MediaMonkey is a music and video manager and player for Windows, built for very large collections. It catalogs audio and video from local drives, network folders and CDs, fixes tags and file names, rips and converts media, and syncs content to phones and other devices. The Standard edition is free; MediaMonkey Gold is a paid upgrade that adds background automation and removes several limits. A companion MediaMonkey app for Android syncs with the Windows library.
How the library is structured
MediaMonkey reads files from the folders you add and builds a database you can browse by artist, album, composer, genre, location and other fields. Collections separate different kinds of media, so audiobooks, podcasts, classical recordings and music videos do not crowd the main music view. Fields can hold more than one value, which suits tracks with several artists or genres, and custom fields cover details the standard tags do not.
MediaMonkey writes edits to the files as standard tags, so other players read the same metadata. When another program changes a file in a monitored media folder, MediaMonkey updates its library entry. A Files to Edit node lists tracks with missing information or unorganized files, and batch editing applies one change to many tracks.
Auto-Tag and metadata lookup
Auto-Tag searches online sources for missing information and writes it into the selected files. It can identify a track from its existing tags or by audio fingerprint. A faster setting tries the tags first and falls back to fingerprinting only when no match turns up. A review dialog shows proposed changes before saving, letting you compare values, pick an alternative match or keep the original. You cannot undo changes once you apply them.
You choose which fields Auto-Tag fills, whether it adds artwork, and whether it prefers album releases over singles. You also set a confidence threshold below which existing tags stay untouched. Video uses filename and title data instead of fingerprints, so TV episodes need series, season and episode numbers. MediaMonkey automatically matches inserted CDs against MusicBrainz.
Renaming and moving files
The Organize Files tool moves and renames files using a mask built from tags, such as a folder per artist with album and title in the file name. A preview column shows each new path before the change, and you can edit individual paths or exclude files. MediaMonkey numbers duplicates so it does not overwrite anything. It can trim paths that exceed the Windows length limit. It also offers to bring artwork or lyric files from the old folder along with the media. A separate duplicate finder locates repeated tracks so you can remove them.
CD ripping and conversion
MediaMonkey rips audio CDs straight into the library as MP3, OGG, WMA, FLAC, ALAC or M4A files. The converter handles audio formats including MP3, AAC/M4A, OGG, WMA, WAV, FLAC and ALAC, plus video to AVI, WMV and MP4, and carries tags across to the new files. Some encoders, M4A and MP4 among them, run on a trial period and need the separately sold MediaMonkey Codec Pack after that. Volume leveling analyzes tracks with ReplayGain or MP3Gain so they play back at a consistent loudness.
Playback, playlists and Auto-DJ
The player covers common audio and video formats, including FLAC, APE, MPC, MKV and MP4. It adds a 10-band equalizer, DSP add-ons and WASAPI output for dedicated audio hardware. Video opens in a theater view. You can build playlists by drag and drop, or create AutoPlaylists that refresh themselves from saved search criteria. Auto-DJ keeps playing tracks that match your rules once the queue runs out. Party Mode lets guests request songs while the library itself stays locked against changes.
MediaMonkey also downloads subscribed podcasts, plays internet radio, scrobbles to Last.fm and can sync playlists with Spotify. Skins, add-ons and selected Winamp plugins extend it.
Device sync, sharing and casting
Sync sends audio, video and playlists to iPhone, iPad, iPod and Android devices, along with artwork, ratings and play history, and converts files the device cannot play. The Android app can sync over Wi-Fi. You can also sync or back up library content to Dropbox, Google Drive or OneDrive.
A built-in UPnP/DLNA server shares the library with TVs, consoles and other players on the home network, and MediaMonkey can browse other DLNA servers. Casting sends playback to Google Cast and DLNA devices, with MediaMonkey acting either as the controller or as a renderer that receives streams.
MediaMonkey Gold additions
Gold changes these areas of the free edition:
| Area | Free Standard | MediaMonkey Gold |
|---|---|---|
| File organization | Manual Organize Files | Auto-Organize applies rules when files are added or edited |
| Auto-Tag | Batches of 20 files, rate-limited | Batches of 100, no speed limit, background artwork and lyrics |
| Volume leveling | Run manually | Automatic analysis |
| Conversion for sync and DLNA | Preset settings | Custom format and bitrate |
| Streaming and casting | 30-minute limit | Unlimited |
| Encoding speed | Standard | Multi-core encoding for ripping, conversion and leveling |
Gold also adds CD ripping that adjusts speed to disc condition and checks results against the AccurateRip database. You can manage its custom collections independently of each other. Gold also adds a Locate Files tool for tracks moved outside MediaMonkey and a sleep timer that fades out playback.
