MP3 Downloading

[2002-Z71]

I am having problems finding some new albums.
KaZaaLite works fine for new individual songs, but I can hardly ever find full albums on there.
I've tried the sites like simplemp3s century21 and crazymp3s, but dont like that approach because of the hidden spyware installer.
My bro. says to use eMule; I can find them, but havent ever completed one, cause he says you have to stay in queue for 3-5 days until it starts downloading.
I just dl mIRC, which I've heard is the best way to get full albums, but the downside is the learning curve---It is so hard to use, and I havent figured it out yet. I know the albums are on mIRC about 2 months before they come out, but its hard to become a member of one of the underground piracy channels that have these.

Does anybody have any alternatives?

Here's a sample of what I'm looking for right now, but this list changes all the time: Jay-Z Blueprint 2, Daredevil Soundtrack, Common, Freeway, 12 stones, Fingertight, Nas, Mudvayne, Srong, Saliva, Crazytown, 3rd Strike, and the upcoming Ludacris album Chicken & Beer.

[00Silverado]

I use Kazaa and mIRC :D

[HENRY]

Kazaa Lite really sucks for me!
I only download 256-320kb mp3's and i NEVER find them on Kazaa.

Most of my downloaded music is from WNmix.

[lalito212002]

Originally posted by 00Silverado
I use Kazaa and mIRC :D

What server(s) and channel(s) do you get them from? Do you get them from Fserves? I use dalnet for other stuff like that....;)

[chevy_ownz_u]

OK, Kazaa is good for songs, videos, etc. If u want full albumz, IRC IS THE WAY TO GO!!!

IRC = lots and lots and lots of stuff, some even OC3 dumps (reallllllly fast downloading 400+KBps to like 10 people at the same time)

but anyway, heres a few good places.

irc.homelien.no
irc.criten.net
irc.prison.net
irc.dal.net

theres a few more, but on the servers, just type

/list

and that will bring up a list of channels on that server.

I've used IRC since the beginning and it does take a while to get the hang of.

[HENRY]

Originally posted by chevy_ownz_u
OK, Kazaa is good for songs, videos, etc. If u want full albumz, IRC IS THE WAY TO GO!!!

IRC = lots and lots and lots of stuff, some even OC3 dumps (reallllllly fast downloading 400+KBps to like 10 people at the same time)

but anyway, heres a few good places.

irc.homelien.no
irc.criten.net
irc.prison.net
irc.dal.net

theres a few more, but on the servers, just type

/list

and that will bring up a list of channels on that server.

I've used IRC since the beginning and it does take a while to get the hang of.

I tried once and could get jack ****!

Can someone tell me a good IRC download that will make things easy for me?

Id like to browse and see what i can find. WNmix has worked fine for me, i convert my own CD's anyway since i know exactly how everything is compressed and with which encoder. Most of the mp3's online are crap, but if you dont mind a pop or two you can get some good stuff sometimes.

[Eisenfaust]

youll probably wanna make sure you have norton or mcafee installed and up to date before you start messing with all those sharing programs. They are full of spy-ware and can really harm your comp. Most of those programs...Kazaa,Morphues, Imesh etc have spy-ware built into the executable and so wont run without the spyware but you might wanna check whats on your harddrive. Go to www.Lavasoftusa.com To download ad-aware it will help get rid of any spy ware you have.

[lalito212002]

Originally posted by Eisenfaust
youll probably wanna make sure you have norton or mcafee installed and up to date before you start messing with all those sharing programs. They are full of spy-ware and can really harm your comp. Most of those programs...Kazaa,Morphues, Imesh etc have spy-ware built into the executable and so wont run without the spyware but you might wanna check whats on your harddrive. Go to www.Lavasoftusa.com To download ad-aware it will help get rid of any spy ware you have.

About the spy-ware....When I use ad-aware to clean out my computer, after it scans, you can pick which files to delete. My question is, theres these files called "web3000" and when i erased them, my KaZaa didn't work. It said something like it cant run without those files. So I have to leave that crap on my computer? or is there a way to be able to get rid of it? (without uninstalling kazaa...for all you smarta sses out there :) )

[HENRY]

Just use Kazaa Lite instead.

[2002-Z71]

Yah, Henry, I use to only use WinMX, but then it got so bad and I couldn't ever get out of a queue line, so I switched to KaZaaLite. Well, it looks like I've got to learn how to use mIRC then, thanks guys.

Ohh, and henry, can you actually tell a difference between 192kb/s and bitrates above that? Ive dl some 320 stuff before and couldnt tell any difference besides the amount of space it took up.

[HENRY]

Originally posted by 2002-Z71

Ohh, and henry, can you actually tell a difference between 192kb/s and bitrates above that? Ive dl some 320 stuff before and couldnt tell any difference besides the amount of space it took up.

Yes, but it depends on your equiptment (or components).

192 is getting pretty good and may be perfect for most people. It really is close to perfect.

I wouldnt go any lower than that, even down a bit to 128kb's is a big leap down the quality ladder.

I can easily tell the difference on my home theatre, and probably moreso on better systems.

I can tell the difference in my truck, but not every time(with my conversions). I can tell the difference with many of the junk thats floating around on Kazaa, or WNmix, etc. that can have artifacts.

Most of my conversions are done at 256 or 320, just depends on the type of music. Really no difference, just a psychological thing for me.

According to many of the MP3 sites that have done comparisons, its nearly impossible to tell the difference between 256 bitrate mp3's* and full bitrate CD's.

Read This:
http://users.belgacom.net/gc247244/quality.htm

* I added the asterisk cuz it depends on the quality of compression. Everything i do is with EAC and the latest LAME encoder. I cut the high frequencies off at 19.5, since there really is no use grabbing anything higher than that anyway. Using Lame really has no cut off so i do this to shave a bit and save space.

On a side note, if your using encoders that came with AudioActive, Nero, MusicMatch, etc. you may be cuttin off your highs at 16.5 and not getting the quality frequencies you could.
However, sometimes its good to have that cut off as it helps to reduce artifacts in the upper frequencies, but you still lose dynamic range.

Use Cool Edit to analyze your music and see if there is a cut off. Cool Edit (http://downloads-zdnet.com.com/3120-20-0.html?qt=cool+edit&tg=dl-2001) (or get it from Kazaa :))is GREAT for analyzing your music to see how it was encoded (for the geeks that are serisous about mp3 burning).


EAC allows me a perfect digital copy (albeit in mp3 format), of the original file.

Sure youll only have 50 or 60 songs on your disc instead of 150 for less bitrate, but its well worth it.

If you arent critical or dont have decent equiptment (speakers, amp, etc) then it really doesnt matter. Youll never hear the difference, especially over some computer speakers :)

PS- I use constant bitrate, not VBR. You can shave off a bit and save space using VBR and there is probably little to no difference going that route.

[2002-Z71]

Allright, thanks Henry, very informative. I actually had been dl some 128 stuff of KaZaaLite, but very little. I could notice a big difference between 128 and 192 so I have deleted most of the 128.
What type of music do you listen to Henry?
Do you have aftermarket speaks in your truck?

[Shift]

mIRC (www.mirc.com)

download the base version, not any of those gay scripts, those are nothing but trouble unless your into IRC Wars or just want to be an all around idiot. :D

[HENRY]

Originally posted by 2002-Z71
Allright, thanks Henry, very informative. I actually had been dl some 128 stuff of KaZaaLite, but very little. I could notice a big difference between 128 and 192 so I have deleted most of the 128.
What type of music do you listen to Henry?
Do you have aftermarket speaks in your truck?

Most kinds except tejano stuff. I even like SOME country, but i dont really listen to any in my truck.

Mostly Rock, Metal, Rap, HipHop, Jazz, House, Trance, Gothic, 80's stuff, Alternative, Christian.


Yeah i got some Infinity Kappas and Fosgate amp so far.
Saving some cash for a couple subs.

[2002-Z71]

Well, I'm trying out mIRC, but haven't got that far.
I have found what appears to be a good server:
irc.alphanine.net
I joined channel #albums, but I dont know how to get a file list or download files from people.

Does anybody know how to use IRC?

[lalito212002]

Originally posted by Shift
mIRC (www.mirc.com)

download the base version, not any of those gay scripts, those are nothing but trouble unless your into IRC Wars or just want to be an all around idiot. :D

not all the scripts are gay (but most are)...yea IRC wars are for losers, but there are some out there that setup everything you need so you dont have to pay to go to the movies anymore or buy CDs, once you establish yourself in a chan of course. You just gotta talk to the right ppl in the right chans...