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 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.
Transferring your digital audio file(s) to portable players may be different depending on which player you own. Here are some basic guidelines on how to transfer files from a Windows-based PC or a Mac to an MP3 player, or an iPod.
If you have downloaded your music from PlayDigital using a ZIP file, you may need to extract the tracks first before you use your music in iTunes, Windows Media Player or other music software.
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.
For more information on using your music with iTunes or Windows Media Player, please click here.
ZIP files are compressed files or folders which save disk 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.
Help with Apple iTunes and iPods
To enable a file transfer from PC or Mac to an Apple iPod, you must first install the iTunes software. New iPods come ready with the latest version of iTunes, which is compatible with both Windows and OSX on Mac. Older iPods come with an iTunes CD for you to install on your operating system.
To add PlayDigital music to iTunes
- Open iTunes.
- Click on File from the menu at the top left.
- To add a single track click “Add File to Library” and use the browsing function to find your selected track and click ‘Ok’. To add a folder of tracks click “Add Folder to Library” and use the browsing function to find your selected folder and click ‘Ok’. We recommend you store your PlayDigital music in the same folder each time to make it easier to find. You may choose to create a folder named “PlayDigital” on your computer for this purpose.
Transferring music to your iPod
- Plug in your iPod via the USB connection and iTunes should automatically open. If it does not, either click the iTunes icon on your desktop or taskbar, or start iTunes from your programs menu within the start menu.
- If iTunes is set to automatically update your iPod, all the files contained within iTunes should now begin to be transferred to your device.
- If iTunes is not set to automatically update your iPod, you can transfer files manually by dragging the audio file from your iTunes library and dropping it on the iPod icon within the iTunes device list.
For any more information regarding the use of an iPod or iTunes, please refer to:
http://www.apple.com/itunes/
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- Open Windows Media Player.
- Windows Media Player may be set to automatically look for music on your computer. To check if your PlayDigital music is already there, go to your Windows Media Library by clicking on ‘Library’ in the navigation pane. Look for your recently downloaded tracks.
- If you cannot find your music in Windows Media Player, select ‘Add to Library’ from the Library menu at the top. From there, select ‘Add’ and use the browsing function to find the folder you downloaded your PlayDigital music to.
- Windows Media Player should find your music and add it to its Library.
Transferring music to your portable music device using Windows Media Player
First ensure that your device is switched on, and connected to your PC via either USB, Firewire, Bluetooth or Wi-Fi. If your device does sync with Windows Media Player you should get a message asking you if you want to sync your device using the Media Player, in which case you click to verify this.
You can either configure Media Player to automatically sync your music files with your device, or set it so that you have to manually update it. If set to automatic, the Media Player will try to transfer all the music files on your computer to your device. If you do not have enough free space for this to happen, it will transfer as many tracks as your player will hold.
If the Media Player is set to manually update, it will not start to sync when you connect your device. You can then add or remove any files you wish, at any time your device is connected.When you have your device connected to your computer, it will appear in the Navigation pane on the Windows Media Player.
For more detailed information about the sync options available for Windows Media Player, please visit Microsoft’s How-to Centre using the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/player/windowsvista/using.aspx
Windows Media Player can be downloaded free of charge using the following link:
http://www.microsoft.com/windows/windowsmedia/download/AllDownloads.aspx?displang=en&;qstechnology
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Help with other MP3 players and mobile phones
Each portable music player has its own method of file transfer and often comes bundled with its own proprietary software. Some players allow the simple transfer of music via your operating systems own file explorer. To do this in Windows follow these simple steps:
- Plug your portable music device in to your PC via USB or Firewire.
- Click the start button and navigate to ‘My Computer’ where your device should show up as a removable device.
- Open this device by double clicking and locate the relevant folder for storing music files (please refer to your device manufacturer’s documentation for folder names and information).
- Locate the files you wish to transfer to your device, then simply drag them into this folder.
- Once this is complete, safely disconnect your device from your computer and you are ready to go.
To do this in Mac OSX, follow these simple steps:
- Plug your portable music device in to your PC via USB or Firewire.
- Your device should automatically show up on the desktop. If not, open the finder window where your device will be listed in the left of the window.
- Open this device by double clicking and locate the relevant folder for storing music files (please refer to your device manufacturer’s documentation for folder names and information).
- Locate on your hard drive the files you wish to transfer to your device, then simply drag them into this folder.
- Once this is complete, safely disconnect your device from your computer by ejecting it and you are ready to go.
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. You may need to install software that came with the phone, so we recommend that you read your phone manufacturer’s documentation thoroughly before attempting to transfer files from your computer.
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