I have played MP3 and other audio files on my various computer systems for several years now, starting in the late nineties. In fact, I’ve got a Flogging Molly MP3 playing as I type this - good Irish punk, that!
Anyway, I started off using some no-name player, but quickly grew tired of it. It wasn’t long before a friend recommended Nullsoft’s WinAmp - a compact player that can handle just about any type of audio file.
I am currently using Netscape WinAmp version 2.75 for Windows operating systems. It was included with my Netscape 6 download, so I really can’t tell you much about the download time. Whatever the case, WinAmp has always been very small, easily and quickly downloaded, and a breeze to install - great for me because I hate tweaking settings, and great for my family because they can all use this software without any hassles.
FEATURES:
File capabilities. You can play any audio file with this software - from .mp3 to .wav to .wma - without any problems. In fact, you can set WinAmp as a default player for just about any file type, so that you can totally bypass the default players and such that are packaged with various Windows operating systems. I personally prefer that WinAmp handle all of my audio files so that I do not have to switch between it and other, less attractive software.
Trendy looks with downloadable skins. WinAmp skins can be found on various MP3 sites - and Nullsoft’s very own Web site as well. These skins, when saved into the WinAmp director, can be accessed with the WinAmp Skin Browser. The skins are simply graphical images, generally just a few small kilobytes in size, that change the appearance of the player. Instead of the plain black WinAmp, you can ’’cover’’ it with just about anything imaginable. There are skins that are themed after movies, superhero characters, various art stages (art deco, anybody?), musicians, bands, and even different scenery such as oceans and mountain ranges. I have even downloaded skins themed after Comedy Central’s South Park - talk about a cool look to an already outstanding program!
Netscape WinAmp comes with the ’’Netscape’’ skin - a very simple file that turns WinAmp into a sleek, grey image with bold buttons and interesting cursor enhancements. I can use WinAmp’s Skin Browser to change to another skin at any time or, if I’m feeling adventurous, I can set it to automatically switch to a random skin each time a new track is played.
Extensive file information. WinAmp can display ID3 tags as well as file length, time remaining, audio quality, et cetera. I can set WinAmp to scroll the filename in the viewer section of the software as well as in the program icon on the Windows tasktray - so that I always know exactly what I’m playing.
Customizable views. WinAmp also allows users to customize the oscilloscope (measures the bass and treble ’’movements’’ and pitches in the track) - I can make it look like fire, or like an electrocardiogram-type line if I wish. This is not the most important feature, of course, but one that I enjoy anyway.
Awesome playlist options. I can create a playlist and save it so that I simply double-click and my favorite songs will come up. I can randomize the list or set it to repeat in an infinite loop so that my music does not stop. Also, if I wish to share my playlist with other people, I can create it then save it as the WinAmp playlist file extension. I can then open the playlist through Windows Notepad and print it out or cut-and-paste it into an e-mail. Either way, WinAmp makes it disgustingly easy to show off my collection to others.
Stability. I cannot recall ever having a problem with WinAmp shutting down, giving error messages, or otherwise irritating me. I enjoy the fact that this is one of the most stable, customizable audio players on the market, and gladly recommend it to all of you. Whether you are playing .wav clips, browsing through your sound events (Windows users), or playing MP3/VQF/WMA files, this is the player for you! It is not freeware, so it must be registered - however, there are no nagging, annoying pop-up windows, and the software does not expire, so by all means fork over the cash that they request - the programmers have earned it by creating this great software AND by not nagging the hell out of users like some other programmers tend to do.