probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

Hi all.
Now, I know some of you will fall about laughing at this question, but here
goes . . .

I just bought one of these little MP3 players, but on getting home and
looking at the enclosed instructions, and then doing a search on the web,
I'm still not clear on how to get tracks onto it in MP3 format - unless I
have to re-record everything in that format first.
It has a USB and line-in, so I'm assuming the line-in allows linking to
non-MP3 sources. But of course, there's nothing in the little instruction
booklet.
My web search - I gave up after the first 150 links, which all seemed to be
selling conversion programmes.

So could someone please provide a link that takes an idiot by the hand and
explains things?

the item in question is an "mpman MP-FOL8", 256MB capacity

I really bought it to use as an aid to practicing my Thai pronunciation, and
to use on my next visit to teach over there, but it would be nice to have
some tracks on it in the meantime.

Thanks,

_______
Geoff B

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

New Geoff wrote:

I just bought one of these little MP3 players, but on getting home and
looking at the enclosed instructions, and then doing a search on the
web, I'm still not clear on how to get tracks onto it in MP3 format -
unless I have to re-record everything in that format first.
It has a USB and line-in, so I'm assuming the line-in allows linking
to non-MP3 sources. But of course, there's nothing in the little
instruction booklet.
My web search - I gave up after the first 150 links, which all
seemed to be selling conversion programmes.

I suspect the USB connection makes it appear as a drive in Windows; if so
then simply copy MP3 files across onto it using Windows Explorer. It almost
certainly won't handle formats other than MP3

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

New Geoff pibbled:
Hi all.
Now, I know some of you will fall about laughing at this question, but
here goes . . .


It is not a digital cassette recorder. You have to get the music on a pc
somehow and then upload it into the player. I would have thought that the
software supplied might have been capable of this. The line-in is for voice
recording a lá dictaphone. Your machine seems to have been superceded by
the FOL-10 btw. Tomorrow, the FOL-12 will probably be announced.

Anyhow, one of the simpler ways of getting music into the thing might be
Musicmatch (www.musicmatch.com ) which hap a very capable MP3 encoder and is
quite 'user-friendly', although the full version requires a small payment.
I've lost faith with it now because it hasn't really been developed for
years and is more focussed on making money out of you than it was.


--
Despite appearances, it is still legal to put sugar on cornflakes.
Strawberries are purely optional.

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

"Triffid" pointed out...

It is not a digital cassette recorder.

Yep - I know that . . . having gone out for a minidisc initially I bought
this thing . . .

You have to get the music on a pc
somehow and then upload it into the player.

I was hoping I could coy across the albums I already have - but they aren't
MP3 . . .

I would have thought that the software supplied might have been capable of
this.

Just drivers on there - Me & XP don't take anything off the disc.

The line-in is for voice recording a lá dictaphone.

Um - no, that's the built-in mic. Works quite well ( I used it during my
class last night)

Your machine seems to have been superceded by
the FOL-10 btw. Tomorrow, the FOL-12 will probably be announced.

Now, that would not surprise me in the least!


Anyhow, one of the simpler ways of getting music into the thing might be
Musicmatch (www.musicmatch.com ) which hap a very capable MP3 encoder and
is
quite 'user-friendly', although the full version requires a small payment.
I've lost faith with it now because it hasn't really been developed for
years and is more focussed on making money out of you than it was.

Ta - I have visited & downloaded. I'll browse & try to figure it all out.

Cheers!

_______
Geoff B

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

New Geoff wrote:
"Triffid" pointed out...

It is not a digital cassette recorder.

Yep - I know that . . . having gone out for a minidisc initially I
bought this thing . . .

You have to get the music on a pc
somehow and then upload it into the player.

I was hoping I could coy across the albums I already have - but they
aren't MP3 . . .

What format are they in? If you mean real CD's then you'll need to 'rip'
them to MP3 using something like Music Match or iTunes


I would have thought that the software supplied might have been
capable of this.

Just drivers on there - Me & XP don't take anything off the disc.

Many USB gadgets 'self install' on XP. Just plug it in and see what happens!



Anyhow, one of the simpler ways of getting music into the thing
might be Musicmatch (www.musicmatch.com ) which hap a very capable
MP3 encoder and is quite 'user-friendly', although the full version
requires a small payment. I've lost faith with it now because it
hasn't really been developed for years and is more focussed on
making money out of you than it was.

Ta - I have visited & downloaded. I'll browse & try to figure it all
out.

iTunes does the same job, and it's free (and much more elegantly designed)

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

Dang!

Took ages to download, andnow it won't open - keep getting an error message
sob!

Oh well . . . I'm sure I'll get there eventually.

_______
Geoff B

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

"Stimpy" suggested...

Many USB gadgets 'self install' on XP. Just plug it in and see what
happens!

Oh, the device is recognised alright - but there's no hint of how to convert
tracks


iTunes does the same job, and it's free (and much more elegantly designed)


I might give that a go - on hitting the icon, MusicMatch tries to access the
internet then throws up an error message . But that might be because it
also seems to have messed up my connection settings - thus an early morning
system retore today.

_______
Geoff B

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

New Geoff wrote:

snip

My web search - I gave up after the first 150 links, which all seemed to be
selling conversion programmes.
snip

This one is free:

http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

BB

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

New Geoff wrote:
"Stimpy" suggested...

Many USB gadgets 'self install' on XP. Just plug it in and see what
happens!

Oh, the device is recognised alright - but there's no hint of how to
convert tracks

It won't convert the tracks itself, it will be expecting you to copy MP3
files onto it.

If you don't have any MP3 files then try the following:

Download and install iTunes from http://www.apple.com/uk/itunes/download/
Launch the iTunes application
Go to EDIT - PREFERENCES and click on the IMPORT tab
Set the 'Import Using' picklist to 'MP3 Encoder'; press [OK]
Stick a CD in the slot
Press 'Import'
Wait a few minutes
Copy the resulting MP3 files onto your MP3 player

probably a stupid question about MP3 conversion . . .
 

Thanks for the recommendations, chaps.

Finally using dBpowerAMP (just had to do a quick resetting of the CD drive
to get it running), and anticipating using the plug-in to try archiving the
singles collection from vinyl!

Cheers all

_______
Geoff B