From...

November 26, 1999
Web posted at: 11:37 a.m. EST (1637 GMT)

by Max Green

(IDG) -- It's been more than a year since the introduction of MP3 files, and the hype shows no signs of abating. Music distributors failed to incorporate watermarks into MP3 devices before the holidays as they had planned. And with no other new audio file format being so widely accepted in the market, MP3s will continue to be one of the most popular audio formats well into 2000. The free downloads on this list cover your basic MP3 needs: creating them, playing them, and searching for them on the Web. A few others go above and beyond to improve the sound of your audio and let you add custom looks, or "skins," to WinAmp, the popular MP3 player. So if you haven't yet, join the fun! If you'd like to experiment more with Internet music, click the "More MP3 extras," link below.

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MP3: The new wave

Top 10 MP3 utilities

1. WinAmp: This update of the popular music player supports MP3, CD, Audiosoft, Mjuice, and other audio formats. It also lets you use skins and audio effect plug-ins.

2. Planet MP3Find: Sick of listening to your Mel Torme eight tracks? Get into the mix with Planet MP3Find. MP3Find searches MP3 servers by artist or song faster than you can say "audiophile." The Windows Explorer-esque interface gives you activity information about FTP sites before initiating a connection, so you can steer clear of dead-end servers.

3. CDex: Extract data from an audio CD and store it in a .wav or MP3 sound file. The utility reads the digital audio data directly from the disc.

4. Abe's MP3 Finder: Quickly search the Internet for MP3s by simply typing in an artist name or song title. Abe's MP3 Finder maintains an updated database of MP3 sites to help you avoid broken and defunct links. It supports a variety of protocols including HTTP, SMB, and FTP. Version 3.6 offers an integrated FTP client, bug fixes, and more.

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5. MP3 Fiend: Simultaneously search 11 of the Internet's best MP3 engines. Just set the search terms, and MP3 Fiend quickly gathers all pertinent links. MP3 Fiend lets you save search results and supports downloading utilities such as GetRight and GoZilla. This version offers expanded search results, improved stability, and improved efficiency.

6. MP3 Star Search: Put digital music on your PC with this search utility. MP3 Star Search combs 12 separate search engines and gives you query results in an Explorer-like interface. It tests all results so you can avoid dead-end FTP servers, and it supports CuteFTP for quick file transfer.

7. Xing MP3Live Encoder: This utility is designed to provide high-quality, streaming audio for live feeds. It accepts input from analog audio sources and performs real-time audio digitizing and live encoding, then it transmits the data through IP networks.

8. RealJukebox: This file lets you play MP3, CDs, RealAudio, Liquid Audio, and other popular music formats. You can also record CDs at near-CD quality (up to 96 kilobits per second). Download exclusive, free songs for RealJukebox users. The file is compatible with portable digital music players.

9. MPFree: This free and easy-to-use MP3 software is perfect for cluttered and overtaxed desktops. MPFree uses the Xaudio engine, and it offers a full of range of playlist controls. It also offers a mask editor, which lets you completely customize your player.

10. DFX: This application compensates for the limitations of typical PC playback systems and listening environments, and enhances Winamp's sound quality by correcting the sonic limitations of MP3 and Windows Media. (These audio formats suffer from two major problems: loss of high-frequency fidelity, causing a muffled sound, and loss of stereo separation and depth.)