To collect cool digital tunes, create MP3s from your CD collection, and organize these melodies into a music library you'll need jukebox software to meet the challenge.

Two heavyweights in the jukebox category are MusicMatch Jukebox 5.0 and Real Networks' RealJukebox 2.0. Both offer free versions available for download; we reviewed the $30 deluxe versions of each (RealJukebox is currently available in beta). Competitor Windows Media Player 7 has solid jukebox and playback features, but it's limited by being able to record only in WMA format, which many portable MP3 players can't handle yet.

What can you expect from these jukeboxes? Both excel at organizing digital music from multiple sources into one master list that can be sorted, searched, and saved into customized playlists. Built-in recording tools let you create MP3s of varying qualities (from 32 kilobits per second mono up to 320kpbs stereo) by "ripping" songs from existing music CDs. If you're connected to the Internet while the CD is playing, links to CDDB automatically import the name of the artist, album, song title, and other information to your library. You also get the option of storing private mixes or albums onto CD-ROM or one of several portable MP3 players.

As similar as they are, RealJukebox and MusicMatch have their own idiosyncratic ways of dealing with audio playback, customized interfaces and media formats other than MP3.

Though RealJukebox focuses on managing MP3s, it's not limited to this format -- it plays back just about any audio format, and will record to MP3, WAV file, or Real Media RMX files. Default recording in RMX creates secure files that can only be played back on your PC, so there's no worry about someone accessing them, even if you use Napster or Gnutella for media swapping (you can turn off this secured feature if you prefer).

RealJukebox lets you listen to CDs while ripping -- you can even pause recording and start again later without losing a thing (neither function is an option with MusicMatch). It rocks when it rips. In my tests, RealJukebox Plus recorded an entire album of MP3s at 128K in just over eight minutes. MusicMatch took nearly twice the time to rip the same album.

When you're bored with the interface, skins and visualizations jazz things up. In full mode, changes are limited to fonts and backgrounds but in Skin mode, the miniplayer takes on a variety of stylish looks ranging from pulsing Gigiophonic to the earthier Wood and Water. Visualizations are small video-like animations that pulsate and change in time to the music. Real's selection of these is admirable, and better yet, adjustable. Sadly, they can't go full screen like Media Player and MusicMatch.

Because RealJukebox uses a plug-in architecture, new functionality can be downloaded from the Internet as needed. For example, you can't burn music to a CD-Recordable disk out of the box, but if you download the Adaptec CD plug-in, you're good to go. Plug-ins also exist for playback of more exotic music formats like Liquid Audio and A2B, and support for specific portable MP3 devices.

MusicMatch's full view interface is split into three panes that can be opened or closed as needed. A playback frame displays your current playlist made up of Windows Media, MP2 or MP3 files. Clicking Library, Info, Guide, or Radio opens these functions in a lower panes. A separate control panel handles recording functions (you can record to MP3, Windows Media, or WAV format, and set up custom ripping levels).

Ripping test CDs went smoothly and you'll appreciate the color-coding feature which shows when the recordings are good (green) or if glitches have interfered with the sound quality (red). MusicMatch's ripping performance was disappointing compared to RealJukebox, but it still finished recording in about 1/3 of the time it takes to play an entire album.

Customized themes (skins) and visualizations are supported but rather limited. About a dozen themes are pre-installed (more can be downloaded) but few do more than change the fonts and menu bar graphics. Two visualizations are also available for download, one of which has over 100 patterns. These can be viewed in a mini window on the player, or double clicked to detach and display full screen.

Another welcome feature is the online MusicMatch Guide, which opens within the software. Best Matches shows suggestions for other music you might like based on recent tracks you've played, while the Recommendations tool matches music to your favorite album or artist based on the listening habits of other MusicMatch users. A handy Find Music tool will also locate free downloads and music you can buy to bolster your collection.

Burning a custom CD is easier with MusicMatch than RealJukebox. It's a two-click process (assuming you've set up a playlist of songs to burn). MusicMatch writes to almost every CD-Recordable and CD-ReWriteable drive -- but only to CD-R disks, since CD-RW disks don't play nicely with audio CD players. The major reason for buying the Deluxe version is the ability to burn CDs at up to six times the speed of the free version Other Deluxe goodies include a graphic equalizer and jewel case printing utility.