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CNET Editors' review
Though it's mostly easy to use and boasts a couple of extras, Soulseek's shaky performance makes it a strictly average file-sharing option. The interface isn't beautiful, but it does provide large clear icons for performing actions such as searching for files, sharing folders, and creating a wish list. In some cases, we immediately were able to begin looking for results, but in others, we had problems connecting.
When we were able to undertake successful searches, we found many files were unavailable. Search speeds also were below average, although the inclusion of a chat-room feature is a nice touch. Since it is free, P2P fans might take Soulseek for a spin, but they'll probably also want to keep another few file-sharing clients at their disposal.
Publisher's Description
From Soulseek:
Soulseek is an ad-free, spyware-free, file-sharing application dedicated predominantly to the free trade of electronic music and the promotion of unsigned artists. Search for and share all kinds of files, including MP3s. It also includes chat rooms, and it features a buddy list for your favorite users.
What's new in this version: Version 157 NS 13e includes Search engine exploit.
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All versions:
3.8 starsout of 48 votes
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Current version:
3.8 starsout of 12 votes
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My rating:
Write review
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"Soulseek 4Lyfe!!!"
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
Extensive Live, Rare, Out-of-Print collection of music from all genres.
Chat feature to get recommendations and stuff.
Ability to browse other peoples' collections and d/l directly from them.
No Spyware, Adware or ads.Cons
Absolutely none.
Summary
I've been using Soulseek for about 10 years. If you're looking to download the new Justin Bieber album in about 3 minutes... stick with UTorrent.
HOWEVER - If you're looking to download a Stiff Little Fingers bootleg, or a Palace EP, or a Billie Holliday record (yes, "record" - ripped from vinyl), or some German Dubstep, or some Norwegian Black Metal or some Appalachian yodeling music, or... whatever other obscure type of situation you might happen to be into, then Soulseek is for you. If you're a musician, it's also a great way to share your recordings with others.
I'm sure you can find that Justin Bieber album, too.
If you really want to do that to yourself, I mean.
Seriously - Soulseek has a slight learning curve and the occasional technological quirk, but these only add to it's charm.
<3 -
"one of the best software ive seen yet , thank you."
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
awsome....
Cons
sometimes you have to wait too long for action.
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"Worth dealing with the occasional quirks."
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
Displays bitrates in search results; only rarely do I not find what I'm looking for.
Cons
Temporary freezes when search returns a lot of results, reported bitrates are occasionally wrong, overall performance somewhat clunky.
Summary
I've been using Soulseek since 2004. Mostly I use it to find and share rare, out-of-print music, and only very rarely have I come up empty-handed from a search. The fact that bitrates are reported during searches and browsing is great, although every once in a while they're not completely accurate. Aside from that, the only problem I've had with the program is that it tends to freeze up if a search returns more than a few hundred results, rendering my machine useless for a minute or two.
I haven't really felt the need to use any other program for sharing since I discovered Soulseek. In the seven years I've been using it I've only had a few problems with other users. There are of course the occasional leechers as well as a few ban-happy users, but that's to be expected with as many people as are using the network. You will need to wait in queues from time to time, and yes, they can be long, but I don't really think it's fair to complain about waiting for free music. As far as speed goes, I've never gotten much more than 150kbps up or down, but for music files I think that's more than adequate. I'm only moderately computer-literate, but I never had any problems setting up or configuring slsk, it's simply a matter of setting up port-forwarding and designating share and download folders.
I consider Soulseek absolutely indispensible, and despite its quirks and somewhat clunky performance, it's the only program of its kind that I bother with. -
"vnicolasc@yahoo.com"
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
This site is good and confidential.
Cons
I didn't see any cons.
Summary
If somebody wants to download music. I recomend this site
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"next to the best of music downloading sites"
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
They have most of the music I am looking for
Cons
not much I don't like.
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"Essential resource for music lovers"
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
Totally clean, spy- and adware free. Clear, easy-to-use interface. The widest selection of music imaginable.
Cons
Not as fast as torrents. The latest version has some bugs and crashes occassionally.
Summary
I have almost never failed to get the song I want with soulseek. For this reason it the ONLY p2p I have used since the original napster and then Kazaa filled us with Adware.
If you're not looking for the latest releases, or the top 500 of all time, and just want to expand your music collection then soulseek is all you'll ever need. On average download speeds are about twice as fast as real time - 2 mins to download a 4 min song. While there may be faster ways to download music I've never found any more reliable. I love the option to browse all the shared files of other users. Its fantastic for stumbling across all those great tunes and bands that sit in the back of your mind. The community is populated by people who clearly love their music - the files are 99.9% meticulously organised.
The UI is beautifully simple. Use the column headings to sort the results to get the fastest connections, the most efficient bitrates and the most complete collections. Use the wishlist to patiently find those rare live performances from any time in the last 50+ years. Search results will turn up performances, versions and remixes you never thought you'd be able to own, or even knew existed. The extent of the results really is outstanding.
You can have 100% confidence in the security - no adware, no spyware, no viruses among the files, or corrupted files. The latest version seems to crash more frequently than previously, but their record with bugs suggests the programmers will sort this out - and remember it is free. There is an option to 'donate' which allows you to jump the queue for files that have a number of people trying to download them, but there is literally always another option with nobody in the queue.
Go carefully through all the setup options initially - paying particular attention to the 'return upload' option which is the cause of the 'forced upload' other reviews have mentioned, and can be annoying. Among the search results you will occasionally find an album with 1 track missing, and no track numbers to confirm it. Let me take this chance to recommend allmusic.com to check track listings and use in combination with soulseek to give you your dream record collection. -
"Good for those who can live with the flaws"
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
No spyware, extremely wide selection of music available, general community feel to it.
Cons
There are design flaws which make it difficult to use. You need to get used to these before you'll get the most out of the program.
Summary
It's a bit like a throwback to the golden age of Napster and filesharing. You don't have to worry about downloading spyware or popups and there is a much wider selection of music to download than is available via any single torrent archive. As stated above, however, it's fairly difficult for new users and it can also be a little bit buggy.
Even though I've used this for several years and can download what I want from it, I still occasionally run into issues. For instance, when there are a queue of downloads and you want to abort/delete them, for some reason you often end up with the files still being downloaded in a new folder called "upload" - as if the user's computer you were attempting to download the files from hasn't been notified that you no longer want the files. Granted maybe I am doing something wrong here, but if you have a program that is genuinely difficult to learn how to use then you can't just throw it back on the user and assume everyone is an idiot. Ease of use is part of a well designed program and Soulseek has a few issues that you can only really get to grips with through trial and error.
With this stated, once you get to grips with it you will find it a very valuable filesharing option. I personally use torrents as a first option, but if (as is often the case) you can't find a torrent for the music you want then you can almost always find it on soulseek. -
"Best MP3 program since the original Napster"
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
I have found a large number of files that i have not been able to find anywhere else. This is NOT a program for tweens, teens and twenty somethings as you will need to be able to understand the lay out and follow instuctions.
Cons
None as of this date.
Summary
If you are looking to get today's top 40 or some other commercial junk they call music these days then this program is probably not for you. I f how ever you are looking to digitalize you old collection, this is by far the easiest way to do it. Most users dont mind sharing what they have as long as you are willing to share yours. Strong communications ability let you "speak" one on one with others or join any number of "chat rooms"
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"Bland and too complex"
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
honestly, I dont think there are any pros to using this program, who designed it? well who ever did, must have been on some potent drugs. Hard to make heads or tales of anything....
Cons
Everything, layout, controls, Searching for anything is utterly useless, you can not tell the program whant you want to search for, such as vids, audio, image...ect. Junk!!!! complete waste of time.
Summary
Bottom-line, DONT WASTE YOUR TIME WITH THIS PROGRAM...Its complete CRAP.
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"Terrible new fix."
Version: Soulseek 157 NS 13e
Pros
I have used soulseek for a number of years and have been very satisfied. That is why I went back to it.
Cons
This latest fix is absolutely terrible. There are constantly run-time errors that freezes the screen and the computer needs to be re-booted.
Summary
Not impressed!
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