MUSIC AND VIDEO

MUSIC AND VIDEO

BEST MUSIC ORGANISER
MediaMonkey
Most people’s digital music collection isn’t as organised as it should be thanks to incorrectly labelled tracks, missing tags and duplicate songs. MediaMonkey simplifies the process of consolidating your library by automatically adding tags and any other absent information. It can pull this data directly from Amazon or look it up on online music database Freedb.org. The software can also play your tracks, rip and burn CDs, convert between formats and synchronise any MP3 player.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 4.8MB
Download at: Get the free version of MediaMonkey here

[Read Web User's MediaMonkey review]

BEST MUSIC EDITOR
Audacity
A great tool for recording and editing audio, Audacity lets you import and improve your music files, overcoming common problems like background noise, untimely gaps and low volume. You can use it to convert tapes or records to digital; cut, copy, splice and mix audio content; and even produce professional-sounding podcasts. Note that to save files in MP3 format you also need to download the LAME MP3 Encoder from the site.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 2.1MB
Download at: Get the free version of Audacity here


BEST MUSIC PLAYER
iTunes
Although you really need to own an iPod to get the most from it, Apple’s music player is still an excellent piece of software. You can use it to play audio and video, organise your tracks, download new ones from the Apple store (along with podcasts) and even stream your music over a network. For iPod owners it’s an essential program and always worth updating to the latest version for new and improved features. Although there are several free alternatives, few come close.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 47.6MB
Download at: Get the free version of iTunes here

[Read Web User's iTunes review]

BEST VIDEO PLAYER
GOM Player
The Gretech Online Movie player has a range of settings you can use to improve the look of your video. It can smooth and sharpen an image and also ‘de-interlace’ it for better viewing. It has advanced subtitle support and audio settings that include a voice filter to enhance speech. The player is compatible with most video formats including streaming, Flash and DVDs, and can also play partial or damaged clips.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 4MB
Download at: Get the free version of GOM Player here


BEST VIDEO CONVERSION TOOL
SUPER ©
Converting video from one format to another needn’t be tricky. SUPER © (Simplified Universal Player Encoder and Renderer) is ideal for beginners because the conversion process only involves loading your file, selecting the output format you want and clicking Encode. It does have several advanced features however, including being able to set a video’s size, frame rate and aspect ratio.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 25.6MB
Download at: Get the free version of SUPER © here


BEST CD/DVD-WRITING PROGRAM
InfraRecorder
There are two different interfaces for this free CD/DVD-writing tool. The main one lets you add your files to the disc layout window and then manage and burn the content, while Express mode provides a simpler but quicker means of burning discs. The software can produce and write image files, copy discs on the fly and even burn dual-layer DVDs.
Minimum Requirements: Windows
File size: 2.5MB
Download at: Get the free version of InfraRecorder here


---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We welcome suggested additions to our list - visit our forums to have your say.

[Discuss these programs now at our Reader Recommends forum]

BEST FREE IMAGING & EDITING SOFTWARE

BEST FREE BROWSERS AND ADD-ONS SOFTWARE

BEST FREE COMMUNICATION & CHAT SOFTWARE

BEST FREE SECURITY & SYSTEM SOFTWARE

BEST FREE DESKTOP & PRODUCTIVITY SOFTWARE

Back to ESSENTIAL FREE SOFTWARE DOWNLOADS INDEX