With all those supposedly "easy to use" touchscreens and flashy icons, learning how to use an MP3 player may not be as straightforward as it sounds. Starting with syncing the device with your computer, to ripping a CD and copying music files, you can completely master your MP3 player by learning how to perform some key processes.
Steps
Method 1 of 4: Use an iPod touch, nano, and shuffle with iTunes
All Apple devices have similar interfaces, so these steps also apply to iPhone and iPad devices.
Step 1. Choose one of Apple's MP3 players
If you don't have your player yet, iPod touch, nano and shuffle are three alternatives for playing music. Starting from these models, there are several versions of each one. Find the one that best suits your budget and lifestyle. If you already have your iPod MP3 player, skip this step and continue with number 2.
- iPod shuffle: It is the smallest and cheapest of the iPod line. IPod shuffle is slightly larger than a postage stamp and can hold up to 2 gigabytes (GB) of music. This device is operated through physical buttons on the front. As an added feature, it can be clipped to clothing, making it the ideal choice for people who like to listen to music while exercising.
- iPod Nano: The nano is Apple's mid-range device. It includes a 2.5-inch (6.35-cm) touchscreen, costs about $ 150, and can store up to 16GB of music. The nano also supports FM radio as well as includes fitness features like Nike +, which can keep track of your progress as you run.
- iPod touch: It is almost identical to the iPhone in terms of shape, size, and color scheme. IPod touch comes in 16, 32, or 64 GB capacity. You can download apps and games, surf the web, check email, and do pretty much the same as you would on an iPhone, except for phone calls.
Step 2. Download iTunes
Apple has designed all of its MP3 players to connect with iTunes, software for Windows or Mac computers that allows you to purchase and download songs, videos, and applications to your device. Go to the website http://www.apple.com/la/itunes/download/ to download the latest version.
- The iTunes download page offers a file for Windows by default. If you're using a Mac, click the blue link that says "Get iTunes for Macintosh" under the "Download Now" button.
- If you already have iTunes installed, you can download the latest updates from the program's download page.
Step 3. Install iTunes by going to the location where you saved the downloaded file and double-clicking on it
Step 4. Connect your iPod to the computer using the Apple USB cable
Apple always includes a specially designed USB cable in the iPod box to connect these devices to the computer. If you don't have it, you can buy a replacement cable at most electronics stores or by searching online for "Apple USB cable."
Step 5. Open iTunes
ITunes may start automatically the first time you connect your MP3 player. If it doesn't, double-click the iTunes icon usually found on the desktop (Windows) or in the "Applications" folder (Mac).
Step 6. When your iPod appears in the panel on the left side of the screen, click on it
In iTunes 12 and later versions an icon with the image of your device will appear in the upper left, below the menu and next to the icon of the musical note and the television. In versions prior to 12, you should look for your MP3 player under the "Devices" heading.
Step 7. Click on the tabs below "Settings" to see the options
Among the tabs you will see one that says "Summary", which contains the basic information of your device, another that says "Music" where you will see the playlists and albums synchronized with your device and other tabs.
Step 8. Click on the "Music" tab and then click "Sync Music" at the top of the screen
From this section you can choose if you want to synchronize all the music in the library, or only specific songs, playlists or albums.
Your MP3 player can only store as many songs as its capacity allows. Look at the storage bar at the bottom of the screen, which shows how many gigabytes (GB) you have available
Step 9. When you are ready, click the "Synchronize" button in the lower right corner
The synchronization process will take care of copying the selected music to your MP3 player.
Step 10. Once the sync is complete, click the eject button to safely disconnect the device from iTunes
The eject button is located in the upper left corner of the screen, next to the name of your device.
Method 2 of 4: Buy music for your iPod touch, nano, or shuffle
Step 1. Open iTunes, then click "iTunes Store"
The steps to access and navigate the content available in the iTunes store are different for versions before 12 and after.
- iTunes 12 and later: Click on the musical note that appears in the upper left corner, under the "File" and "Edit" menus. Then click on the "iTunes Store" tab in the center of the screen.
- iTunes 11 and earlier versions: On the left side of the screen, click "iTunes Store" under the "Store" heading.
Step 2. Search for a song or use the tabs in the center of the screen to browse the different categories
The tabs include categories such as "Songs", "Albums" and "Artists". You can directly access the song you want by clicking on the search bar in the upper right corner of the screen.
Step 3. Browse your songs by clicking on the music note in the sidebar
Again, the specific steps for exploring albums vary depending on the version of iTunes you have.
- iTunes 12 and later: After clicking the music note, click the "My Music" tab in the center of the screen. Alternatively, you can click on "Purchases" in the sidebar.
- iTunes 11 and earlier versions: After clicking on the music note, click on a tab, for example "Albums" or "Genres" to sort the music according to the chosen category. To see all your music, click on "All Artists" in the center of the screen.
Step 4. Synchronize your music with your iPod using iTunes
Go to the "Use an iPod touch, nano, and shuffle with iTunes" section for instructions.
Method 3 of 4: Play music on an iPod touch, nano, or shuffle
Step 1. Tap the "Music" app
Look for the musical note icon surrounded by an orange box.
Step 2. Touch the tabs at the bottom to navigate between the playlists
In the "Artists" section the songs are sorted by artist, in "Playlists" they are sorted by lists and so on.
If you touch the "More" option, other sorting criteria will appear, such as "Albums" or "Genres"
Step 3. Touch a song to play it
Use the controls at the bottom of the screen to pause the song, go to the next song, or go back to the previous one.
Method 4 of 4: Use Other MP3 Players
The process to copy songs to MP3s other than iPod, for example a Samsung Galaxy Player is quite simple.
Step 1. Connect your MP3 player to the computer through the USB port
Most MP3 players connect using a mini USB or micro USB cable, which are fairly common and cheap. Surely your MP3 player already came with a cable included.
Step 2. Find the folder where you save the music on your computer
Double click on it to open it.
Step 3. Get ready to copy the music files to your MP3 player
In Windows, click "Start" → "Computer" → "(name of your MP3 player)". On Mac, removable devices like MP3 players appear on the desktop. Double click on your MP3 player to open it. If your device is not showing up, click on the "Finder" icon at the bottom of the screen (it's a smiley face) and look for your device under the "Devices" section on the left side of the screen.
Step 4. Drag the music to your MP3 player's music folder and drop it there
The name of the music folder may vary depending on the player model, but it is generally simply called "Music".
Step 5. Disconnect your MP3 player properly to avoid damaging the data
Never directly disconnect the USB player after copying the files.
- In Windows, right-click the green checkbox in the lower-right corner of the screen, then click the "Eject" option followed by the device name.
- On Mac, open "Finder" and press the "Eject" button that appears next to the name of your MP3 player.
Advice
- Invest money in a good pair of headphones to enjoy your music more in public places without annoying others.
- If you are going to research the options on the market because you would like to buy a new MP3 player, it does not have to be a "new" MP3 player. MP3 technology exhibits only a few gradual evolutions over the years, so used MP3s from a few years ago perform the same as brand-new players that are considerably more expensive.
- Expand your library by ripping music from your CD collection and transferring it to your MP3 player.