Check out Mediamonkey at http://www.mediamonkey.com/

I use the Gold version (the commercial version) of Mediamonkey. Now I can appreciate the fact that there's a lot of 'free' stuff out there but to me, I don't want to take chances with my music library and so I want a stable program with a noteworthy company that has stood behind it for awhile. This company developed and sells this program only -- They're not trying to support and push all different kinds of software products -- They know they've got a winner in this one. Also, once I've learned the ropes of one program (and MM is so easy to learn), I don't want to keep having to change programs every time somebody's got something new they want me to evaluate or my software company's gone bankrupt and now there's no support or updates for it anymore!

Where music management is concerned (including ripping and burning CD's and DVD's), this one program contains everything that anybody could possibly dream of using (and it can record up to an insane 320 kbps too)!

Yes, there are free and Gold versions. I suggest that you download the free version to get an idea for the program. Then, without question, I absolutely recommend spending the $20 bucks for the Gold version as it is easily worth the cost. Also, the Gold version gives you free lifetime updates and support.

I've been using this software for about three years now (on networked and standalone PC's) and I can say that I'm now a fan for life. This program has made such a substantial difference in how I organize and play my music, how we rip and burn music, how it synchronizes my families' multiple MP3 players, etc. etc. etc. There's just too many great features to list. Not to mention it has a huge following. Actually, I spent so much time trying "free" software that quite frankly, I wouldn't have trusted this program if I would have found out that it didn't have the following that it did (I was pretty fed-up with everything else). I've tried them all at one point or another -- I got sick of playing the "try-me-I'm-free" game with the rest of them and so I finally tried MM and I'm very glad I did (trust me, I was at my wit's end).

IMHO Mediamonkey really only has one other competitor -- that's Winamp. It too has a very large following and also features free and commercial versions. To me they're the same program (actually you'll find that they compete back and forth, copying each others new features). But in my three years of 'hard' use, I've not had a single problem with Mediamonkey (and that includes my family members) and so for us, it wins hands down!

I hope this helps anyone looking for a great music program! Personally, I believe that it stands right up there with great, stable programs like Band In A Box (of which, I'm also a fan for life)!

Ike