Comments on: Lightweight MP3 app for OSX?

Question: Lightweight MP3 app for OSX?

rathikd — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:09:37 -0800

Looking for a lightweight MP3 app for OS X, any suggestions?

I'm looking for something, preferably free, to preview MP3s in OS X in a way they don't automatically get dumped into iTunes. And before you jump on VLC, no. Nothing wrong with VLC, it's just not the droid I'm looking for. While we're at it, anyone know of any good ID3 editors for OSX? Bonus points if these two apps are the same but not necessary.

Thanks.

By: twistedonion

twistedonion — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:24:58 -0800

Are you using OS X 10.4 or 10.5? You know you can just preview in the finder?

By: mcstayinskool

mcstayinskool — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:25:51 -0800

Songbird

By: Magnakai

Magnakai — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:26:54 -0800

You're not using Leopard, are you? Cause a hit of the spacebar will launch Quick Look, and let you preview them quickly. If not, I used to use Quicktime.

Sorry, no help with the ID3 editor though. Good luck!

By: arniec

arniec — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:27:26 -0800

I actually just switched my default MP3 player to Quicktime. It's on my Mac and it skips adding MP3s I just want to hear once to my iTunes library.

For ID3 tags I use EasyTAG. Lightweight and simple yet robust.

By: Magnakai

Magnakai — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:27:34 -0800

Songbird is anything but lightweight.

By: Ikazuchi

Ikazuchi — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:30:57 -0800

Cog fits my lightweight MP3 player needs.

As for ID3 Tags, EasyTag is great. I've gotten used to using iTunes, but before that I always used EasyTag.

By: Aquaman

Aquaman — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 08:33:24 -0800

To set the default player for MP3's to Quicktime, just select an mp3 in the finder, and hit apple-I (get info). In the "open with" popup, choose Quicktime, then just below that hit the "change all" button. Now you can just double-click on any mp3 and a nice little player window will open up without booting iTunes at all.

By: designbot

designbot — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 09:19:13 -0800

In the Finder, choose "as Columns" from the View menu.

Then, whenever you select an MP3 in the Finder, you can play it directly from the preview pane at the far right. Tiger gives you a standard little QuickTime-style play bar; in Leopard you click the square album icon to play.

By: wongcorgi

wongcorgi — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 10:31:18 -0800

Without having to install any apps -

Quicklook (Leopard), 3 pane Finder view, Finder Get info

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 12:22:52 -0800

Designbot has my fave way to preview music or videos in OSX. No need to change the associated app (i.e. iTunes)

By: WCityMike

WCityMike — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:30 -0800

What you're looking for, exactly, is Taply. Linkage in a moment.

By: WCityMike

WCityMike — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:15:53 -0800

Here you go.

By: filmgeek

filmgeek — Wed, 02 Jul 2008 20:01:24 -0800

Drag it to quicktime. Quicktime plays MP3s without a problem. Zero weight. Drag and drop.

By: nthdegx

nthdegx — Thu, 03 Jul 2008 05:59:43 -0800

I use Play and I love it. It comes with instant Last.fm integration, which is a bonus. If you want a lightweight encoder to go with it, try Max.