Part IV. Multimedia / Chapter 16. Playing and Managing Your Music with Helix Banshee | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | 15.8. Sharing Photos | 16.2. Managing Your Music Library |  | |
Part IV. Multimedia / Chapter 16. Playing and Managing Your Music with Helix Banshee | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15.8. Sharing Photos | 16.2. Managing Your Music Library | | |
Contents
Helix* Banshee™ is a GNOME music management and playback application that lets you import CDs, sync your music collection to an iPod* or other digital audio player, play music directly from an iPod (or other digital audio player), create playlists with songs from your library, create audio and MP3 CDs from subsets of your library, and subscribe to, download, and listen to your favorite podcasts. Helix Banshee also supports streaming audio through its Internet Radio plug-in.
To open Helix Banshee, click +.
The first time you open Helix Banshee, you are prompted to accept a license agreement, after which you are prompted to import music. Choose an import source, such as your home directory, a local folder, or a local file, then click .
After successfully importing your music, your library is displayed.
To listen to music, Helix Banshee needs to know what is available to listen to. You can listen to music in your library, which means that you will need to import music from an external source such as a file, folder, or CD, or you can listen to music directly off a CD. You can also listen to music on Internet radio stations, podcasts, and your digital audio player (see Section 16.3, “Using Helix Banshee with Your Digital Audio Player” for more information).
Helix Banshee can import music from a file, folder, or CD.
Helix Banshee can automatically query MusicBrainz for extra information about tracks that you import, and fetch cover art for display when you play a song. To enable this feature, click +, then select .
To play a song, simply select the song in the library and click the play button in the upper left corner. Use the other buttons to pause a song or play the next or previous song. Use the loudspeaker button on the right to adjust the volume. You can also use the items on the menu to repeat or shuffle songs.
Helix Banshee also has an integrated CD player. When you insert a music CD, your CD title appears in the left panel. Select the title and click the play button to play your full CD.
You can keep Helix Banshee hidden in the notification area when you are not interacting with it by minimizing the Helix Banshee window. You will only see pop-up bubbles identifying the current song when track changes happen.
If you do not want to see the pop-ups, click +++, then deselect .
You can also use the Mini Mode feature to condense the interface and free up valuable desktop space. You can switch between your library, playlists, and music devices while in Mini Mode. To activate Mini Mode, click +.
Helix Banshee automatically recommends music that you might like, based on the currently playing song. It finds artists and popular songs that people with similar musical tastes enjoy.
If you do not want to receive recommendations, click +, then deselect .
To rip music from a CD and add it to your library:
You can use Helix Banshee to listen to Internet radio stations and streaming audio. The Radio view in Helix Banshee automatically lists several common Internet radio stations maintained on banshee-project.org. You can also add your own stations.
To listen to Internet radio stations, select in the source list on the left, then double-click the station you want to listen to.
Helix Banshee lets you subscribe, download, and listen to your favorite Podcasts. Podcasting is a form of audio blogging where users subscribe to a feed of shows and the shows’s episodes are downloaded and managed for offline listening.
