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journal: win
Why I Hate Musicmatch
Jukebox may be better than Windows Media Player, but for $60, I'd rather listen to the scratchy, echoing output of iTunes.
I’ve been through several music players over the years. I used Windows Media Player until version 7 automatically changed the track tags of my entire MP3 collection. I had to re-rip over 1600 songs. I tried iTunes, but it doesn’t work well on my computer. I can use it to convert MIDI’s to MP3’s, but the playback of sound files sounds just awful. So I used Musicmatch Jukebox for a while. It’s an OK piece of software. Jukebox is easy to use and it simplifies several audio-related tasks. However it is also slow and crashes so often I’d swear it’s beta software.
Still the most annoying thing about Jukebox is the installer. When you pay for MM Jukebox Plus, you’re given a registration key and an installer. The installer downloads Jukebox from the internet and then installs it to your hard drive. You then have to enter your key to unlock the Plus features.
Here’s the sole reason I hate MusicMatch: You can’t re-download the version you paid for after a new version has been released and your key wont work for the new version. So if you paid $20 for Jukebox Plus you have to pay an additional $20 for a new key if ever you reinstall Windows or for some other reason need to reinstall Jukebox. Even if you use the same installer, it will just download the latest version. If you want to be covered for all future versions of Musicmatch Jukebox it’ll cost you $60.
Jukebox may be better than Windows Media Player, but for $60, I’d rather listen to the scratchy, echoing output of iTunes.
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13 | 1969 |
| Ned | comments | views |
thinkback
you’re the only a’hole i’ve ever heard of who has complained about the sound quality of itunes. the “scratchy echoing output” problem is likely the fault of your piece of crap soundcard in your windows box. advice: get a mac.
iTunes sounds great. It is not at all scratchy or echoey. That is a hardware problem on your computer.
sound quality of iTunes? What on earth are you going on about??? It’s only a piece of software. It’s not performing any DA conversions, DSP or actually processing the audio. Your soundcard deals with that stuff. No doubt you have some kind of driver error, installation problem or conflict you need to resolve. buying a mac would be going a little too far, but it shouldn’t be difficult to sort out your installation issues on your PC. Give it another go - as far as I’ve found it;s by far the best software available!
Preemptive warning: let’s not turn this into a Holy War. Many thanks.
-Nick
DT staff
| Nick | Jul. 08, 2005 | |
| 9:01 pm |
Holy war? What holy war? Everyone is just pointing out that it’s “you” not iTunes.
Check your Preferences under Audio. Turn OFF “Sound Enhancer” if it’s on and see if that helps, at least with the “echo” effect. For the scratchiness, try turning down the volume of iTunes and boosting the volume of your sound card instead.
“Holy war? What holy war? Everyone is just pointing out that it’s “youâ€? not iTunes.”
Fred,
Two things:
1) Just a preemptive warning. I’ve seen things like this get out of hand elsewhere. I don’t want to see it happen here. That’s all. 
2) I didn’t write the article. I write for the Mac side of DT. I know what you mean, though.
| Nick | Jul. 10, 2005 | |
| 12:40 am |
i just spent 4 years getting my CS degree (CCNP, A+, Security+, etc.) First thing I did after graduation and passing my certs.... took a hammer to my dell x200, bought a powerbook and VPC for emergency and must have work apps. I WILL NEVER OWN A WINBOX OR PAY FOR ANOTHER MS PRODUCT AS LONG AS I LIVE. No war here just a plain fact! I find it to be very liberating.
Don’t get me wrong, guys. I agree with what you’re saying (as I’ve never found any problems with iTunes’ output), but I don’t like it when I see “a-hole” tossed around here.
Anyway, back on topic.
| Nick | Jul. 10, 2005 | |
| 8:06 pm |
Hmm… Let’s see here:
People with ax to grind: everyone but Nick
People with rational thoughts: Nick
People who don’t affix their testicles to Apple and act like someone kicked them there every time anything related to Apple is disliked by someone : anonymous
Come on people, you like Apple, great. Now STFU and let others to their opinions. I like Apple too, but I’m not caught in the RDF to the point where I’ll go nuts on someone for not liking iTunes.
Ridiculous. Be ashamed of yourselves, then grow and learn.
Ok, I feel I need to clarify on this. I don’t hate iTunes. My point was that I would rather use a program that doesn’t work right on my computer than be ripped off by Musicmatch, a company that I believe has no respect for its customers.
Why doesn’t iTunes work right? I don’t know. It could have something to do with the fact that my sound card was free. I don’t have problems with Quicktime, although I did on my last computer. Probably had something to do with the crappy video card I had.
The only reason I mentioned iTunes was to explain why I’m not using it. I’m sure it’s a great product and I would probably be using it if it worked on my PC.
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| Jul. 23, 2005 | |
| Ned | 12:18 am |
1.
I’ve ripped about 4,000 Cd’s with iTunes and they all sound pretty good - sometimes even I’m startled by the stereo seperation you get with a nicely ripped mp3 - are you checking VBR and going with a higher setting than 128? 128 is okay for stuff like the Ramones but VBR 192 to BVR 224 is the minimal you shoudl set depending on storage and with a 200 GB selling for $50 AR - why not rip at 256 or even 320?
Look through all your pref settings and maybe your speaker connection - it all sounds good on this end.