Some time ago, I explained here how to record internet radio as music files using software. Through automatic recording (with special software), you can legally save hundreds of tracks within just a few days and listen to them conveniently on your own computer.
Today I’d like to tell you about another way to access these free music tracks. Internet radio stations and commercial music providers maintain databases that allow you to access specific tracks, either to stream them or download them directly. There are software programs that can access these databases to search for and download music. Some of these databases also contain tangos.
Databases like SoundCloud, Mixcloud, YouTube, and MP3Fusion contain both old and new tracks and can be searched via software interfaces. Lacey, from SZ-Development, is a program that can access a large number of such databases. It’s freeware and can be downloaded directly from the developer’s website. http://www.the-sz.com/products/lacey/
Interestingly, the program is extremely easy to use. After starting it, you can enter a search term, and Lacey will find free music tracks that contain that term in the title and artist. The search isn’t very selective, so it returns a large number of results. Here’s an example: Searching for ‘Tormenta’ by Carlos di Sarli:
We enter the keyword into the upper input field and receive a result after several seconds:
The result is a list with hundreds of hits. Clicking on the ‘Artist’ column sorts the list by performer, allowing you to scroll to the desired performer.
By clicking on the desired title, it is noted and, provided the relevant database allows the download, the title is immediately downloaded and played directly.
Legally speaking, this falls into a gray area. Music streaming providers naturally only want to deliver their music to their paying customers, or to customers exposed to their advertising in their internet browser (business model), for example, YouTube for music videos. Other databases (e.g., those belonging to public broadcasters) may only be legal in their own country.
Some of these databases may even be illegal in certain countries, so I urge all my readers to research for themselves which sources might be infringing on copyright. Another disadvantage, especially for tango DJs, is the quality of the music tracks, which may not be sufficient for a gig (bitrates often below 100 kbps). Using such downloaded music files for a public performance is highly questionable anyway. My recommendation, therefore, is to use Lacey to find out which provider offers a particular track and then listen to it there or, if necessary, start the download via that provider’s official website. This approach ensures you’re on the safe side regarding copyright infringement.
Nevertheless, this program allows you to quickly research music tracks. I personally enjoy using it to follow the playlists of my tango DJ colleagues (which are often published online) and learn how other DJs design their milongas. This way, I can quickly access tracks that aren’t (yet) in my collection. If some of these tracks are interesting, I’m happy to buy a high-quality CD.
Abrazos,
-Richard