MP3 or WMA (which players also)

[Disco Nation]

Probably been asked a few times before but here goes.

Do you rip to MP3 or WMA?
and WHY?

Which player do you find easiest / best?

Compatability issues between software and external devices (controllers and soundcards etc). A lot of manufacters say there stuff will work with X Y Z, but when it comes down to actually using them together users face problems (as with most IT stuff).


X Y Z (just letters to represent different type of players/software)

Thanks

[Dragonfly]

I rip to mp3 as I use a controller that doesnt do wma lol. most i think go to mp3 ??

[spin mobile disco]

I use mp3 as well but AAC works pretty good. MP3 is more widely covered though and has less compatability issues.

[Danno13]

MP3.. seems to be the standard that all software will play, so i don't bother with any other formats, apart from WAV for my most regularly played tracks.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I use Mp3 as I use a laptop and also the Denon HD2500.

The Denon pnly plays Mp3 and Wav, so just as well I did rip to Mp3 otherwise I might be a slight bit peeved.

[Disco Nation]

Thanks for the replys guys.

When ripping the cd's I see from some of the other threads problems with the naming convention. What's the most compatible way to name MP3's so they work on all or the majority of software and hardware systems?

Thanks

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Thanks for the replys guys.

When ripping the cd's I see from some of the other threads problems with the naming convention. What's the most compatible way to name MP3's so they work on all or the majority of software and hardware systems?

Thanks

What programme are you using to rip your CDs?

Most (if you connect to the net) have a CD database that fills in the gaps for you.

[pagan_flame]

Thanks for the replys guys.

When ripping the cd's I see from some of the other threads problems with the naming convention. What's the most compatible way to name MP3's so they work on all or the majority of software and hardware systems?

ThanksArtist - Title.mp3


e.g. Abba - Dancing Queen.mp3

[Disco Nation]

I'm using Windows media player, and letting it name them for me.

By naming convention i mean:
Songtitle - Artist
Songtitle
Artist - Songtitle

Or other?

etc.

Which is best for the majority of applications and bits of kit?

Does some software or hardware not like a - between songtitle and artist?

Thanks

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Artist - Title.mp3


e.g. Abba - Dancing Queen.mp3

PCDJ doesn't work from the tags on the front (If that makes sense) of the Mp3, it works from the properties section, so careful what you decide.

Having just gone to Virtual DJ, the tagging is different and does work from the one's that Pagan is talking about, so I had to re-tag all mine. (again)

Luckily, I found a nice little programme that did it for me.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

I'm using Windows media player, and letting it name them for me.

By naming convention i mean:
Songtitle - Artist
Songtitle
Artist - Songtitle

Or other?

etc.

Which is best for the majority of applications and bits of kit?

Does some software or hardware not like a - between songtitle and artist?

Thanks

Virtual DJ works with artist - song.mp3 as Pagan said.

PCDJVRM works with the tags inside though - right click on Mp3, properties, advanced, and it takes the tags from the artist and title inside there.

[Ricesnaps]

Now to add to this, I am still trying to find a reasonable and easy to use download service. Just decided to try Napster again and it downloads as WMA. Where can you legally download MP3 format from then and get as much choice as Napster?

[Disco Nation]

So it's ok to use - between title and artist or artist and title, only I thought that some of the others on here had problems with some of the controllers if the names had other characters in?

Sorry for keep going on about this, but I want to get it right first time (if possible), and would like to keep my options open over the kit I might use in the near future.

Thanks

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

So it's ok to use - between title and artist or artist and title, only I thought that some of the others on here had problems with some of the controllers if the names had other characters in?



They do, but it's best to decide which software you are going to use really.
Things like % and & aren't generally a good idea.

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Now to add to this, I am still trying to find a reasonable and easy to use download service. Just decided to try Napster again and it downloads as WMA. Where can you legally download MP3 format from then and get as much choice as Napster?

It doesn't exist yet. Most sites are in WMA which is what makes the whole legal issue a bit of a farce when you can't play them on certain software.

There are ways round it, but I wouldn't really like to mention them until the whole thing is sorted out with DRM and licenses etc.

There's a site called 7digital that has some Mp3s on it and also for dance tunes, the Ministry of Sound site has Mp3s.

Itunes is AAC format and Woolies is also WMA.

[Disco Nation]

Something strange has happened.

I've downloaded a trial version of Virtual DJ, ripped some of my CD's to test, used exactly the same settings for ripping YET some of the artist and tracknames seem the wrong way round in Virtual DJ.

Anybody know WHY?

Thanks

[Solitaire Events Ltd]

Something strange has happened.

I've downloaded a trial version of Virtual DJ, ripped some of my CD's to test, used exactly the same settings for ripping YET some of the artist and tracknames seem the wrong way round in Virtual DJ.

Anybody know WHY?

Thanks

Virtual DJ doesn't read the tags the same as some other software.

Without going into detail, I had to rename a lot of my tags as PCDJ reads them differently.

Find a tag and rename programme and use that. With most of them, you can determine which way round the tags are read, Eg: Artist - song or song - artist etc.