FabSwingers.com forum: Vinyl vs cd and digital music

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

What’s your favourite to listen to

I prefer vinyl every time still listen to it

And still buy

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I got rid of my vinyl around early 2000s, so stupid now, a real regret. I buy a fair bit of vinyl now, love the quality and presentation. Listen to digital on the go.

My CDs are stored away, not getting rid of them just in case.

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By *obyn GravesTV/TS
over a year ago

1127 walnut avenue

Gave up with vinyl years ago I was very anti cd when they first came out in fact it was years before I got a cd player..but now all I buy is CDs.. most 2nd hand there generally dirt cheap.. vinyl is way over priced now so I simply wouldn't be able to afford everything..I like that fact with CDs well on my player it has a shuffle play option so you can totally alter how the album was originally intended to be listened to..

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

What I like most about vinyl is the expense and inconvenience.

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By *ang bang bangity bangCouple
over a year ago

Sunderland

Had CDs for years but don't own a single one now. Not even sure we have anything to play them on. All digital

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By *tephTV67TV/TS
over a year ago

Cheshire

It’s a mixture as I love vinyl and have a decent collection but agree it’s overpriced currently. However I only buy albums on vinyl that I absolutely love and intend to keep for a lifetime.

But most of my music is through Spotify I love Monday recommendations as I’ve found new artists and music that I’d have never discovered before.

So a mixture of online and vinyl, satisfies my needs

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By *partharmonyCouple
over a year ago

Ruislip

I (Luke) have about 700 CDs. I've transferred them all to mp3 format now and love the convenience of being able to organise everything and select what I play from categorised lists without moving physical items around, and being able to carry them all around with me on my phone. It's just so easy.

You should see how I have done the mp3 tags and organised it all. I'm really anal about it!

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Still got my parents vinyl collection crated up, about 200 albums mostly from late 60's and 70's. Had a quick look on eBay a couple of years ago and think there is a few with some value. Perhaps time for a more detailed look with not much else to do

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By *lirty-CoupleCouple
over a year ago

Bexley

Used to detest the cracks, pops and hisses associated with vinyl but do miss the sound. I stll have all my old vinyl. CD/MP3 etc is far more convenient and can be edited on the other hand so it's horses for courses really and I have a horse in both stables.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

There is definitely something different about the sound of vinyl. Yes I use streaming services for probably 90% of my listening for convenience, but also have an old 70s music center that I restored. Putting on an LP that was recorded in that time just sounds solo much better. MP3 and other digital formats compress the sound, taking out some of the important ambient sounds that you might not 'hear' but feel. Hence why live music I think has so much more emotional charge.

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By *emini ManMan
over a year ago

There and to the left a bit

"I (Luke) have about 700 CDs. I've transferred them all to mp3 format now and love the convenience of being able to organise everything and select what I play from categorised lists without moving physical items around, and being able to carry them all around with me on my phone. It's just so easy.

You should see how I have done the mp3 tags and organised it all. I'm really anal about it! "

Out of interest what player do you use to play them through? I recently stuck all of my iPod tracks onto a memory card which I put into my Samsung - and was initially impressed the the default Samsung Music Player immediately recognised them and made them available to play....

....but then I started noticing little anomalies - for example I have an extensive range of Madness tracks but also have one album by the follow on band called "The Madness" - guess what Samsung Music Player listed all the Madness tracks under? And likewise for some reason some albums get split in two with some tracks appearing in one place, others appearing differently.

Have tried messing with the tags (cos I'm anal like that too) and 9/10 it tells me it's an unrecognised format and I can't edit - despite the fact the track plays perfectly well.

So any music player recommendations gratefully received - tried VLC but didn't like the player format (even though it didn't have the same issues as Samsung).

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By *uke olovingmanMan
over a year ago

Gravesend

I have a Bluetooth receiver going to the tape input on my beomaster 901 ...70s tuner amp ... and the sound is superb

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By *ocbigMan
over a year ago

Birmingham

CD all the way, but vinyl as I still possess every record I ever bought & still buy special editions etc for the music, packaging, presentation, rate tracks or mixes. Never knowingly streamed or downloaded a single note, don’t have music on my phone as the sound is appalling, if I want to listen to music I listen to music, not just something to fill the quiet.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My go to would by vinyl but due to lack of time tends to be digital format at the moment

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By *oggoneMan
over a year ago

Derry

100% digital now, I'm using raspberry pi and a DAC. It has a web interface so I can control with phone/pc/tablet. A tidal subscription and a 4TB local collection acts as a source.

As far as sound quality goes, lower quality mp3s are noticeable, but above that it's hard to tell the difference.

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By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

you cannot beat the sound of vinyl

It’s only expensive if you cant afford it

Digital is great too especially on the go

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By *ensualMan
over a year ago

Sutton

I have about 50 albums and a number of singles from back in the day. If you have a good amplifier and deck, and the records are in pristine condition and properly recorded in the studio you can't beat the sound. However it is inconvenient and painful on the ear if in a bad condition.

I would give an honourable mention to tape, good quality tape always had a good sound and the metal tapes were awesome, provided the original source was good. I play the metal tapes I inherited from my older brother to younger friends. They can't tell the difference from a cd. Also with the cassette decks that automatically turned, you had 90 minutes.

I will pass over my mini disc collection.

The main reason I went digital is because I ran out of space. 1000cds, 500 tapes, 300 mini discs, and not counting the records.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

It’s only expensive if you cant afford it

You can't kid an old sailor, mate. I've spent an horrific amount of money on vinyl, it's expensive and you know it. Dammit just the shelving to store the stuff costs more than a few years subscription to spotify.

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By *ausageNmashCouple
over a year ago

Andover

We both collect soul 45s on vinyl and enjoy playing them on our decks. It's our other hobby

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Doesn’t matter what format to me. Music is Music

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"We both collect soul 45s on vinyl and enjoy playing them on our decks. It's our other hobby

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By *bsinthe_boyMan
over a year ago

Luton

Vinyl.

I'm a trained musician and honestly there's so much missing in CDs I can't listen to them.

My record collection would pay for my funeral, been collecting since I was a child.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Just the smell of a vinyl record shop is heaven.

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By *bsinthe_boyMan
over a year ago

Luton

"Just the smell of a vinyl record shop is heaven."

I've been visiting the same shop since 1977 and I still love the smell and the atmosphere.

And really if you take inflation into account, records aren't much more costly than they were 30 years ago.

I've even got an office turntable.

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By *htcMan
over a year ago

digital, havent owned a cd vinyl or dvd in maybe 15-20years

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

My music system is set up for CDs and BluRays so I have a big collection of both, however I use a Spotify subscription a lot of the time. The difference in quality of sound through the system is quite marked in favour of CDs and Blu Ray. Haven’t had vinyl for 25 years.

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By *layfullsamMan
over a year ago

Solihull

Rvo, big collection of my genre

KTF

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Just the smell of a vinyl record shop is heaven.

I've been visiting the same shop since 1977 and I still love the smell and the atmosphere.

And really if you take inflation into account, records aren't much more costly than they were 30 years ago.

I've even got an office turntable.

What shop buddy? Like small venues it's important to log all the good ones.

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By *mmabluTV/TS
over a year ago

upton wirral

Vinyl everytime but they are expensive sadly but slowly buying a few do play my old ones as most still in good condition I treated them like gold.Mainly have CD's these days.

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By *bsinthe_boyMan
over a year ago

Luton

What shop buddy? Like small venues it's important to log all the good ones."

David's music in Letchworth garden city

It used to be "David's books, records and tapes"...it expanded into two shops next to each other in the 90s. One books, one music linked by a coffee shop at the back.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Streaming only. Hardly listen to music nowadays so just use a free account on a streaming service.

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By *he Mac LassWoman
over a year ago

Hefty Hideaway

I am CD generation so my collection is probably about 3/4 CDs. I still have some cassettes and a bookshelf of vinyl.

I absolutely love choosing a record, putting the needle on it and savouring the sound. Vinyl is special to me as it is synonymous with half an hour of bliss.

I still buy physical music and love the experience of going to a a record shop. I miss the listening booths though.

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By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

Vinyl for me. Look after records properly and it’s easily the nicest, warmest sound.

I do like the convenience of digital, but obviously there’s compromises with the sound.

I find CDs sound clinical, but I have a lot!

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By *heGateKeeperMan
over a year ago

Stratford

I was all CD but the convenience of digital is unrivalled.

Next time I go got the dump I think I’m taking all my CDs and DVDs with me

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By *picyrodMan
over a year ago

Leicestershire

I have a garage full of 50 60 70 80 singles and albums left by a tenant anyone interested inbox me

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By *achel SmythTV/TS
over a year ago

Farnborough

I never got rid of my Vinyl collection which still has a few classics like ELO, Out of the Blue on blue vinyl..... haven’t played them for years though.

I have an extensive CD collection and tbh still get albums on CD, which I then put into iTunes to listen to on my iPhone. I work on the premise that if you ever lose them ‘electronically’ .. you’ve lost them - whereas if you’ve got the CD - you’ve still got it! .... I know, I know - probably a very dated view!!

I do occasionally listen to Spotify etc, but won’t pay for it - so hate the ads and avoid.

R xx

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By *omino51Man
over a year ago

loughborough

Have a jukebox for 45's so you can guess my preference ?? x

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 18/01/21 08:39:49]

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"I have a garage full of 50 60 70 80 singles and albums left by a tenant anyone interested inbox me

Definitely interested

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

"Vinyl for me. Look after records properly and it’s easily the nicest, warmest sound.

I do like the convenience of digital, but obviously there’s compromises with the sound.

I find CDs sound clinical, but I have a lot!"

Discogs is awesome for rare stuff ... and I love my vinyls

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By *ealthy_and_HungMan
over a year ago

Princes Risborough, Luasanne, Alderney

I have vinyl. As people threw out their records just to rebuy the same music on CD, i stepped in and snapped up entire collections for peanuts. I now have many thousands of records and made many thousands of pounds selling the duplicates. I bought a klaudio KD machine so they are all spotless, popless and no crackles. The sound quality of good analouge equipment and properly cut 180gm discs far outstrips other media.

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By *bsinthe_boyMan
over a year ago

Luton

There's only one "domestic" format which is better....reel to reel tape. But pre-recorded reels really are expensive so my tape deck is used for recording from FM radio.

I was also buying a lot of used vinyl in the late 80s and 90s seven it was a buyer's market. Brought a decent Systemdek turntable in 1991 and people thought I was mad. Look who's laughing now.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I've never woken up on the sofa, bleary eyed, to the sound of a CD clicking against the run out groove, as it had been doing for the previous 6 hours

kids eh!!

Don't know what they missed.

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By *oubletroubleCouple
over a year ago

South West

Can't beat the vinyl sound.

Unfortunately sold my collection a long time ago and scared to start up again as it can get obsessive.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

The sound isn’t demonstrably any better. The thing I like most about vinyl is that listening to it is an ‘event’. You listen for the duration of a side and have to pay closer attention than if you simply put the radio on.

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By *ealthy_and_HungMan
over a year ago

Princes Risborough, Luasanne, Alderney

"There's only one "domestic" format which is better....reel to reel tape. But pre-recorded reels really are expensive so my tape deck is used for recording from FM radio.

I was also buying a lot of used vinyl in the late 80s and 90s seven it was a buyer's market. Brought a decent Systemdek turntable in 1991 and people thought I was mad. Look who's laughing now. "

reel to reel is fabulous quality if the polymer hasn't degraded and the tape is not wound too tight. i have a collection of studio reels in differing sizes which i bought from various friends etc in the music recording business when they sold their analouge studios and became digital. i have had them heat treated and rewound professionlly by a friend who runs a business restoring or deleting both film, video and analouge music tape for the industry. i also have 8 track stereo in my datsun 260z.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I agree the sound these days isn't that different between the three mediums.

It's entirely on preference. I will by the Vinyl of an artist to support them and because I like the music. I will also buy vinyl like a collectable.

But, mostly i listen to digital music. Apple music's sound quality is superior to Spotify any day of the week. Plus the catalog is better.

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By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

"I have vinyl. As people threw out their records just to rebuy the same music on CD, i stepped in and snapped up entire collections for peanuts. I now have many thousands of records and made many thousands of pounds selling the duplicates. I bought a klaudio KD machine so they are all spotless, popless and no crackles. The sound quality of good analouge equipment and properly cut 180gm discs far outstrips other media. "

I’m on the lookout for a decent cleaning machine. Googled that model - swiftly moved on (I did know that some are really pricey already)!

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By *ealthy_and_HungMan
over a year ago

Princes Risborough, Luasanne, Alderney

"I’m on the lookout for a decent cleaning machine. Googled that model - swiftly moved on (I did know that some are really pricey already)!"

i'd recomend the loricraft series. still considered to be pricy by some but it works extremely well without damage to the vinyl. most of the machines on the market will clean the record with solution but does not remove the 'dirty' liquid, which is then smeared over the vinyls surface. the loricraft using a thread to clean the groove and 'hoovers' the solution away as it cleans. there are many reports of the cheaper ultra sonic cleaners and budget cleaners in general, damaging to the integrity of the recording.

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By *bsinthe_boyMan
over a year ago

Luton

Many years ago when I was a teenager, I was standing outside a London hi-fi shop looking at a "nitty gritty record cleaner" in the window.... Saying to a friend "that's fucking expensive but fucking great. I had a demonstration on one of my own dirty records last month and if fucking cleaned it like new"

Overheard the staff member say to a customer "see the young gentleman outside knows"

I was a sweary teen.

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By *ealthy_and_HungMan
over a year ago

Princes Risborough, Luasanne, Alderney

"I’m on the lookout for a decent cleaning machine. Googled that model - swiftly moved on (I did know that some are really pricey already)!

forgot to add that the loricraft has reverse and forward cleaning. reverse is handy as when in play on a record deck the stylus pushes debris into the groove. obviously thread cleaning in reverse dislodges lots of particles that other cleaners fail to remove. loricraft are currently upgrading and improving their three models and the new machines should be ready for sale this spring.

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By *ost SockMan
over a year ago

West Wales and Cardiff

"I’m on the lookout for a decent cleaning machine. Googled that model - swiftly moved on (I did know that some are really pricey already)!

Thanks very much for the info.

There’s way more models out there than I imagined. I do get what youbsaycabout some models not draining away the liquid.

I’ll have to start saving up (for a long time)!

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By *etite_delightWoman
over a year ago

BunnyLand

Nothing beats the cracking voice of a vinyl on a rainy day

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Vinyl all the way for me I have a decent collection ranging from rock 60s to present, indie alternative, reggae, punk, grunge, to name a few. My hip hop vinyl collection is amazing with some absolute gems in there.

I have a custom separates set up in the living room I can play the same album on CD then on vinyl (identical settings on the stack) and the sound quality of the vinyl is light years ahead. Even when none audiophiles come over and hear the difference the are totally suprised and I've converted a few.

Regarding digital I cant abide compressed mp3s if I have to then uncompressed flac files is what I use but just for my mobile and car.

There's nothing better than putting on an album on the deck and enjoying it from start to finish as the artist intended. I love picking out and album to dance and sing along to with my 2 month old son. It's what gets me through the days during covid.

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By *ollyRoxxxWoman
over a year ago

Wishaw

[Removed by poster at 18/01/21 11:30:38]

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By *ollyRoxxxWoman
over a year ago

Wishaw

"I was all CD but the convenience of digital is unrivalled.

Next time I go got the dump I think I’m taking all my CDs and DVDs with me

please take them to a charity shop instead of the dump

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By *ollyRoxxxWoman
over a year ago

Wishaw

I love vinyl.

I am buying a lot of 2nd hand cds just now too.

Music is life and I miss gigs badly!

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By *oggoneMan
over a year ago

Derry

Regarding digital I cant abide compressed mp3s if I have to then uncompressed flac files is what I use but just for my mobile and car.

KJ"

Give Tidal a go, they stream at FLAC and MQA which can output equivalent to 24bit/96kHz. It's not the cheapest service but you can find 3 month trials for £4 a month.

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By *ealthy_and_HungMan
over a year ago

Princes Risborough, Luasanne, Alderney

i just received my latest purchases of jazz vinyl through the post

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By *partharmonyCouple
over a year ago

Ruislip

You should see how I have done the mp3 tags and organised it all. I'm really anal about it!

Have tried messing with the tags (cos I'm anal like that too) and 9/10 it tells me it's an unrecognised format and I can't edit - despite the fact the track plays perfectly well.

So any music player recommendations gratefully received - tried VLC but didn't like the player format (even though it didn't have the same issues as Samsung)."

At the moment I'm controlling all playback from my phone and streaming it to speakers when I don't want to use headphones. I have a Roberts Stream 94i Internet radio which I can use a USB stick with which I plan to do in the future.

On my phone I use an app called Media Monkey. No app actually gives me the precise control I want but after trying several that's the one that comes closest.

What do you use to tag your mp3 files? I use TagScanner on my laptop and have found it unbeatable.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

Depends. You only really need vinyl or CD quality if your sampling etc.

Most people wouldnt hear the difference unless its played through a super dooper hi fi system.

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By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

I'm a CD and I love wearing vinyl... does that count?

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By *ackformore100Man
over a year ago

Tin town

"I'm a CD and I love wearing vinyl... does that count?

Do people like listening to you?

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By *omptationMan
over a year ago

liverpool

Weirdly, i prefer my music collection be digital, but books and movies i still prefer a physical media

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By *emini ManMan
over a year ago

There and to the left a bit

On my phone I use an app called Media Monkey. No app actually gives me the precise control I want but after trying several that's the one that comes closest.

What do you use to tag your mp3 files? I use TagScanner on my laptop and have found it unbeatable. "

Thanks for that, appreciate it

A couple of people have suggested Media Monkey so will take a look.

For tagging (which to me is updating track details) I've just been using the edit function within whatever player I've been using (which until recently has been iTunes and worked well) - is just the annoyance of the Samsung Music Player functionality/recognition that's bugged me.

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By *oggoneMan
over a year ago

Derry

On my phone I use an app called Media Monkey. No app actually gives me the precise control I want but after trying several that's the one that comes closest.

What do you use to tag your mp3 files? I use TagScanner on my laptop and have found it unbeatable.

Thanks for that, appreciate it

A couple of people have suggested Media Monkey so will take a look.

EasyTag is worth a look.

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