PlayDigital is a new service from Play.com offering music downloads. All of our tracks and albums are available in the MP3 format, enabling you to use PlayDigital music with any MP3 player, including iPods. For help or information regarding this service, or what you can do with your downloads, please choose from the menu below.
What file format are the PlayDigital music downloads in?
All of the downloads available at PlayDigital are in the MP3 file format. This is the most common format for digital audio, so that the widest possible range of computer media players and portable music players will be compatible with the music you download from us.
How good is the quality of the music from PlayDigital?
All the music files at PlayDigital are either recorded at 192Kbit/s or 320Kbit/s. The 192Kbit/s tracks deliver sound quality which is virtually indistinguishable from CD quality. The 320Kbit/s tracks offer extremely high quality sound files.
How long will it take to download?
The download time will vary depending on the size of the file and the speed of the Internet connection being used. An MP3 track of 5MB would take approximately 30 seconds to download on a standard broadband connection.
Is downloading music legal?
All downloads available at PlayDigital are fully licensed by the copyright holders making downloading from us 100% legal.
^ Top
Buying music downloads from Play com
How do I buy a PlayDigital item?
All the downloads available at PlayDigital are purchased in exactly the same way as any other item from Play.com. Simply follow these steps:
- Search for the track or album you wish to find or browse using the genres or top seller lists.
- When you find what you want, click the ‘Buy’ button to add the item(s) to your basket.
- Once you have finished shopping, click ‘Checkout’ and complete the checkout procedure.
- After you have completed the checkout procedure, you will be directed to a new page to download your item(s), unless you have ordered pre-order items, in which case you will be notified on the release date via email when they are available for download.
Can I sample the downloads?
Yes. On the product pages for tracks and albums, where samples are available you will see a player underneath the product image. By clicking the play button on a track page, you can listen to a sample for a track. By clicking the ‘play’ button on an album page you can sample the entire album. Alternatively, on an album page you can use the play buttons alongside each of the track names to sample specific tracks.
Please note that the sample player uses Flash technology and you will need version 9 or newer. If you do not have Flash installed, you may be prompted to install it. If you have Flash installed and still cannot see the player, it may be because your browser security settings are too high to allow Flash to function. Please check the Help section of your browser for more information and for instructions on how to enable Flash.
What payment methods do you accept?
You can purchase PlayDigital items using the same payment methods available across Play.com. The cards we accept are Delta, Mastercard, Solo, Maestro, Visa and Visa Electron. You may also pay for your items with PlayFunds or Gift Vouchers.
I live outside the UK, can I buy from PlayDigital?
At present, we are only able to offer PlayDigital music for purchase to customers with a UK billing address.
My account has been declined
Contact us for help with declined card and accounts.
Can I cancel my order?
You may cancel a pre-ordered PlayDigital item before its release date. You will find a ‘Cancel’ button next to qualifying orders when you log in to your account and go to the 'My Downloads' section. On and after release date cancellations are not possible as the item will have been made available to download.
Do I own a track or album, once I have downloaded it?
Yes. Once a file is downloaded from PlayDigital, it is yours to keep. The difference with a PlayDigital file and a CD, is that if you lose the music or accidentally delete it from your hard drive or MP3 player, you can simply log back on to Play.com and re-download the file from the ‘My Downloads’ section of your account.
How do I find my PlayDigital purchases?
The PlayDigital area of your account will be displayed after you place your first order for a PlayDigital item and will be located on the left hand side menu of your account when you log in. This area of your account will display the purchase history of your music downloads. Within the PlayDigital account area you can:
- Review past purchases of music downloads
- Review your download history (including a display of items you have purchased but not yet downloaded)
- Re-download tracks and albums
Why can’t I find the song I want?
PlayDigital offers a huge library of millions of tracks for you to download. However, not every artist or publisher has released their music in digital or DRM-free format yet, which means that we are not able to make these titles available to you currently. We are adding new music every day though, so check back regularly for new additions.
What does “Explicit” mean next to the title of the track?
Any track with this warning means that the track will contain strong language or references to acts of violence, sex or drug abuse. These warnings are given to us by the record labels or suppliers, and will always be displayed at PlayDigital if we are provided with this information.
Can I leave the checkout while my music is downloading?
Yes, providing the download has been initiated it will continue when the browser is closed.
^ Top
Can I purchase pre-orders from PlayDigital?
Yes. If we have been provided with track or album information ahead of a release date we will make pre-orders available for purchase.
What is the process for buying and downloading pre-orders?
Pre-orders are purchased like any other item at Play.com by adding the item to your basket and proceeding through the checkout process. You will receive an order confirmation email as usual. The item(s) will be made available to download on the specified release date, on which you will then be sent an email notifying you that your item is ready to download from your Play.com account. You will not be charged for the item until its release date.
^ Top
Managing your downloads
How do I download?
Downloading after checkout
- If your item(s) is available for download, once you have finished the checkout procedure you may click the ‘Download now’ button to proceed to download your item(s).
- You will see a holding page for a few seconds while your order is prepared and then you will automatically be taken to a page where you can download your item(s).
- Click on the download button(s) and choose a file location on your computer to save the track(s) to. We recommend that you create a ‘PlayDigital’ folder to make it easier to remember where all your PlayDigital music is saved to.
Downloading a pre-order item when released
On the release date of the track/album you will receive an email from us informing you that the item is available for download. Follow the link in the email (or directly log into your account and go to the ‘Ready for Download’ section) where you will see your item(s).
- Tick the box(es) in the ‘Download’ column next to your item(s) and click ‘Continue’.
- You will see a holding page for a few seconds while your order is prepared and then you will automatically be taken to a page where you can download your item(s).
- Click on the download button(s) and choose a file location on your computer to save the music to. We recommend that you create a ‘PlayDigital’ folder to make it easier to remember where all your PlayDigital music is saved to.
Re-downloading
- If you wish to re-download an item, log in to your account and go to the ‘My Downloads’ page where you will see all your PlayDigital orders.
- Tick the box(es) in the ‘Download’ column next to the item(s) you wish to re-download and click ‘Continue’. Please note tick boxes will only appear next to items that are available for re-download.
- You will see a holding page for a few seconds while your order is prepared and then you will automatically be taken to a page where you can download your item(s).
- Click on the download button(s) and choose a file location on your computer to save the track(s) to. We recommend that you create a ‘PlayDigital’ folder to make it easier to remember where all your PlayDigital music is saved to.
- PLEASE NOTE YOU CAN ONLY RE-DOWNLOAD A LIMITED NUMBER OF TIMES.
How do I use ZIP files?
Open the ZIP file and click ‘Extract all files’, which will launch the ‘Compressed (Zipped) Folders Extraction Wizard’. Click ‘Next’ then select the location you would like to extract/save the music to. We recommend that you create a ‘PlayDigital’ folder to make it easier to remember where all your PlayDigital music is saved to. Click ‘Next’ and the extraction will take place. Click ‘Finish’ and the files can then be played directly with your choice of music player.
Find out more about using your music with iTunes or Windows Media Player.
ZIP files are compressed files or folders which save disc space and reduce download time. ZIP files need to be unzipped/have their files extracted in order to use their content. Please refer to your ZIP application Help area for more details.
What can I do with my downloads?
Once you have finished downloading a track or album from PlayDigital to your computer, it is yours to listen to and enjoy at home or on the move. These files can be played directly from your computer through many different players. If you are using a Windows-based PC you are likely to have Windows Media Player installed already, which comes free with Microsoft Windows. If you do not have Windows Media Player installed on your PC, or you need to update it to a newer version, you can download it free of charge using the following link: http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/default.aspx
If you would like to download Apple’s iTunes for your Windows-based PC or your Mac this can be downloaded free of charge using the following link: http://www.apple.com/downloads/
If you do not wish to use Windows Media Player or iTunes, there are many more types of music-playing software that can be installed, but please check that they do not convert the digital files into another format that may not be compatible with your portable music device.
Using a computer equipped with a CD-Recorder you are also able to record or ‘burn’ these MP3 files to a CD using either Windows Media Player, or another type of CD-burning software, to enable you to play your music on any CD player.
Another option you have is to transfer the files to a portable music player such as an iPod, a mobile phone, or any other MP3 player to enable you to listen to and enjoy your downloaded music while you are on the go.
Will I receive the album artwork?
In most cases, you will receive the album artwork if you choose to download your music via the ‘Download all’ option. This option will download a ZIP file to your computer containing the music files along with any artwork we have available.
How do I get the album artwork into my music player?
This can vary by player so please refer to its Help section. However, here are simple guidelines for importing artwork into iTunes and Windows Media Player. Generally iTunes will be able to automatically locate artwork if you right click on single or multiple tracks and select ‘Get Album Artwork’. If you are unable to retrieve the artwork this way, right click on a track and select ‘Get info’. Navigate to the ‘Artwork’ tab and select ‘Add’ to browse to where the artwork is located, then click ‘Open’. To add artwork for multiple items, right click on the tracks and select ‘Get info’. Double-click on the image outline in the artwork section and browse to where the artwork is located, then click ‘Open’. For more information please refer to the Help section in iTunes.
To add artwork to music in Windows Media Player, right click on single or multiple tracks and select ‘Advanced Tag Editor’. Navigate to the ‘Pictures’ tab and select ‘Add’ to browse to where the artwork is located, then click ‘Open’. For more information please refer to the Help section in Windows Media Player.
Can I share my downloads with my friends?
All downloads available at PlayDigital are copyrighted. This means that the distribution or sharing of these files is prohibited. You can however transfer, copy or burn these files to CD for your own personal use.
^ Top
What portable music players are compatible with PlayDigital Downloads?
As all files downloaded from PlayDigital are in the MP3 format, you can use the music with any MP3 player you choose. These players include iPods, MP3 players and many models of mobile phones. In the case of mobile phones, it is important that you ensure that your phone does support the MP3 file format, or that it has its own proprietary software which will convert the file for transfer to your phone. We recommend that you read your player or phone manufacturer’s documentation thoroughly before attempting to transfer files from your computer to your phone. For help regarding the use of some of these portable music players please click one of the following links:
^ Top
Re-downloading
Can I re-download my purchases?
For each track or album purchased through PlayDigital, there is a set limit to the number of times you can re-download the file. This may vary by title as the record label sets the re-download limit. If you were to lose a file or it becomes corrupt for any reason, you will need to log on to your account and go to the ‘My Downloads’ section where you will find all your purchase history from PlayDigital. You then need to simply select the item(s) you wish to recover, and follow the download instructions to retrieve a copy. You will be notified when your re-download limit has been reached.
^ Top
Troubleshooting
How do I locate the music once I have downloaded it?
When you click to begin your download, your computer will prompt you to choose a location on your computer hard drive where you want the file to be saved to. On a Windows-based PC this would typically be in the ‘My Music’ folder, which can be located under the Start Menu, or in Windows XP can be found in the ‘My Documents’ folder on your desktop. If this is not where you want your music to be saved to, you have the option to select any location of your choosing, and to create a new folder. We recommend that you create a ‘PlayDigital’ folder in a location of your choice to make it easier to remember where all your PlayDigital music is saved to.
If you want to use Windows Media Player to play your music, this will automatically search your entire computer for any music files, and they will appear in your Media Player library.
If you cannot find the file at all, you can use your computer’s search facility. On a Windows-based PC, for example, you can find this by clicking START then SEARCH followed by FOR FILES AND FOLDERS then enter the name of the track into the search box and your operating system will search your hard drive. When it finds the file it will display which folder it is located in.
Why can’t I view the music player?
Flash version 9 needs to be installed on your PC in order to use the player for sampling tracks. You may download Flash from http://www.adobe.com/shockwave/download/download.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash. Please note that high browser security settings or administrator privileges can prevent the player from being displayed – for more details on this please refer to the Help area on your browser. Please also note that samples may not be available for some items.
Do I have to be connected to the Internet to play my music?
No. Once the file(s) have completed downloading there is no longer any direct need to be connected to the Internet for the use of the file.
My downloads have failed, what can I do?
If a download is not 100% completed for any reason, you can re-start the process at any time. To do this log in to your account, then click to view your PlayDigital ‘My Downloads’ page. From here you will see a record of your purchases with an option to select items for download using the ‘Download’ column.
I can see an ‘Error’ message instead of a link to my download
Occasionally system maintenance may need to be carried out which may restrict access to downloads. Please use your ‘My Downloads’ page in the PlayDigital section of your account to download your item(s) when the system is available again.
There is a problem with the file I have downloaded
If you experience any technical faults with the file you have downloaded, please contact Customer Service on 0845 800 1020 with your Order ID and the item information. Your Order ID can be found on the ‘My Downloads’ page of your account.
There is a problem with the file I have downloaded and the file has a long name
There is a known limit in Windows on the number of combined characters of the file name and the path to where the file is saved to. The limit is 255 characters. As a first step, if you are not able to play your music, you may try saving it to another location on your computer with a shorter path, eg. your Desktop. Once you have saved the file and it plays correctly, you may choose to rename it to a shorter name so you can save it to another location. If you are still experiencing technical problems with the file, please contact Customer Service on 0845 800 1020 with your Order ID and the item information. Your Order ID can be found on the ‘My Downloads’ page of your account.
The link to my download is broken
Broken links are automatically reported to us and we will endeavour to fix them within 48 hours. Please use the My Downloads page to download the file when it is available again. If you experience any further problems please contact Customer Service on 0845 800 1020 who will be able to assist you further.
What if I lose or delete my music from my computer?
For each track or album purchased through PlayDigital, there is a set limit to the number of times you can re-download the file. This may vary by title as the record label sets the re-download limit. If you delete or lose a file, you will need to log on to your account and go to the ‘My Downloads’ section where you will find all your purchase history from PlayDigital. You then need to simply select the item(s) you wish to recover, and follow the download instructions to retrieve a copy. You will be notified when your re-download limit has been reached.
^ Top
Jargon Buster
MP3
MP3 files are music or sound files that are digitally recorded and compressed and can be saved on your computer’s hard disk to be played back. The files available from PlayDigital are all in the MP3 file format, and can be played back via Windows Media Player, iTunes or a large selection of different third party music-playing software. They can also be copied to CD or a portable music player, such as an iPod or any other MP3 player.
ZIP files
ZIP files are compressed files or folders which can also be used for packaging files together, such as several music tracks. Once downloaded, a ZIP file needs to have its content extracted for it to be used. Please refer to the ‘Managing your downloads’ section for a guide on how to use ZIP files or check your ZIP application Help area for more details.
Ripping
The term ‘ripping’, as applied to digital music, means copying the content of a CD and storing it on the hard drive of your computer.
Burning
Burning is the process of recording digital data such as digital audio to CD or DVD. You are able to ‘burn’ your PlayDigital downloads to CD so that you can play them on any CD player.
Encoding Rate (Quality)
The encoding rate relates to the level of quality of the audio downloads. The higher the encoding rate the better quality your track will be. The encoding rates generally fall between about 64Kbits/s to 320Kbits/s and are decided by the record labels issuing the tracks for release. PlayDigital offers tracks at either 192Kbit/s or 320Kbit/s encoding rate, giving all our downloads a very high quality sound. 192Kbit/s recordings offer a quality which is virtually indistinguishable from CD quality. The 320Kbit/s tracks offer extremely high quality MP3 sound files.
Portable or Personal Music Player
These are devices which allow you to listen to digital audio files while on the move. These players, often known as ‘MP3 players’, offer you the ability to store digital music files (transferred via USB cable from your computer), so that you can have your music collection contained on one portable device. Play.com offers a wide selection of portable music players.
Codec
The term ‘codec’ relates to the way that digital media files are written and read by a computer or a portable music player. The actual definition of codec is ‘code, decode’. All music-playing software, such as Windows Media Player, need codecs installed to enable the playback of any digital media file. Because downloaded music or video files come in many different file types, it is often necessary to download and install extra codecs to enable your player to play the file. The files available from PlayDigital are all in the MP3 file format. This means that virtually all music-playing software will play these files without the need to download or install any extra codecs.
DRM
DRM stands for Digital Rights Management. This is a method of restricting the type of computer or the number of players a music file can be transferred to. PlayDigital’s music does not use DRM technology and will work on whichever and however many MP3 players you own. You can also transfer or burn these files to a CD for your own personal use. However, all downloads available at PlayDigital are copyrighted. This means that the distribution or sharing of these files is a criminal offence.
^ Top