Musicmatch
So, I'm just curious. What do like or dislike about Musicmatch (besides the slow sync)?
[876 byte] By [bluecamel] at [2007-11-9 11:42:17] 
Hey, I've seen a lot of people saying that Musicmatch sucks but I don't know what the big deal is. I've been using Musicmatch for about a year and a half (even before I got my iPod) and I love it. I love the music library and playlists and alarm playing (which I use to wake me up in the morning). The only thing that I don't like about it (and I'll give you this one) is that it is super slow in syncing with my iPod. But I just use EphPod for that and everything is cool. I still love Musicmatch (and prefer it over Winamp) for playing all my music on my computer, which is connected to my home stereo. And I also have all the Musicmatch controls mapped in Girder so I can use it with my IR remote control without even touching my computer.
So, I'm just curious. What do like or dislike about Musicmatch (besides the slow sync)?
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# 1 Re: Musicmatch
I think you nailed it with the slow syncing. I find MM really easy to use for ripping/burning/playing etc, but the syncing is the pits. I've been evangelizing a new version of MM that tech support sent me the other day - 7.50.3103. I haven't had any syncing problems since installing that version. I've really enjoyed MM since upgrading, and don't see any reason to jump ship.portersa at 2007-11-15 17:23:10 >
# 2 Re: Musicmatch
I've been a long time user of MM, except for the syncing. Mine has not been updated, but Ephpod is still my choice for transfers.revmike at 2007-11-15 17:24:13 >
# 3 Re: Musicmatch
portersa, do you have the link for downloading the update for 7.50.3103? I have 7.50.3101 now.Also, has anyone happened to try syncing with 8.0 Plus yet?
bluecamel at 2007-11-15 17:25:11 >
# 4 Re: Musicmatch
I tried 8.0plus and had the same slow sync problem that 7.50.5002 has. I had to uninstall 8, reinstall MM off the iPod cd, and then upgrade to 7.50.3103. I didn't see any new features in 8, just a new default skin.portersa at 2007-11-15 17:26:16 >
# 5 Re: Musicmatch
I think one of the reasons that people are annoyed is that there is a WIDE variety of "jukebox" apps that us Windows users use. Ya got WMP, Winamp, MC9, RealOne, mmjb, and on and on and on.Now here comes the iPod, and it ships with mmjb. Let's say that I don't use mmjb, I use Winamp. But now I HAVE to use mmjb? My "Bah! You can't make me use that!" alarm goes off instantly. Other folks will have their "What? Why do I have to change? I like Winamp!" and so on.
Then, once you've resigned yourself to using mmjb, even though you were perfectly happy using "Program X" in the past, you find out that it has HORRIBLE connectivity to the iPod. You remember the Apple website saying how "blazingly fast" firewire is, and here you sit with a buggy, system-resource and screen-redraw heavy program that you didn't want to use in the first place, sending an album a minute to your iPod, rather than an album in 5 seconds or so like you were expecting.
So, even though you added the "besides the slow sync" line to your question, I just can't avoid bringing it up. I mean, we're iPod users. We're talking about the software that we use to put music on our iPods. It does a terrible job. Sure, it does well at other things, but does a terrible job when it comes to doing what iPod users need/expect/want it to do.
Thus, iPod users in general don't like mmjb. I know that each program has its merits, and I don't disrespect anyone for using what they are comfy with. I used to use mmjb myself, as a matter of fact.
Before I bought an iPod, that is.
c.c.r. at 2007-11-15 17:27:15 >
# 6 Re: Musicmatch
c.c.r. - I totally understand what you are saying, and I agree too. I tried MM once before and I didn't like it. I'm using it now because it's what came with the iPod, and I feel like if Apple picked it then it must be good, right? Anyway, I'm glad there are other programs out there for people to use, especially the people that are totally devoted to one app over another (I'm a big WinAmp fan myself). My perspective is a little skewed too because I'm hoping to buy a PowerBook sooner rather than later. I look forward to using iTunes and getting the benefits of Apple produced/designed hardware and software together.:D
portersa at 2007-11-15 17:28:14 >
# 7 Re: Musicmatch
I don't 8.0 has a new version of the portable devices plug-in. Maybe they'll come up with that soon so our problems can be solved.Wolfman200 at 2007-11-15 17:29:18 >
# 8 Re: Musicmatch
I upgraded to 8.0 two days ago, and immediately went to "options" and "add new features". From that webpage select portable players support, download the ipod plugin and off we go. No problems. There is an 8.0 plugin but you need to go and install it (not just for ipod but all of the supported portables).jimlat at 2007-11-15 17:30:17 >
# 9 Re: Musicmatch
Originally posted by jimlat I upgraded to 8.0 two days ago, and immediately went to "options" and "add new features". From that webpage select portable players support, download the ipod plugin and off we go. No problems. There is an 8.0 plugin but you need to go and install it (not just for ipod but all of the supported portables).
I tried it yesterday and the iPod plugin that you download from that page wont install. I get bizarre errors.
Are you sure you installed the ipod plugin AFTER you installed 8? or did you already have the ipod plugin on your machine before updating? Cos that works but my pc will often freeze during transfers, whereas with 7.5.3103, and the current ipod plugin, i dont get any freezes, and the transfers are very fast.
I dont know why people are so MMJB-phobic on this forum. It is easily the best mp3 rip/tag/burn/play program on Windows. Ok it doesnt work with an iPod as well as iTunes does, but it's still a great program, and miles better than any of its competition.
Winamp only plays mp3s (doesnt rip or organise libraries particularly well) and WMP doesnt rip MP3. As for MC9, well that doesnt even warrant comparison.
Also MMJB has the brilliant "resampling when transferring to iPod feature" (like iTunes). I find this indispensible myself, as I usually have 192k or higher mp3s on my HD, but i'd rather downsample to 128k on my ipod and conserve some space.
Windows geeks will moan that MM "hogs all my ram" and so on, MM is currently using 30MB on my pc, if you cant spare 30MB of ram, maybe a memory upgrade would be in order?? (considering how much money youve just spent on an mp3 player!!)
Sweetmate at 2007-11-15 17:31:15 >
# 10 Re: Musicmatch
Originally posted by Sweetmate I tried it yesterday and the iPod plugin that you download from that page wont install. I get bizarre errors.
...
7.5.3103, and the current ipod plugin, i dont get any freezes, and the transfers are very fast.I'm going to try to install 7.5.3103 this weekend (I currently have 7.5.3101) to see if it helps with transfer speeds. If it doesn't work, I'll try 8.0 (but I don't want to lose my full version of 7.5 if it will work).I dont know why people are so MMJB-phobic on this forum. It is easily the best mp3 rip/tag/burn/play program on Windows. Ok it doesnt work with an iPod as well as iTunes does, but it's still a great program, and miles better than any of its competition.Yes, exactly! The tag editing (and autotag) is awesome, as is the music library and ripping CDs is easier then any program I've ever used (and then it's automatically added to my library). Also, a lot of people use Winamp to play and Lame to rip, but that's just too much of a pain for me. I want one program to do it all, and MMJB does it. Now, if we could just get the sync speed issue worked out (and it sounds like it may be), it would be perfect (I hear that iTunes is perfect, but, well that's not really an option for me on Windows).Windows geeks will moan that MM "hogs all my ram" and so on, MM is currently using 30MB on my pc, if you cant spare 30MB of ram, maybe a memory upgrade would be in order?? (considering how much money youve just spent on an mp3 player!!)Agreed. Memory is cheap. I always have MMJB in the background when I'm doing heavy graphics in Photoshop and I have never had any issues with it.
Anyway, thank you guys for all of your input. I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one that likes MMJB.
bluecamel at 2007-11-15 17:32:15 >
# 11 Re: Musicmatch
Sweetmate - I have found that MM 7.50.3103 doesn't use any memory at all, but 7.50.5002 (on the iPod cd) will eat up all the available memory in the PC when syncing (it ate up 730MB during a sync and failed on my PC). I noticed that 3103 must use the iPod service differently than 5002 becasue during a sync it is the most active process and uses an additional 20 MB of RAM (not a big deal at all). I think most of the frustration around here is with the version of MM that came with the new iPods. I agree that it is a good procuct and does everything that I need. I'm glad that there are options out there for people to try because people wiill be people when it comes to different software ;)
portersa at 2007-11-15 17:33:24 >
# 12 Re: Musicmatch
Sweetmate...Yes, I installed the plugin after the 8.0 upgrade. No problem whatsoever. Installed perfectly, syncs fine (a bit quicker than 7.5). I personally have seen no problems with 8.0 and the ipod.
Your mileage may vary... ;)
jimlat at 2007-11-15 17:34:25 >
# 13 Re: Musicmatch
The reason I dont use MMJ, is because as a Music manager, I think it stinks. But as a program to transfer music to the iPod, it's great (at least for me).The thing is, I that with ephpod Im able to transfer music to the iPod with more ease. Therefore, I just use a combination of ephpod to transfer files, and Windows Media Player9 for everything else.
Kenny at 2007-11-15 17:35:20 >
# 14 Re: Musicmatch
I wonder if the folks who are unhappy with the software provided with the Windows iPod have complained to Apple? I was already using MMJB when I bought the iPod and have no problems since, sinc time is about 20 seconds, I can live with that. My biggest complaint is that the iPod doesn't have more features for the money it cost.
danothemano at 2007-11-15 17:36:26 >
# 15 Re: Musicmatch
Originally posted by danothemano I wonder if the folks who are unhappy with the software provided with the Windows iPod have complained to Apple?
I suspect that Apples response would be "wait for iTunes for Windows". Supposedly going to be out late this year.
Either that or "Switch"....
:D
baggss at 2007-11-15 17:37:18 >
# 16 Re: Musicmatch
I have a few music managers on my computer and I always seem to come back to MusicMatch for how easy it is to use. It has a great combination of tag/rename/rip/burn/VBR capabilities. It may have a slower sync rate than ephPod or iTunes, but at least it has a sync. And you can still transfer with ephPod if you want a quick sync. I keep reading in these forums that most people use two or three other programs to do what MusicMatch does extremely well by itself, and they STILL need ephPod or xplay to transfer to the ipod. There really is not yet another option for us winpod guys that does what ephPod seems to do so well. As a music manager I have found MusicMatch is as or more capable, versatile, and convenient than most. As a transfer mechanism MusicMatch may not yet be as capable as ephPod or iTunes, but neither is anything else. :)bordeaaj at 2007-11-15 17:38:22 >
# 17 Re: Musicmatch
Originally posted by Kenny The reason I dont use MMJ, is because as a Music manager, I think it stinks.
What do you not like about it as a music manager? You don't like the Music Library or playlist functions?
bluecamel at 2007-11-15 17:39:30 >
# 18 Re: Musicmatch
I like Musicmatch. I have tried all the others touted on this forum, but I always go back. I like it for it ease of use. I must admit that it is slow for syncing, but ephpod takes care of that quite nicely. Whenever I see someone bashing MM, I just laugh to myself and smile. Perhaps if and when itunes for windows comes out, it will take MM's place, but I'll wait and see first.revmike at 2007-11-15 17:40:31 >
# 19 Re: Musicmatch
I can't help but feel that indeed 90% of use are more than happy with MMJB for music management etc.Why they just can't fix the iPod transfer issue is beyond me, i've logged a few calls with the tech support from MMJB, they don't recognise this as a problem!
Now if we all logged calls maybe they'd listen. It's easy, just select request tech support from the help menu!
ozsmac at 2007-11-15 17:41:29 >
# 20 Re: Musicmatch
Glad to finally see some sensible comments on MMJ. I used v7 awhile back and really wasn't impressed, but that was because I had been using WMP for so long... but after I got past the learning curve (which I think is the main problem some people have) I've really warmed to it. The tagging/management aspect is probably one of the best implemented I've seen.Of course then there's the sync issue, but I don't care cos I can leave it churning away while I go watch the TV or grab some grub. Some people get really obsessed with what does what faster... as long as it does it well I couldn't care less.
Still, I'm eagerly awaiting the porting of iTunes to Windows... :rolleyes:
Skwarkenklux at 2007-11-15 17:42:31 >
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