Download Streaming Music: YouTube, Playlist.com, myspace… (Also its free and legal)

If you are as lazy as me, you probably want to download music off the internet without working very hard.  This article covers a very basic method of downloading streaming music.  It does not cover how to torrent music, which most people know how to do and is generally a better, although less legal, method.  There are very few advantages to this method, save that as far as I know, it would be virtually impossible to contract viruses. That said for legality reasons I neither use this method nor support your use of this method for anyway that breeches terms of service, copyright infringement, nor endangers legality of media recording sites, rights, and their respective owners, and in no way support you doing so. With that in mind,  if rather than torrenting a ten gig discography, you prefer to hand pick songs and mixes (with no download link) off of YouTube, 8tracks, Soundcloud, whatever, then read on, pirate.

Download/Playback Streaming Music/Videos from YouTube, Playlist.com, and more

First, this method does not work for downloading from myspace. So, know that.

Two things here:

1. If you’re the least bit tech savvy, and use a pc, click here, and it should explain itself.

2. If you are less than tech savvy, need an easier way, or otherwise have a Mac, this is an alternate, perhaps even easier method. As long as you’re using Firefox, this really couldn’t be much simpler.  Netvideohunter is a Firefox add-on designed specifically for this purpose.  If you aren’t already using Firefox, join the rest of us in the 21st century and download it.  Read on!

1. Download Netvideohunter, allow it to install, update, and do whatever else it needs to do.
2. Restart Firefox, as you were likely prompted to do.  Now that Netvideohunter is installed, you should see its small playback icon in the bottom of the browser.  Click on it to bring up the Netvidehunter explorer.  It should have a big screen and a list (most likely blank) of recently streamed music and/or videos.
3. You are now ready to download from music sources like Playlist.com!  You’ve already completed the steps to playback or download streamed content from any site that hosts music as a standard music file (.mp3, .mp4, .wma, etc).  To begin the process, simply go to the site, start playing the file, bring up the Netvideohunter explorer, locate the file on the list, then either click to play or to download the file.
4. To download from a source like YouTube or Pandora Radio, you first need an audio converter.  Files on these sites are packaged as .flv (flash video) and unless you are endowed of a more advanced technical knowledge than I (and thus really shouldn’t be using this guide) you probably will not be able to play them back on your computer or mobile device.  This is easily fixed.  Download an application like any audio converter, MPEG Streamclip, or any number of freeware applications available on the web.

Don’t limit yourself to YouTube, Pandora, Playlist, and 8tracks!  There are literally hundreds of sites across the web with streaming content that can be downloaded via NetVideohunter.  For example, download from places like this, or even this. Use wisely.  Use legally.

Download from Myspace

UPDATE: One of the sites I linked here for downloads from myspace seems to no longer be working, there is a method of downloading from any site using safari, which if you are highly motivated I suggest you read up on here. The former site I linked, file2hd, had a pay option intended to allow you download from sites like myspace, but upon my own use and several forum posts it seems it is no longer effective for this. I am however, happy to be proven wrong if anybody has information contrary.

UPDATE: PART 2. This no longer works with the website 8tracks.com after, some emailing with them, I took down the links. Likewise while streaming their music netvideo hunter no longer works to download their files. That said they are literally hundreds of applications to download streaming music legally, so if you find yourself familiar with this method you may wish to search around a bit more.

My apologies and good luck!

UPDATE FOR THE THIRD TIME: http://keepvid.com/ is a great open source video downloader, it doesn’t require the download of an add on like NetVideo Hunter, I haven’t used it for streaming music and my sense it might be a little trickier to use for that than NetVideo Hunter, but! If you find yourself on a school, work, or anywhere else computer where you can’t use NetVideo Hunter, and you would really like the video your streaming, now you can download away.

– Andrew Taylor

Mas Sol tickets on SALE NOW

GET THEM HERE. Or if you don’t want to pay the service charge GET THEM IN PERSON / WITH CASH, by contacting Lazlo or one of the other hosts. I expect to see you there, whoever you are. Mas Sol, changing lives.

– Andrew Taylor

Song on Repeat: Sax Rohmer 1

It’s a common occurrence for songs to weasel their way onto our minds and bounce around in our skulls all day. These songs make us hum, whistle, and mutter lyrics to ourselves no matter how awkward the situation. These songs aren’t always new, or even incredibly groundbreaking, but they all manage to get stuck in our music-loving noggins; and for that we honor them.

Today’s Song on Repeat is “Sax Rohmer 1” by The Mountain Goats from the 2008 album Heretic Pride.

I love this song. Any song alluding to an immortal evil scientist from the 1900’s while still being this beautiful with an epic mood and scope is going to be a winner.

One of the (many) cool things about Heretic Pride is that John Darnielle of The Mountain Goats worked with singer/songwriter and comic book artist Jeff Lewis to create a comic relating to the album. Each frame explains a different song on the album and is definitely worth taking a look at. Unless of course you prefer the interpretations of your own imagination. That is perfectly acceptable too.

 http://www.thejeffreylewissite.com/Mt-Goats-Press-Kit-08.html

–Karli

Bin Laden is dead! In other news, Japan is still a country…

Indeed. Lets not let our sudden (justified) outbreak of extreme happiness and nationalism let us forget that Japan still needs our help.

Jam For Japan

If you’re looking for a way to help our brothers and sisters in Japan, you should attend what promises to be one of the greatest break battles ever to happen in Olympia, WA. Starting at 7pm on Thursday, May 19^th, DJ Slimrock will be rockin the royal lounge, for charity. Two on two elimination style battle with a $200 cash prize for the winner. Open floor all night, a judge’s showcase, and a few exhibitions. Jam for Japan is one of the few B Boy/Girl battles to actually be hosted in Olympia and it promises to be one the best.

I recently had a chance to contact Justin Weaver, one of the head organizers for the event.  He has been breakin for about a year and a half, and had just recently been introduced to the Evergreen scene where he “encountered some (of the) most amazing athletes” he’d ever seen.  Justin then went on to describe an amazing line up for the event:

Hosts/Judges/Performers: Josh Rizeberg, local MC Nicotine, KAOS DJ Luvva J, and Andy Tigerclaw AND of course, Carnage of the legendary Dance Broomz crew!

To get an idea of just how amazing this promises to be, check out this video of Carnage (first) and Andy Tigerclaw (second):

So, Thursday May 19^th at 7pm, if you have a heart and $10, get yourself over to the royal lounge and watch one of the greatest B Boy battles ever to occur in Olympia.  And of course, drop some love and check out Jam for Japan on facebook.

– Andrew Taylor