Customer Reviews (100)

David Berck • 2025-03-25T03:44:06.392Z

still doesn't really play well with Windows and the devs simply blame Windows. If you try and edit file info, Media Monkey may erase data that Windows can read. MM will still have the info, but Windows will show none or partial data in the file tags. The covers problem has been fixed, but the Windows conflict is huge.

Brandon Writer • 2025-03-24T07:00:31.624Z

at first media monkey was a lot to learn. but now i have a good hang of it. it has its quirks. like the 5 star rating having 10 selections. half stars. ever see roger ebert give a halff a thumbs up?! no, cause its dumb. the pc version is great but auto tagging is painfully slow at 100 songs at a time. 10 minutes to search 100 songs then save and wait another 10 minutes. I can download those whole songs faster than it can find what the song is called. but overall i do love it. thank you MM.

James Reetz • 2025-03-22T17:30:16.567Z

best A/V media app I've ever used

Summary of Key Insights

MediaMonkey Pro is generally well-received, particularly by users with large, well-organized music libraries who are seeking a robust alternative to iTunes and a reliable way to sync their music between Windows PCs and Android devices. The app's strengths lie in its organizational capabilities, Wi-Fi syncing, and feature-richness. However, users report issues with stability, artwork management, and specific features like shuffling and server streaming. There's also some confusion regarding lifetime licenses and feature availability. The overall sentiment is positive, reflected in the high percentage of 5-star reviews, but the negative reviews highlight critical areas for improvement.

  • Overall Rating: The app has a positive skew with a high number of 5-star reviews.
  • Strengths: Organization, syncing, feature set.
  • Weaknesses: Stability, artwork management, potentially misleading license terms.
  • Sentiment: Mostly positive, but with notable negative feedback on specific issues.
  • Score Distribution: 65% 5-star, 13% 4-star, 7% 3-star, 5% 2-star, 10% 1-star.

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Sample Size: 100 reviews
  • Time Frame: Not specified, but based on the reviews, it appears to be a mix of recent and older reviews spanning several years.
  • Analysis Methods: Sentiment analysis based on review text, keyword extraction to identify recurring themes (positive and negative), and frequency analysis to determine the prevalence of specific issues and feature requests.

Key User Pain Points

  • Stability Issues: Several users reported crashes, freezing, and general instability, particularly after upgrading devices (e.g., Google Pixel 8 Pro) or when playing certain FLAC files. This significantly impacts usability.
  • Artwork Management: Inconsistent or missing album artwork is a common complaint. Users struggle to find and display correct artwork, and the app sometimes provides incorrect artwork.
  • Syncing Problems: While Wi-Fi sync is a core feature, some users experience difficulties syncing their entire library, encounter errors, or find the process slow.
  • Shuffle Functionality: The shuffle feature is criticized for repeating songs or playing tracks not included in the selected playlist.
  • Media Server Streaming Issues: Some users report buggy or flawed streaming from media servers.
  • Unexpected App Startup: The app automatically starts playing music at inopportune times, especially when using Bluetooth earphones, and lacks a clear "stop" button.
  • Tag Editing Conflicts with Windows: Editing file information in MediaMonkey can sometimes corrupt tags, making them unreadable in Windows.
  • Lifetime License Confusion: One user claims their lifetime license was not honored after two years, suggesting a potential issue with license management or unclear terms.
  • Scanning Time: For some, the app takes too long to scan the memory card each time it's opened.
  • Inability to Transcode: Some users noted that the app cannot use the tablet/phone hardware to do transcode.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Sleep Timer Shortcut: Users want a more easily accessible shortcut to the sleep timer option.
  • Sign-In Feature for Syncing Settings: A sign-in feature for syncing settings and libraries over Wi-Fi is desired.
  • Direct Editing of Server Content: Users want the ability to directly edit content on media servers.
  • Comprehensive ID3/4 Tag Updates: Better handling of ID3/4 tag updates is requested.
  • Bypass Android DAC Chip: An option to bypass the Android DAC chip for users with external DACs is a desired feature.
  • Find More From "Album Artist" Option: A feature to easily find more tracks from the same album artist.
  • Spotify Integration on Android: One user incorrectly assumed the app would connect to Spotify on Android and was disappointed it only worked on PC. This suggests a potential desire for streaming service integration.
  • "Stop" or "Shut Down" Option: A readily apparent "Stop" or "Shut Down" button to prevent unexpected playback.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Organization: Users consistently praise MediaMonkey's ability to organize and manage large music libraries effectively.
  • Wi-Fi Syncing: The Wi-Fi sync feature is highly valued for its convenience in transferring and updating music libraries between devices.
  • Feature-Richness: The app offers a wide range of features, including customizable EQ, file info text fields, and playlist editing, which cater to serious music collectors.
  • Alternative to iTunes: Many users appreciate MediaMonkey as a superior alternative to iTunes, particularly for managing MP3 files and creating playlists.
  • Android Auto Compatibility: The app's compatibility with Android Auto is a significant advantage for in-car listening.
  • Easy to Use Interface: Some users find the interface easy to use, particularly for file transfer and basic playback.
  • Customization: The customizable home screen and other settings are appreciated.
  • Lyrics Lookup: The lyrics lookup feature is well-received.
  • Long-term Reliability: Several users have been using MediaMonkey for many years and praise its consistent performance.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Stability Issues: Investigate and resolve the reported crashes, freezes, and compatibility issues with specific devices (e.g., Google Pixel 8 Pro) and file types (e.g., FLAC). Impact: Directly affects usability and user satisfaction.
  • Improve Artwork Management: Fix inconsistencies in artwork display and provide better tools for users to find and correct artwork. Impact: Enhances the visual experience and organization of the music library.
  • Clarify License Terms: Clearly define the terms and conditions of lifetime licenses to avoid confusion and dissatisfaction. Impact: Prevents negative reviews and builds trust.
  • Fix Shuffle Functionality: Correct the shuffle algorithm to prevent repeated songs and ensure it only plays tracks from the selected playlist. Impact: Improves the core music playback experience.

Medium Priority:

  • Enhance Syncing Reliability and Speed: Optimize the Wi-Fi syncing process to improve its reliability and speed, especially for large libraries. Impact: Makes a core feature more efficient and user-friendly.
  • Implement "Stop" Button/Functionality: Add a clear "Stop" or "Shut Down" button to prevent unexpected music playback, especially with Bluetooth devices. Impact: Improves user control and prevents unwanted interruptions.
  • Address Tag Editing Conflicts with Windows: Resolve the issue where editing file information in MediaMonkey corrupts tags in Windows. Impact: Ensures data integrity and compatibility with other systems.
  • Optimize Scanning Time: Reduce the time it takes for the app to scan the memory card on startup. Impact: Improves initial app loading time.
  • Improve Media Server Streaming: Fix the reported bugs and flaws in media server streaming. Impact: Improves the usage of a key feature.

Low Priority:

  • Add Sleep Timer Shortcut: Implement a more easily accessible shortcut to the sleep timer option. Impact: Improves convenience for users who use the sleep timer frequently.
  • Implement Sign-In Feature for Syncing Settings: Develop a sign-in feature for syncing settings and libraries over Wi-Fi. Impact: Enhances user experience across multiple devices.
  • Add Direct Editing of Server Content: Allow users to directly edit content on media servers. Impact: Improves control over media libraries.
  • Add Comprehensive ID3/4 Tag Updates: Improve handling of ID3/4 tag updates. Impact: Improves user control of their music library metadata.
  • Add Option to Bypass Android DAC Chip: Include an option to bypass the Android DAC chip for users with external DACs. Impact: Improves audio quality for audiophiles.
  • Add Find More From "Album Artist" Option: Add a feature to easily find more tracks from the same album artist. Impact: Improves music discovery.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Smart Music Tagging Service: A service that automatically and accurately tags music files, including artwork, using advanced audio fingerprinting and metadata databases. This could address the ongoing issues with artwork and tag management.
  • Cross-Platform Media Management Tool with Cloud Sync: A tool that not only manages local media libraries but also seamlessly integrates with cloud storage and streaming services, providing a unified experience across all devices. This could address the desire for Spotify integration and better multi-device syncing.
  • Advanced Playlist Generation Algorithm: An algorithm that goes beyond simple shuffling and creates dynamic playlists based on user listening habits, mood, and context. This could address the complaints about the shuffle functionality.
  • Mobile App to Correct Music Metadata: A mobile app that would allow users to easily correct music metadata and artwork on the go.

Trends and Observations

  • Strong User Loyalty: Many users have been using MediaMonkey for years, demonstrating strong loyalty to the brand and its core functionality.
  • iTunes Replacement: MediaMonkey is consistently positioned as a replacement for iTunes, suggesting a target audience of users who are dissatisfied with Apple's media management ecosystem.
  • Focus on Local Media: The app primarily caters to users who maintain their own local music libraries, rather than relying solely on streaming services.
  • Importance of Syncing: The Wi-Fi sync feature is a major selling point and a key differentiator for MediaMonkey.
  • Need for Modern UI: While the core functionality is appreciated, some users find the UI dated, suggesting a need for a visual refresh.
  • Device-Specific Issues: Some issues appear to be specific to certain Android devices, highlighting the importance of thorough testing across different hardware configurations.

Conclusion

MediaMonkey Pro remains a popular choice for managing and syncing large music libraries, particularly for users seeking an alternative to iTunes. However, addressing the reported stability issues, improving artwork management, and clarifying license terms are crucial for maintaining user satisfaction and attracting new customers. By focusing on these key areas, Ventis Media can solidify MediaMonkey's position as a leading media management solution. The high percentage of 5-star reviews indicates a strong foundation, but the negative feedback highlights opportunities for significant improvement. Overall, I would recommend that the developers prioritize addressing the high-priority issues outlined above to improve the user experience and maintain a positive reputation.

Original App Link

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ventismedia.android.mediamonkeypro