Tech: Best downloading program for Canada

Subject: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST,Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 10 Dec 13 - 08:25 PM

Hi Folks,

I know there are a few threads about music downloading......but they all seem pretty old.   

I'm wanting to find a really good site for downloading music for a computer with windows 7, in Canada.   I've tried a few but they've either ended up putting all sorts of junk on my computer, or they have very few selections in which I'm interested.

I like an eclectic range......a lot of late 60's to mid 70's obscure music, much of it in the 'folk oriented', jazz, or unknown pop/rock genres. (For example, I'd love to find a download of the hard to find "Peggy Lee Sings Leiber and Stoller" cd).

It doesn't have to be a free download........I'm ok with paying for each download, or a regular (reasonable) yearly fee.

I find that itunes ends up often screwing up on me, giving me error messages that don't allow me to download......and I've grown tired of it.

My favourite one is a youtube audio downloader called fox4.1, and I'd love something for non-youtube videos that is just as easy and has at least close to as much choice.

What do others use that you've had good experiences with?

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Dec 13 - 10:28 PM

Pirate Bay

Continues to be a superb source using Bit Torrent.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST,Larry the Radio Guy
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 02:47 PM

Thanks Guest.   

I looked at Pirate Bay and decided to pass.....especially considering that various countries keep shutting it down.   And I don't really feel right about using something else (I already feel guilty enough about using youtube) that takes payment away from the recording artists.

So I think I'm looking for a downloading site that's 'legitimate', has a good variety, and easy to use.   And will work for downloading in Canada.

Anybody have any suggestions?

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: Bill D
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 08:18 PM

My favorite way to find odd music is thru Newsgroups (Usenet)... which has nothing to do with any specific country.

http://www.binsearch.info/

A small fee to Giganews, or one of a dozen other providers gets you access to a wealth of stuff... although I didn't see but a couple things on Peggy Lee.

I recommend Agent newsreader, (though there are free ones). There are literally dozens of fairly specific groups where people upload a variety of music... and in some, aficionados take requests.

Try the search on a few topics to see if it hits some of your interests before you dive in.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 08:48 PM

So...you are "virgin" to music downloading?

No experience with the likes of:
"Kazaa"
"Napster"
"SlimeWire"

You want to go legit and pay ALL performers their due royalty?

It is silly for you to ask when I-Tunes is ubiquitous across the globe for 99 cents per track.

Sincerely,
go and steal no more.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST,Larry The Radio Guy
Date: 11 Dec 13 - 11:39 PM

Yep, guest. I'm pretty much a newbie (except for my youtube downloads). My main problem with itunes is that the itunes store keeps screwing up and not working.   

I also don't like the fact that they have such a monopoly.

Thanks Bill D. I will definitely try Agent newsreader and see what I can find.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Dec 13 - 01:13 PM

I hope it was clear that you do need an account with some provider to use any newsreader. Agent itself will provide an account for about the most reasonable price going. Giganews is just the largest and most well known provider.
The virtue with modern storage is that you can 'usually' get posts that were made up to 3 years ago.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST,Larry the Radio Guy
Date: 12 Dec 13 - 01:38 PM

I tried the link and looked up some of what I was looking for.......and found it!   

Although it had a disclaimer that:The posts below were posted a long time ago.

But I'm wondering, Bill, if I signed up with one of those 3 providers mentioned, Giganews, supernews, or usenet server (I'm not sure what you meant by "agent itself" providing an account), would I then be able to have access to anything I find on binsearch.info?

Thanks for your help in this matter, Bill.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Dec 13 - 04:35 PM

Yes... Agent is both a purveyor of a program which downloads articles/files, but also acts as a middleman for hosting the files. You pay a one time fee for owning the software, then a monthly fee for access You choose the level. I NEVER use more than about 5-6 gigs, though you might, since you have special interests.

"A long time ago" usually means over 200 days or so... and you 'can' get some stuff at 900-1000 days.

Once Agent is installed and properly configured, you need to
'subscribe' to groups you wish (which simply means make a list of your favorites)....you would begin with those groups where you already found interesting stuff, but from their list of 100,000 groups, you can explore dozens of categories. (Somewhere I found lists of the largest, most active groups...which is a sort of guide helping to avoid inactive groups.)

IF you go ahead and start this, I'll try to show you the ropes of navigating thru the messages (been at it for about 15 years now).....Agent has SO many tricks that it takes awhile to use everything. (Wait till you get to .nzb files! *grin*) (or, you can look up online guides...there are always pages of 'expert' help.

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: Bill D
Date: 12 Dec 13 - 05:02 PM

HA! http://newsgroupfinder.com/s.php?q=music

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST,Larry the Radio Guy
Date: 13 Dec 13 - 03:33 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: GUEST,Larry the Radio Guy
Date: 13 Dec 13 - 09:32 PM

Wow, does this ever look complicated. I'm not sure if this is something I should be doing or not.   

I don't actually download all that much, and I'm not sure exactly what a 'newsgroup' is........I don't know if it's anything I really need.

Do you think it's worth it, Bill (or anybody else who has an interest and knowledge in downloading) if I'm only downloading less than a dozen selections (usually individual songs, not albums) per month?

This is a whole new world! (And all because Itunes stores stopped working).

On the other hand.......it could be exciting.

OK, I'll give it a try, since there is a month free trial. Anything you can give me to help me make sense of exactly what I'm doing here is sure appreciated.

-Larry

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Dec 13 - 12:00 PM

It's worth it for just finding things.... and you'll know in a month if you want to try their cheapest setup. You can always upgrade if you want more at some point.

Just know that the crucial things are that you MUST get your ID info entered correctly and decide where to save files.

Oh... the free trial at Agent ought to tell you whether this is useful, but note that after the free month, you DO pay for header downloads... but at Giganews, you do not. Agent is cheaper 'in general', but if you download 50,000,000 headers looking for two songs, it is not best use of your $$$$.
This is where .NZB files come in. They are a way to find what you want at binsearch.info...which will create a file that Agent can use to get ONLY the few files you want, and put them exactly where you designate. (I do this for my wife sometimes when she has a yearning for some old country music favorite, and I don't want to look thru millions of headers in 3-4 groups.)

Yeah... I know it sounds daunting to try to take in the system from a standing start, but after the learning curve you only have to remember a few things and add in tricks as necessary.

(See PM for more details)

Subject: RE: Tech: Best downloading program for Canada
From: Bill D
Date: 14 Dec 13 - 12:16 PM

All a 'newsgroup' is, is an online 'bulletin board' where people post, discuss & share stuff. They are just categories with distinct names to allow organization. In a newsreader, you move one group from a huge general list to your own personal list (subscribing) and ask it to tell you what's available. Then you use a couple procedures to go get the file or message and read it, or view it, or play it.

Once you see the system working, the names they give stuff is irrelevant and you just click a couple things.

Oh... by the way... the entire list of newsgroups can be intimidating and funny... and weird... because some people have the strangest ideas of shared 'interests'.... and some use the system to create & 'name' groups just to be tedious. That's why Agent has a search function to find only the topics YOU are interested in.