Audio/Visual
Room
Open
and Closed Source Multimedia Software Sites
[Reminder: We do not
endorse particular products, and we are not endorsed by any companies.
Our goal is simply to provide links to important and
useful software and
publications in digital media about which any practitioner should have
at least some awareness.]
Icecast
An open source audio
streaming server, with links to hosts of music channels providing net radio
content in a variety of genres.
Lame
Ain't an MP3 Encoder (LAME)
An open source digital
audio project with software to "improve the psycho acoustics, noise shaping
and speed of MP3." Not an MP3 player itself, but an addition.
Xiphophorus
Free and Open Source
internet multimedia shop. Includes open source audio rippers, encoders,
and players, as well as audio manipulation plug-ins.
DFX
Plug-in compatible with
Winamp and RealPlayers, which improves the sound quality of MP3 players
to hi-fi. The free demo version includes nobs for fidelity, ambiance,
surround, and dynamic boost. The upgrade includes 3D surround features,
among others.
MP3.com
The software section
of this famous music website offers reviews and a wide selection
of media players, rippers, encoders, skins (to change the face of the media
player on your computer screen), utilities, playlist makers, download managers,
and musician tools (such as PCDJ Phat...which lets you organize all of
your music files, and play more than one simultaneously and fade between
them). As with Napster, we can provide no direct link while the ubiquitous
heavy hands of RIAA and other litigious forces loom.
MusicMatch
Jukebox software with
perhaps the fastest and truest encoding available 128kbps (as opposed to
the usual ceiling of 96kbps for free software). Features integrated
CD burning software as part of the program, and on-line artists bios, cover
art and album notes, as well as streaming samples of suggested similar
music to what you're listening to. The only downside is that the
listener is required to be on-line to enjoy most of the perqs of this device.
The pay upgrades increase encoding speed to 320kbps.
Propellerheads.com
Offers customized mixers
based on the Beatnik technology for basic (free) and advanced (pay) download.
Realplayer
Video and audio player
with graphic EQ and built in radio stations. RealJukebox also available
to save music from the net and uploaded from CDs to your harddrive for
independent playback.
Sonique
MP3 player with "customizable
skins and visuals, and built-in access to music resources on the Web."
For an added bonus, the listener can speed up and slow down playback.
Winamp
Audio player with built-in
spectrum analyzer, oscilloscope, and equalizer with ability to create and
save song-specific equalizer and pre-amp settings. Plug-ins and skins also
available for customization, as well as access to Winamp Radio on the net.
Windowsmedia
Player
Basic audio and video
player. Integrated, naturally, with Windows for easy access of content.
Various "skins" also available to change the face of the player, and of
course upgrades can be bought.
Xing
AudioGrabber software
from Xing company to rip and AudioCatalyst software encode CD music into
MP3 files. XingMP3 player also available.