Getting Connected

iTunes Hopefully having persuaded you that illicit file sharing is a bad idea, it's time to look at how you can legally get hold of your favourite music online.

If you have a reasonably recent Windows or Mac PC with a broadband Internet connection you are already three quarters of the way there. You can download music using a dial-up connection but be warned that it is painfully slow.

Don't worry if your PC isn't the latest or fastest model, speed and performance is not that important for this sort of application, but it does help to have plenty of free hard disc space to store your downloaded music files.

There are lots of online music stores on the Web covering every conceivable musical genre, with new ones opening almost every week, but before you begin you need to know a few things about all those different codecs and something called Digital Rights Management, or DRM.

Generally speaking, tracks recorded using the MP3 codec will play on most PCs using standard software such as Windows Media Player or Realplayer.

Play Legal Quotes

John Kennedy, Chairman and CEO of IFPI, representing the international recording industry
""At a time when music on the Internet is being made available everywhere, people need to be armed with knowledge about the opportunities and the pitfalls surrounding both legal and illegal online music. The music industry and ISPs worldwide have a shared interest and responsibility in raising awareness of these issues so that families can enjoy music on the Internet safely and legally. AOL's 'Play Legal' campaign takes on this challenge and we wish it every success."

They can also be copied to the majority of personal players and transferred to CDs without too many problems.

However, in order to protect themselves the tracks and albums now sold by most online music stores are recorded using the more efficient WMA (Windows Media Audio) codec.

To complicate matters further, Apple's iTunes store uses the AAC (Advanced Audio Coding) codec and tracks can only be loaded onto iPod players (or burnt to CD).

Sony's Connect site uses ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding) that is only compatible with its range of personal players. You should also know that DRM data, embedded in most tracks and albums sold online, can be used to limit the number of times a track can be copied to a portable player, burnt to a CD or transferred to another PC.

The restrictions applying to each store is normally explained in an FAQ (frequently asked questions) or user guide on the store's home page.

Converting downloaded music files from one format to another (e.g iTunes AAC to MP3) is generally frowned upon by the online music stores and dealt with at some length in the licensing agreements, but the practice is widespread and it is not difficult to do.

Various conversion programs are readily available on the Internet but for most PC users the simplest method is to create or 'burn' an audio CD from the downloaded tracks.

Play Legal Supporters

Tracks on the audio CD can then be converted back to MP3 format using the CD 'Ripping' software supplied with most personal music players.

Don't worry, it is not as bad as it sounds, the key point to remember is that if you have an iPod or Sony player it is best to stick to the respective Apple or Sony music stores.

Incidentally most digital audio players, including all Apple and Sony models come with software that lets you 'rip' and download tracks from CDs that you already own.

Now you are ready to make a start by visiting the home page of your chosen online music store.

Before you can download and listen to music you will normally have to install some software from the site in question.

This may be just a simple 'player' program or a 'plug-in' for your web browser (usually, but not exclusively Microsoft Internet Explorer).

Several online stores, such as iTunes and HMV Digital provide a more sophisticated player program with a built-in mini 'browser' that links your PC directly to the download library.

Some programs also include extra track management features that seek out and organise all of the music files stored on your PC.

Most stores let you listen to brief samples of the tunes they sell - normally lasting 30 seconds or so -- but before you can access the library and download tracks you will be asked to enter your credit or debit card details in order to pay for your selections.

That's really all there is to it. Once you have signed up you can start to download music onto your PC and then it's up to you what you do with them.

You can listen to them through your PC speakers, or better still, connect the computer's audio output to your hi-fi system. With extra equipment this can even be done using wireless.

Tracks can be copied to your personal music player - depending on the DRM and codec limitations - or burnt to a CD so you can listen to your favourite sounds on your hi-fi, a portable player or in-car player.

Buying music online means you don't have to buy a CD anymore just to listen to a couple of tracks.

You can create your own customised CDs or enjoy music on the move with a personal player.

Downloading music online is simple, safe and reasonably cheap and now it's perfectly legal, so why not give it a try?