Downloading Music Software

by Kim Brenner

I've been using software to download music since before the Napster suit. Back then, Napster was pretty much the only downloading music software, and just logging on to it was like stepping in to a vast trove of treasure. Some people use downloading music software to get the mainstream top 40 junk that they would otherwise buy in stores, but not me. I use software to download music that I would have a hard time finding otherwise – that is if I could find it at all.

I remember, browsing Napster and coming up with, of all things, a recording of the Red Army Choir singing “His Truth is Marching on.” The humor and wit that went into this recording, the way that the idea of “his truth” was implicitly reworked to refer to the revolution which they were participating in, was as captivating as the beautiful music itself. This was in the good old days, before the record industries began a series of draconian lawsuits, ruining people's lives for the crime of sharing a few songs.

It is difficult to take their arguments against downloading music software seriously when their actions are so much worse than those of music pirates. Users of services like Ares, Soulseek, or bittorrent may be getting something for nothing, but any individual user does little or nothing to hurt the record industry. The record industry, because with their powerful lobbyists they practically write the laws, can sue people for tens of thousands of dollars for using downloading music software to get literally a few songs. Even if they are right, and the illegal downloading music software is driving them out of business, it is hard to have much sympathy for an industry which is willing to go to such draconian lengths to protect their investments. Perhaps we would all be better off without them.

Of course, there are alternatives for downloading music software to Ares and Soulseek, and the like. There are dozens of services where, for often fairly reasonable fees, users can download songs from the internet. This is a good idea, and might go part way to establishing an alternative to pirate downloading. These sites are especially good if you are looking for mainstream music, but if you look for music that is a little more obscure, like I do, they really just don't cut it. The choice is to use pirate sites for downloading music software, or spend months trying to get the cds in used record stores, which doesn't benefit the recording industry anyway.

Another type of downloaded music software is the kind used to create original or loop based music. I have a bunch of favorite programs but the tops on my list is Propellerheads Reason. It comes with so many pre-made loops and samples that makes composing original music a blast! Download the demo and immediately start making your own new music!

Downloading Music Software Resources:

Propellerheads Music Software Downloads Page - grab the hottst music software including Propellerheads Reason

FinaleMusic.com - download Finale demo with world-class sounds from Garritan Personal Orchestra®

MP3 Software Players - audio players and configuring your browser to play mp3 files.