This article is actually written for the staff at the college radio station I help run. However, I realize it might have some use on the Internet, so here it is.
iTunes and Windows Media Player are the default media managers on the market. iTunes ships with Apple products and Windows Media Player, well, that’s self-explanatory. In terms of features, iTunes is technically better since its Internet-based synchronization means you can take your digital library with you anywhere you go. Not only that, but iTunes is connected to the iTunes Store, so you can easily purchase music for your digital collection.
The real problem with these, though, is that they are not good options for people who work in the radio industry, or for people who like to be amateur DJs. Neither iTunes nor WMP have compatibility with high-quality files like FLAC and WAV, nor with other lossy standards like Ogg Vorbis.
Let’s take a look at four media managers — media players combined with library managers — that someone in the radio industry should have at least one of. Note that VLC Media Player is not on this list. While it can play just about everything without fuss and should definitely be included in everyone’s arsenal for those just-in-case moments, it has no support for managing libraries.
1. MusicBee (Windows only; freeware)
MusicBee is an up-and-coming media manager with all the bells and whistles: from theming to auto-crossfade, playlist generation to DJ mode, and compatibility with a large assortment of file formats. Seriously, I have not found an audio file that does not play in MusicBee. I think there’s even a plugin for playing video files.
This is the software I use for just about everything audio. It is technically still in development, but any recent snapshot is production-ready. This is the software I recommend most for the computer-DJ.
2. MediaMonkey (Windows, Android, Apple mobile; freemium: paid for various premium services)
This is sort of the cream of the consumer crop for PC users, though it doesn’t appear to work on Apple desktops or laptops, just its mobile devices. This is about as close as you’ll get to professional library software while remaining in the consumer-level market. Seriously, I think MusicMaster (Windows, $295) is the next step up.
I’m seriously considering upgrading myself to MediaMonkey because my music library is beginning to get harder to manage. It’s just too big at this point. MediaMonkey is listed second on this list for the sole fact that it might be too much for the average user. But if you have the patience to learn the ropes, this is the best option on the list.
One nice thing about MediaMonkey is that it syncs across devices, so iTunes users need not worry about that. In fact, Lifehacker says this program is pretty easy for iTunes users to convert to.
3. Winamp (Windows, Mac; free… if you can find it)
Who hasn’t heard of this one? This is the ubiquitous player from before the iTunes takeover. It feels like it comes from the 90s, though the developers have set to work on reworking the software for a modern feel and implementation. The problem, then, is that there is no longer an official release: you’ll have to get the binaries from another source. While this is a minor inconvenience, it opens you up to all the basics you’ll need as a computer-DJ on the radio.
Before MusicBee, I used Winamp. Before that, Zune, and before that, WMP. My requirements for my media manager scaled up with my library and work requirements, along with personal preferences. I have used Winamp on live radio with no problems.
4. Banshee (Windows, Mac, Linux, mobile; open source)
This little guy is perhaps less known, but that’s probably because of its origins as part of the GNOME family of computer programs popular in the Linux and FOSS community. It works on just about every popular device (and some less-popular ones). It will play many file types, and support for even more types can be downloaded and plugged in.
It is a little more barebones than MusicBee, MediaMonkey, or Winamp, and sometimes has stability issues, but a well-cared for install will give you everything you need without the fluff. If your device isn’t compatible with any of the above software, give Banshee a shot.
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