Application 1: Listening to CDs and Digital Music Files

Application #1: Listening to CDs and Digital Music Files

To listen to digital audio files, you need a piece of software called a digital media player. These programs let you play back digital audio files stored on your hard disk, as well as audio CDs you insert into your PC's CD-ROM drive. Many media players also let you record your own digital audio files, which we'll get into later in this chapter.

There are a number of digital media players available, most for free and almost all downloadable over the Internet. The most popular audio player programs include the following:

• MusicMatch Jukebox (www.musicmatch.com)

• RealOne Player (www.real.com)

• WinAmp (www.winamp.com)

• Windows Media Player (www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/)

Most new PCs come with at least one of these programs pre-installed. In fact, Windows Media Player (WMP), shown in Figure 11.1, is included as part of the Windows operating system.

Figure 11.1. Windows Media Player the free digital media player included with Microsoft Windows.

When it comes to playing CDs or digital audio files, you can use the existing speaker system that came with your PC but, in most cases, the stock speakers leave a lot to be desired, sonically. If you plan to listen to a lot of music and you have good ears you should consider upgrading to a better set of speakers, ideally a system that includes full-range left and right speakers and a separate subwoofer for low bass reproduction. You probably don't need to upgrade your sound card; even today's least expensive sound cards do a good job reproducing digital music.

The following checklist details what you need to upgrade your system for optimal CD and digital audio playback.

Upgrade Checklist for CD and Digital Audio Playback

Fast (48X) CD-ROM drive (see Chapter 5, "Optical Tricks: Upgrading CD and DVD Drives")

High-quality speakers, preferably with separate subwoofer (see Chapter 10, "Pet Sounds: Upgrading Sound Cards and Speakers")

Digital media player software, such as Windows Media Player or MusicMatch Jukebox