Frequently Asked Questions
Discover the answers to all your questions on File Sharing download sites.
What is MP3?
MP3 is a compressed music file and stands for MPEG-1 layer 3, that means Motion Pictures Expert Group 1 Layer 3. MP3 is a encoded wave file, it has sound quality nearly the same as audio CDs, but the size of the file is much smaller than the CD format. The size of a MP3 file comparing to a wave file is about 1:10, but the sound quality is around 95% of the wave file.
Are MP3s legal?
It is legal when the song's copyright holder has granted permission to download and play the song. It is legal to encode MP3s for personal use, however it is illegal to distribute or trade MP3s without permission from the song's copyright holder. As some of these sites , relate to Peer to Peer networks you will find both Copyrighted and non-copyrighted songs and other files. It is imperative that you share responsibly. Copyright law protects original works of authorship, including literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, and certain other intellectual compositions. Persons who reproduce, distribute, or publicly perform or display works without a copyright owner's consent, may be in violation of the law. You are responsible for your conduct and for ensuring that it complies with all applicable copyrights or other intellectual property rights and data-protection and privacy rights.
If you are still confused or concerned and want to stay 100% out of trouble, I suggest that you try the 7 day trial of Napster or eMusic 25 free downloads.
You can make sure that you stay legal when you use any of the p2p related sites by following the steps outlined by the EFF by clicking here.
How do I play MP3 files?
First thing you need is a computer, sound card and speakers. Then you must get a piece of software called an MP3 player, WinAMP ( download here) is a good FREE player, but there are many other MP3 players out there, you should try them out and find one for yourself. Open your mp3 file and it works as a CD-Player. Most of the sites include free MP3 Software. You can of course do what most people do an that is to burn it onto a CD and play it on your home ctereo or Car CD Player..
Why join a pay site when I can use a free service?
Nothing is really for free, many free file sharing programs contains adware and spyware that will slow down your computer, take over your browser and bombard you with advertising and you will get limited technical and customer support. You get what you pay for and if its free...... You can read more HERE.
There are 2 types of music related sites listed and reviewed on this site. The first group focus on supplying you a selection of P2P music download programs ranging from WinMx to Sharazaa and others containing no adware or spyware ( or include programs to stop the adware or spyware) and provide great technical support and help in using these programs. If you don't care about these things you can go directly to kazaa or Morpheus and download their free software but your own your own. But the small price these sites charge are well worth it! But just remember, that much of what you will find.... on these networks, which will be thousands of songs and movies, may be illegal for you to download depending upon the copyrights and country you are in. Using P2P is legal but you should not use it to break the law.
The other type of sites listed are eMusic, Napster and mTraks which do not use P2P technology and you pay per download. Every thing you will find on their network is 100% legal!
Return to Home Page - Free Music to Download