MusicBee
| MusicBee | |
|---|---|
MusicBee 3.4.7628 running on Windows 10 | |
| Developer | Steven Mayall |
| Initial release | December 4, 2008 |
| Stable release | 3.6.9202
/ March 17, 2025 |
| Written in | VB.NET |
| Operating system | Windows 7 or later |
| Size | 8.9 MB |
| Available in | 15 languages |
List of languages Chinese Simplified, Dutch, English (UK, US), French, German, Greek, Italian, Japanese, Polish, Portuguese (BR, PT), Russian, Spanish, Swedish | |
| Type | Media player |
| License | Freeware |
| Website | getmusicbee |
MusicBee is a freeware media player for playback and organization of audio files on Microsoft Windows, built using the BASS audio library.[1]
Features
- Audio playback: MP3, AAC, M4A, MPC, OGG, FLAC, ALAC, APE, Opus, TAK, WavPack, WMA, WAV, MIDI, MOD, UMX, XM.
- Audio CD support: playback and ripping of audio CDs. Tracks can be ripped as individual files or as a single album with embedded cuesheet.
- Synchronization: ability to sync content from local libraries with external devices (including iOS 3.0-based and earlier), and import libraries from iTunes and Windows Media Player.
- File converter: single/batch file conversion from/to all supported audio formats, with original metadata preserved. In dealing with identical output files instances, provided that re-encoding is unnecessary, the process has optional instructions for selective skipping in favor of performing a tag-only synchronization.
- Gapless playback: eliminates the timing related artifacts in transitions between consecutive audio tracks to provide a relatively uninterrupted listening experience.
- ReplayGain: performs normalization of volume levels among individual tracks, equalizing their perceived loudness to achieve a more seamless playlist progression.
- Library management: find, organize and rename music into particular folders and files based on any combination of audio tag values such as artist, album, track number, or other metadata. MusicBee can be configured to monitor and perform this task automatically for select libraries, while at the same time allowing users to take manual control on a case-by-case basis.
- Scrobbling: ability to share current playback information from MusicBee to Last.fm.
- Look and feel customization: the layout and appearance of various player elements is open for extensive modification, including adjustable key bindings.
- MiniLyrics integration: for display and editing of song lyrics synchronized to audio files.
- Built-in WASAPI and ASIO sound card interfaces.
- Auto DJ: a user-programmable playlist generator, expanding beyond capabilities of the default shuffle presets and settings.
- Sleep and Shutdown modes, for scheduled exit with gradual volume fade out function.
- Web scraping: integrates Fanart.tv, and similar providers, to retrieve high-quality pictures of artists and album covers for music in library.[2]
- Plug-in support: additional features in the form of community extensions (see below).
Add-on components
- Custom skins
- Winamp, BassBox, Windows Media Player and Sonique music visualizations
- Web Browser: analyzes web pages for MP3 files, presenting the results for user to playback/download.[3]
- Subsonic client[4]
- Additional audio tagging tools
- MusicBee Remote plugin and corresponding app for Android devices[5]
- DiscordBee: shows other users one's recently played music
- Media Control: a plugin for controlling MusicBee with Windows 10 built-in media controls
- MusicBee UPnP: allows for sharing the music library with devices on the network (not supported)
Reception
In 2024, TechRadar called MusicBee "the best free music player overall" for a personal computer.[6]
See also
References
- ^ "BASS". www.un4seen.com. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ Mayall, Steven (September 23, 2012). "Artist Pictures". MusicBee. Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved January 10, 2017.
- ^ "Web Browser/ Mp3 Blog File Scanner - Plugins - MusicBee". getmusicbee.com. Archived from the original on September 12, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "Subsonic". www.subsonic.org. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ "MusicBee Remote Plugin - Plugins - MusicBee". www.getmusicbee.com. Archived from the original on September 11, 2018. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
- ^ Wyciślik-Wilson, Sofia Elizabella; Baxter, Daryl; Hood, Vic (November 18, 2024). "The best free music players 2026: organize and enjoy your digital music collection". TechRadar. Retrieved February 12, 2026.