I have, and why I don't like it.

We are currently using RealOne player, free edition. I like how easy it is to use, but I don't like that in order to control recording volume, space between songs, etc, I have to upgrade. I also don't like all the crazy popups.

Second, I'll tell you what I want, and what I'd like to do with it.
It must be Free!
I would like to play MP3s, CDs, and what have you.
I'd like it to watch video.
I'd like to generate playlists. And I want them easy to sort.
I'd like the player to search the Internet for info on the CD I'm playing, and save that to my hard drive.
I'd like to save my music in MP3 format, but burn it to Audio Discs for when I make CDs to play in a normal player.

I'm kinda new at this, so any help is appreciated.

I've heard great things about iTunes. Here on MG there is Zoom Player and WinAmp. I also heard great things about Quintisential Player.

What are your preferences?

When you answer, please give details. Rather than, "ReaLOne stinks" tell me "I don't like RealONe because....." That way I'll learn!!

One more question: Do MP3s give better quality and take up less space on the hard drive? RealOne saves in RealAudio format, and it seems that each file is huge. But the few MP3s I have don't have a file size. Anyone know anything about this?


Thanks everyone!

Eric (and Cindy, too!!)

 

realone is a decent player, but as you said, all the popups and annoying clutter that go along with the free version rule it out to me.

have you tried WinAmp?
I have been using winamp for many years now, and it does everything you mentioned above and more. only if you want it to. no pop-ups, no clutter (in certain free versions) and very convenient and skinable to match your preferences.

i currently use version 2.xx becuase for my preferences, 3 was too cluttered with extra features (may be great for you).

i also noticed on the front page of MajorGeeks today that WinAmp 5 was just released, and I have yet to check it out but it may be worthwhile.

in any case i would definetly recommend checking out winamp, whichever version you prefer, and giving it a chance.


as for mp3, the quality can be very good, and being a very compressed format, it can be relatively small in size. (if you right click one of your mp3's and select properties, it should tell the size) a standard 128kbps mp3 usually is between 2MB and 3MB in size, and better quality mp3's at 192kbps and 320kbps go on from there. however now with mp3PRO format, a 96kbps file can sound just as good as a 320kbps standard mp3. (you may have to pay for a separate program to rip CD's in this format). this is VERY space saving, and I am a big fan of riping my cd's this way.

good luck, if you have any more questions, feel free to ask.

 

I would agree with above. Winamp2.95 or 5.xx (Alpha) Don't use 3.xx as it's slower than frozen molasses. Winamp 5 is available at MG's , go figure.

 

Quintessential for me

 

I'm an iTunes convert... I LOVE the playlists...

I use Cdex for ripping CD's

 

Thank you , In Years to Come, and auggiedoggie.

g1lgam3sh and exeter_acres, can you expound on the pros and cons of your favorite media player? I'd like some direct comparisons between all the above mentioned players, if possible.

Eric

 

Hmmm... I just found iTunes so much easier to organize than the others...

I have about 30Gb of music, so things get lost...

my favorite feature is the random playlist

I can create a playlist based on music genre (genre is the main way I sort and where I feel iTunes shines.. if you only sort by Artist, then I suppose any player would do just fine) and then randomize..
ie.. I start iTunes up and start a Bluegrass playlist (I love good bluegrass) the list will be random but only the genre I want...

you can also put a criteria in your playlist that won't allow a song to be played again for a certain amount of time... so your playlist stays fresh...
ie: don't play the same song again for at least 2 weeks, etc. etc...

the other feature is the id3 editor.....
it is the only (free!!!) player that I have found that has a full featured, easy to use ID3 tag editor..

easy to edit multiple songs at the same time, etc. etc...

Hope that helps a bit..

 

i would definetely recommend using winamp eric.... the new winamp 5 (full version) will be released very shortly.... they are still adding a few more features... it has both audio and visual support and runs much faster than the previous winamp 3...


i have both winamp 2 and 3 right now.... only reason i use 3 is because of the very useful "enqueque" feature that lets you designate which song will play next on your playlist.... the winamp 5 beta (same one hosted by MG) doesn't have this feature integrated into it yet, but the creators are going to add it to the final release.....

 

Exeter,
I don't know if you've ever used Real Player, but the ease of use to generate playlists, save them, burn them to cd, what have you is something I really like. I just wish I could control the length between songs, and song volume level. Nothing worse than a song that is recorded at a low volume, so you turn it up, and the next song is recorded at a louder volume, and you find yourself talking loudly over the music, and finally turn it down, and the next song is quiet again.....if iTunes is anything as easy, I'll probaby give it a shot!

Thanks too, Midget. I'll probably try a few of these just to see what I like. Seems it may come down to preference!

Take care,

Eric

 

I've always liked ashampoo media player for audio files and zoom player for videos (mpegs avi etc)

 

Never used Real...just not a fan of their products..I am sure they are fine though....

with iTunes there is a volume leveling feature (or something like that) and you can crossfade from song to song

not sure about dead space between songs though..


Curtis

 

Sorry for delay, only just got DSL back up, back at ranch..meanwhile, everything I've ever tried to play on it, has; loads of people enthusiastically writing free plugins, nice skins.
You know how it goes, long as it does what it says on the tin the rest is opinion. In mine I like Quintessential(sp).


ps. it hasn't broken anything

 

I use windows media player 9. It's free and I'm pretty sure that it can do all of that.

 

iTunes can do everything Windows Media Player 9 can, and is free as well (including vdeo as Quicktime integrates).

Arguably more, since it plays .mov files

Besides, why use a Media Player that is subject to security risks? (there are security updates, but still).



I just assume use a Media Player that isn't that intertwined into the system, thanks.

 

Windows media 9 doesn't have too many security issues. It works well for me.

edit: be quiet itunes addict...

 

winamp 5 pro, R0x0rs my b0x0rs....Search function, awsome look compared to the old POS (but stil avaialbe if ur comp isnt that great). Looks tizite, and doesnt crash like winamp 3. Get it

 

Heh heh. I googled the program (I'd never heard of Winamp 5 before) and when I got my results, I clicked on the second link and it took me to Major Geeks.

I guess I didn't have to look very far for the info.

 

yes i downloaded it after reading about it and it loads much faster than winamp 3... but i'm still waiting for them to incoporate the "enqueque" feature that winamp 3 had... that's hte only reason i downloaded winamp 3 in the first place....