Product Reviews

SoundJam MP is the most fully featured MP3 encoder/player available for the Mac. It's an all-in-one utility that encodes files direct from CD, then allows users to play the files afterwards, either as individual tracks or as lists of tracks known as playlists.

Version 2.0 contains two new programs: SoundJam MP Plus,which replaces the existing paid-for program; and SoundJam MP Free, which is aimed at giving new users a taste of the software.

The most significant new features of SoundJam MP Plus are based around the way it manipulates and uses audio. First is its ability to encode from an audio input. True, it's in a pretty basic format - input controls to filter pop and hiss, say, would have been welcome - but any half-decent means of encoding direct to MP3, from vinyl, tape, or even microphone, can't be denigrated.

Coupled with this feature, and using the same audio input engine, SoundJam MP Plus can take control of live audio input - complete with equaliser control. There's also increased file support: along with files in AIFF, WAV, MOD and QuickTime formats, NVF and Mac .snd files can now be encoded directly.

ID3 tag support - virtually non-existent in earlier versions - is much improved. Individual file tags can be edited and the ID3 tag version can be changed either manually for a single file, or automatically over multiple files. Tags are now scrolled in the Player window, which instantly makes for a better user experience and gives the incentive to add tags to files in the first place. Interestingly,

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in the Track Information dialog box, where tags are added and edited, it's possible to specify overall volume adjustment, equaliser preset, and start/stop times (useful if a file has been encoded for any reason with a gap at its beginning or end) for individual tracks.

One of the key features of SoundJam 1.0 of was its support for the Diamond Rio 500 - indeed, this version is included with the Rio 500. This was important, as it provided the first true support for Mac users of hardware MP3 players. Version 2.0 also provides support for the I-Jam and Nomad II MP3 players. This is an important step forward for Mac users, almost doubling the range of usable MP3 players in a single step.

There's a raft of other new features. As well as being able to download CD information from the Internet-based CDDB database, you can now submit your own CD information for CDs, not already on the CDDB, from within the program.

If you fancy your sing-a-long-a-SoundJam chances, there's a Karaoke mode that de-emphasises track vocals while each file is playing. The track's original vocals effectively become your backing vocals. An alarm clock allows playlists, files or AppleScripts to be launched at a pre-arranged time, and a sleep timer stops or quits the program, puts your Mac to sleep or shuts it down. Skin support - particularly for translucent skins - is improved, and a new Skin Converter utility converts Audion and WinAmp skins (free on the Internet) to SoundJam format. There's also a new Playlist Composer that creates playlists based on your music preference. Playlists have been given new powers, with new columns, increased keyboard controls and the ability to drag files into playlists from other applications.

For any musos out there who haven't yet tried SoundJam MP, the best way to sample it is to download SoundJam MP Free. This allows you to sample the features for 14 days (limited to 30 encodings), after which it loses its encoding ability but retains the playing features. If you already own SoundJam MP, there is no reason not to upgrade - it's free, and well worth the download time.