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Despite a glut of free player/encoders, it's tough to find one that meets our expectations. Formerly known as Sound DB, MediaMonkey has excellent library-management tools that keep the largest digital music collections well organized. Stir that up with integrated CD and DVD burning, a stellar interface, a full-featured encoder, and the ability to sync with portable audio devices such as the iPod, and you have a pretty compelling product.
Upon first launch, the program scans your drive for supported digital media files to add to the library. Files are sorted based on their ID3 tags, and the helpful Auto-Rename and Auto-Tag From Filename features keep untagged tracks from falling through the cracks. Party mode locks down your library while still allowing people to request songs. Auto DJ plays selections from your library even when there are no requests in the queue, and the all-important iPod and portable device synchronization works well. Third-party plug-ins are available from the site if you want to tinker with the playback and encoding engine or add additional sound-processing effects. The interface is well designed, with clean, colorful icons throughout.
Considering the overall polish of this application, you'll be hard-pressed to find anything you don't like. Although it's definitely geared toward managing extensive collections, just about anyone will appreciate the comprehensive feature set. For $20, MediaMonkey Gold adds advanced features such as sleep, scripting, previewing, and on-the-fly file conversion when syncing with a portable device.
MediaMonkey Standard - Manage large media collections - Download Video Previews:Publisher's Description
From Ventis Media:
MediaMonkey is the music manager for serious music collectors and iPod users. It catalogs CDs, AAC, OGG, WMA, FLAC, MP3 and other audio files, including contemporary and classical music, audiobooks, podcasts, etc. It offers multiple tools for looking up and editing tags, and an automated library organizer to organize files on the hard drive. It includes a CD ripper, CD/DVD Burner, and audio converter for saving music, and advanced playlisting for creating music mixes. Its player automatically adjusts volume levels and supports a Party mode that locks the UI for use at public events. It syncs tracks, playlists, and podcasts to portable audio devices such as iPhones, iPods, MP3 Phones, and other devices, and supports hundreds of scripts, plug-ins and visualizations to extend its functionality further.
Version 3.0.3.1183 adds iPhone synchronization, support for music purchase via Amazon, and plus over 200 minor features and improvements.What's new in this version: Version 3.0.3.1183 adds iPhone synchronization, support for music purchase via Amazon, and plus over 200 minor features and improvements.
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All versions:
4.0 starsout of 1,312 votes
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Current version:
4.0 starsout of 37 votes
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My rating:
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"Nags you to upgrade constantly."
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
Seems to be a clean interface.
Cons
To do most anything that iTunes does, you have to upgrade to "gold", I think it is 25 bucks. I'm sure it is swell when you buy the full version, although that only gave free upgrades for version 4.X. Once version 5 is released, you'll be SOL again.
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"Preferred Audio Player/Organizer for me"
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
Creates database of your music files. Doesn't copy song into it's own area, fairly transparent where your music is. Rips and burns. ID3v2 tags. MP3, OGG and a few other formats.
Cons
Playlist management could be better. You might spend a lot of time playing your music -- not really a con.
Summary
I've used it for years. I've used Musicmatch, Winamp and iTunes, but perfer MM. It organizes in a explorer like tree by artist, album and genre. Worth the upgrade from the free version to get something decent.
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"The best Music Library and player"
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
I've tried a lot of free ones winamp, wmp, music match and many more... But none of the programs can even stand before the library of MM... Its the best both in terms of quality as well as features...
Cons
Visualizations are not much...
Summary
Just get it...
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"I can't figure out how to use it"
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
n/a
Cons
n/a
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"Once you learn it, it's fantastic!"
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
I like the customization features, including the ability to parts around in the interface. I also love the tagging feature, which is the main reason I tried this software. Seems to be a good replacement for the standard iTunes and Win. Media Pleyer.
Cons
Couldn't give it 5 stars for two reasons:
1. While powerful, it's a busy interface, and it has a bit of a learning curve.
2. I don't feel like it queries enough databases, because too often, none of the results I would get would be correct.Summary
Good alternative if you want to get away from the same ol' thing, and you have a few minutes to learn your way around.
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"Overrated and a little dangerous"
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
It's a good player and has options to help fill those gaps in your info, but be willing to put in about 20 hours if you actually expect to fill in them all
Cons
The info change isn't nearly as automated as it could be, and dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, as controls aren't very intuitive. I accidentally changed 5GB of music to say the artist was Bill Cosby in my first 90 seconds using the program.
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"A good player."
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
Everything
Cons
Lack of auto-tag databases.
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"Great for music lovers!"
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
If you want to have a media player that you can listen to all kinds of media formats, MediaMonkey is a great alternative to iTunes, Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, and other media players.
Cons
Only good if you can bear to part with your other media players :)
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"Simply the Best!"
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
Organizes music better (much better) than all the leading competition; iTunes, WMP, and WinAmp.
Supports all file types.
No restrictions like iTunes.
Syncs with most MP3 players (including the latest iPods).
Very fast program.
Can be customized to look like WMP and iTunes (and more original designs).
Very easy to use, don't be turned off by all the features, I found it easier to get into than iTunes.
Cons
None.
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"I've found nothing better."
Version: MediaMonkey Standard 3.0.3.1183
Pros
Quickly and accurately organizes music, provides an easy interface for editing the information by which the songs are organized.
Cons
Advanced features are disabled in the free version but it's still highly usable.
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