For all those in agreement with the French government that proprietary formats are damaging to the legitimate spread of digital music, then Tunebite will be right up your street. Proprietary music is essentially locked, so it can only be played using a particular brand of player. This software can be used to make any music playable on whatever portable devices you have or to burn your own music CD. It works by creating a playlist in the file’s native player, (Media Player for WMA, iTunes for M4B, M4P) playing the list and recording each track as an unprotected file. It could be seen as the modern equivalent of recording radio onto cassette, although Tunebite will automatically separate the different tracks.

The installation of this program is a bit tongue-in-cheek with a notice to say that you may see a warning during the process, swiftly followed by a pop-up warning letting you know that a particular driver hasn’t been registered with Microsoft. Following the advice of the previous notice and ignoring the warning dialog lets you finish the process. You are then taken to the configuration wizard where you complete six steps to choose what file format you want to record in.

The interface is so intuitive that when you first open the program you should have no doubt as to how to get recording. The three main elements of the interface are clearly marked as the “songs to record” window, the “recorded songs” window and an unmistakable “GO!” button in the centre. To get started you can either drag and drop your music files or use the “add file” or “add folder” buttons within the program. From there, it’s a simple matter of clicking the “GO!” button and letting Tunebite go to work.

Because the files are protected, they must be played through their own player, for example iTunes, and recorded in real-time. During our test, we happened to have another audio player in use as the recording began and as a result, the unprotected file was an incomprehensible mix of two tracks. This also means that if Tunebite is making a recording, you shouldn’t use your computer for other tasks such as browsing the net since every click sound that plays when you hit a link or even the Start Menu button will be recorded as well. With recording taking place in real-time you should plan for times when you won’t be using the computer, especially if you have a large music collection.

Tunebite is a solution to a problem that many music lovers face as control over their digital content becomes tighter and more restrictive. Protected tracks that have been paid for can easily be copied to any MP3 player or burned to CD for use in regular stereos. Admittedly, the method for recording is not ideal for everybody, but used properly, the results will be of the highest standard possible today.

Download Tunebite 5.1.120 in Softonic

When it comes to P2P file sharing, eMule usually wins hands down but UseNeXT is an interesting, slightly more sophisticated offering which has a lot to offer.

For starters, depending on your connection, it can be remarkably quick. You can download at speeds of up to 25 Mbps with DSL/Cable and it¡s pretty constant rather than the fluctuations you often get with such services. The network also prides itself on security over it's rivals such as Limewire and eMule - with ISPs continually cracking down on users, UseNeXT promises users far more anonymity than most.

The Usenet archives are supposedly some of the biggest in the world - more than 300 Terabytes of data available at all times and they claim that around 2,000 Gigabytes of new files are added daily. The problem in the past was that UseNeXT used to be a very complicated affair that only tech geeks can handle. However, nowadays, it's been simplified to such an extent that eMule, Limewire and other P2P users will feel more than comfortable with it.

While it can't possibly hope to compete with the reach and depth of the major P2P networks, UseNeXT offers an impressive selection with some super fast downloads.

Download UseNeXT 4.81 in Softonic

If you are the type of person who always changes your mobile ring-tone, this application is a must-have for you. EZ Ringtone allows you to convert music, either from CD tracks or mp3 file, to different ring-tone formats compatible with all modern devices.

The interface is really clear and simple: you just have to open an audio file to have an image of the right and left channel. Then select the part of your music you would like to convert to a ring-tone and press the format button compatible with your mobile. That’s it.

It’s annoying though that the trial version limits the duration of ring-tones to 5 seconds and it is a shame that there is not even a simple editing tool. It would have been good, for example, to have the possibility of mixing different parts of a song or maybe different titles as well. A fading or echo effect to end the recording would have made the final ring-tone a bit more ’professional’.

The tool that compresses MP3 files size from 30% up to 70% is also useful, saving valuable space on your mobile phone in case it’s not yet as capacious as a proper MP3 player.

Don’t be bored with your ring-tone ever again and drive all your co-workers mad with your favourite songs!

Download EZ Ringtone 1.7.0 in Softonic

The music world has truly been revolutionized by the use of software, and nowadays you'll find a plethora of application to help you from production to recording, mixing and playback.

UltraMixer, as the name suggests, is a mixing program aimed at DJs. Fitted with two channels a mixer and library, it allows you to store your tracks and play them consecutively, adjusting sound settings along the way.

I found the interface pretty clear, if not a little dull, yet first time DJs will probably find it handy to get grips with the different elements. Use of typical features like the crossfader, equalizer or cue are just like you would expect on a regular mixer.

The library is well organized in a tree structure, and allows you to keep all your different tracks the way you're most comfortable with.

If there is one big turnoff, according to me, it's the installation process. I found it way too long and suspect that it's intended to encourage you of going for the more advanced, and more expensive versions of UltraMixer. Effectively you'll find there is only one file to download, which contains all three versions: professional, basic and free. You'll need a key to activate the demo, and the process just takes even more time.

If the installation wasn't so complicated, I'd recommend UltraMixer as a good all around mixer for aspiring DJs. However for now I'd recommend turning to other programs.

Download UltraMixer Free 2.3.4 in Softonic

Power Sound Editor is one in a long line of similar audio editing programs that gives you everything you need to edit, cut and splice your music but nothing particularly original.

The program is mainly useful for those that need to add sound effects or special effects to music and sounds. It's also useful for equalising sounds although not a great deal more than that. The good aspect is that it's a very GUI based program - i.e. it presents everything in graphical form usually via icons. These graphics represent the various actions you might wish to carry out such as ripping tracks, equalising sounds and cutting tracks. For novices, the cutting and editing is particularly easy as it allows you to do everything in visual form. In terms of editing, this means Delete, Cut, Copy, Paste, Paste From File, Mix, Mix From File and apply different effects i.e. Amplify, Delay, Equalizer, Fade, Flanger, Invert, Normalize, Reverse, MultiTapDelay, Silence, Stretch, Vibrato, Echo and Chorus.

This is hardly the most original music editor you'll ever use but it will have some limited appeal for beginners.

Download Power Sound Editor 5.96 in Softonic

I'm sure that over the years you've managed to build up quite a collection of music. However, if you were born before the year 2000 then the chances are they won't all be stored in the form of perfect quality digital audio files. Vinyl, tapes and CDs were very good at the time, but given that we're all used to listening to music in crystal clarity these days, it can be quite painful to listen to these crackily old recordings.

Cool Record Edit is here to help though, allowing you to polish up your music and audio through an intuitive editor. The program is able to import recordings from LP, Internet, radio, TV, cassette, etc. to your hard drive, before making refinements to it. The application contains many useful tools, such as an amplifier, reverberator, volume gain, etc. as well as a handy zoom feature for pinpoint manipulation of the audio spectrum. I was also mightily impressed with the click and crackle filter, which is particularly good for cleaning up vinyl recordings.

Once you've edited your audio, you can committ it to CD using the built-in burning tool, and there are also tools for ripping and converting. If you want a program that can edit tracks for mixing and creating your own music then look elsewhere, but if you're after something that can improve the sound quality of your audio then Cool Record Edit is a powerful solution.

Download Cool Record Edit 5.9 Pro in Softonic

If you're throwing a party at home and would like to have some nice background music without having to pay an expensive DJ, this tool is what you need.

Zulu DJ is a free music mixing app that will enable you to perform as a professional DJ by yourself, just with the help of your computer and using your favorite songs. To be honest, the program is not the most complete DJ tool I've ever seen (meaning, don't expect it to be remotely similar to Virtual DJ, for example). However Zulu DJ is an excellent choice for beginners and DJ newbies who prefer an easy-to-use tool to a feature-ridden mixer that they can hardly use at all.

The program includes two main tracks to load the songs you want to mix, plus a series of sound effects you can apply on the go. It works with MP3 – among other formats - and supports drag-and-dropping of files, which makes it really handy. I especially liked the automatic BPM synchronization and the possibility to "preview" a song only through earphones before actually mixing it with the one on air. Just be aware that Zulu DJ is meant to mix music live and does not record your mixes.

With Zulu DJ you can give your first steps as DJ and easily mix your favorite songs. It may however fall short of expectations for more experienced DJs.

Download Zulu DJ 1.00 in Softonic

I'm not a professional DJ at all – not even an amateur one – but I can still appreciate a good DJing tool when it comes to my hands.

Ots Turntables Free is a basic yet fully featured DJ application with which you can have your very own DJ sessions at home. Feeling creative? Mix your two favorite songs and create a unique blending with the software mixing capabilities. Throwing a party? Spice it up with your most lively songs, mixed together in a continuous loop.

The good thing about Ots Turntables Free is that it's loads of fun, even for those o us who have almost no experience in mixing music. The program's intuitive interface, designed just like a real double turntable, makes it very easy to use: you can adjust the volume, speed and tempo of each sound source, and even make some scratching effects by dragging the turntable with your mouse. Plus, the program features a couple of samples to get you started but you can easily add your own MP3 files.

On the downside, however, this free version of Ots Turntables has been slightly crippled to keep some of the extra tools for the Pro version. While I understand this decision, I find that some limitations, such as not being able to record your mixes, are a bit too restrictive.

Even if you're not a professional DJ, you can have lots of fun with Ots Turntables Free. However, its basic functionality may disappoint more experienced users.

Download Ots Turntables Free 1.00.027 in Softonic

Have you found that you've never really fallen in love with iTunes or any of the other major media players?

If so then you might find Jajuk a breath of fresh air. Firstly, this program is based on Java which I don't usually like but because the program does such a good organising job, it's worth tolerating the occasionally lags and sluggishness. The program is very flexible in that it can handle music in all sorts of formats including MP3, OGG Vorbis, AU, AIFF, WAV and SPEEX audio formats. The probelm is that this is no simple organiser of music - it's very specialized and quite technical meaning that you'll spend a good few hours just getting to grips with it's main features. On the plus side, it is remarkably fast intuitive in the way it organises your music into different genres, bands and titles. I particularly liked the ambiance manager which allows you to make playlists based on genres of music to suit your moods. There's also a basic but functional DJ tool which includes a configurable crossfader for some super slick mixing and editing of your favourite tracks.

A very exciting alternative to iTunes although it's maybe a little too bloated with features for it's own good.

Download Jajuk 1.5.2 in Softonic

RealPlayer is so ubiquitous that the really is no getting away from it even though it's widely criticised as being too commercial and too bloated. However, you can't avoid the fact that it's an essential piece of software if you're surfing the internet regularly.

It is indeed bloated, intrusive but RealPlayer has alot of functionality - it can do a hell of a lot from streaming radio and video to burning CD's but it's often slow and cumbersome. One of the most annoying aspects is that it takes simply ages to start whether streaming a clip or just opening a standalone video file. This is because all of the hundreds of extensions and plugins that come preinstalled with it. There are also too many clicks and mouse movements required just to switch to a full-screen playback mode when viewing a clip on a web page.

In saying this, Realplayer isn't bad at all. It's comparable to Windows Media Player 10 as they both have some impressive ways of organising your music and for me the best feature is the CD burner which is one of the easiest burners I've ever used.

Like it or loathe it, as proprietors of the Real networks codecs, RealPlayer is here to stay for a long time to come

Download RealPlayer 11.0.0.442 in Softonic

Although many programs are now able to rip your CDs to multiple formats, few are as powerful as Kat CD Ripper.

Kat CD Ripper allows you to rip a whole CD, selected tracks or even parts of selected tracks while supporting CDDB at the same time, meaning you don't have any time consuming relabeling to do when you are done. As is standard with such programs, you have full control over sampling rates and other parameters regarding the quality of the Mp3 or WAV files that you rip. It also features a useful volume normalisation function which allows you to make sure that if you're mixing different tracks off of different CDs, the finished product does not sound all over the place. Probably the most unique feature however is the ability to select a section of the CD in a window display which allows you to select the "range" of the track - basically the start and the end position. You can also record sounds directly into the program from a microphone. The downside however is that the program has been designed with Windows XP in mind which means that Vista users may experience certain glitches in recording and problems in ripping.

Overall, a very powerful ripping tool that gives you maximum control over exactly what you need to record.

Download Kat CD Ripper 1.8 in Softonic

Sony's flagship sonic app is designed to everything an aspiring music maker needs to produce professional-quality audio on your home computer. Sound Forge allows you to record just about anything, edit and restore audio, burn CDs, create streaming media, and convert files with lightning speed — all using drag-and-drop actions and simple commands.

Core benefits of the suite:

Learn as you go

Capture from any source

Powerful editing tools

Effects processing

Download Sound Forge Audio Studio 9.0 d in Softonic

Say you have an impressive collection of DVD movies. Say you just bought Microsoft Zune. Why not mixing both elements?

With Nidesoft DVD to Zune Converter you can easily rip your entire DVD video collection and save it into Zune's video format, so that you can enjoy your favorite movies on the move. The program includes several presets with different audio and video adjustments, which means you can choose your preferred size/quality proportion when ripping the video file. There are some sliders on the right side of the interface to manually customize audio and video quality but unfortunately these can't be saved as new presets. Nidesoft DVD to Zune Converter also enables you to extract the audio track of your DVD movies to AAC, MP3 or M4A formats.

The whole ripping process is quite simple. Just insert the DVD, select the most suitable preset and let the program do the job. Before actually starting to rip, you can preview the video in the app's embedded player.

Nidesoft DVD to Zune Converter lets you rip your DVD movies to watch them on the Zune player, although you'll need to adjust to the program's presets.

Download Nidesoft DVD to Zune Converter 3.1.12 in Softonic

Beatport SYNC makes for a good audio player for users looking to have fun with mixing features. The clean and crisp dark blue interface shows both your music library and the mixing tools. We found it very easy to browse between the different categories including our own music, playlists and even iTunes. Beatport SYNC can let you play music from any external device, whether a hard drive, an MP3 player or an iPhone.

The mixing features are fairly basic, but should satisfy any occasional DJ. Beatport SYNC includes two decks with pitch control, a crossafder and basic playback functions.

We were disappointed by the online radio feature, which only allowed us to connect to Proton, an electronic music station. You can also connect to the Beatport online store, via the Beatport tag, where you'll find a reasonable collection of tracks and albums by many different independent artists in all sorts of genre. Check out the charts if you don't know what to look for.

Beatport SYNC is an audio player/ online store with basic mixing features for users looking for an all around audio solution.

Download Beatport SYNC 1.0 in Softonic

Audio mixers tend to be complicated tools that only those with some mixing skills and music knowledge can really take full advantage of their features. But now you have TrakAxPC, a mixing app for both audio and video files that everyone can use.

The program displays a slick interface, perfectly organized in different areas: a media browser, a video preview window and also special tools dedicated to edit and mix audio loops. The first time you launch the program you'll be able to play a sample mix, which, along with some useful tooltips displayed on the interface's right side, are a great help to get you started. The only drawback to this interface would be that the actual working space is too small and makes it a bit uncomfortable to use.

TrakAxPC includes some audio loops that you can use in your musical creations, but sadly no video loops. In any case, you can buy new loops online from the program itself or rip certain fragments from your music CDs with TrakAxPC's built-in ripper.

An excellent audio and video mixer, with great tools for advanced users but also easy enough for everyone to use.

Download TrakAxPC 2.0.108 in Softonic

Creating a professional sounding audio CD is not just about putting a blank disc in your CD burner and starting Nero. To create professional results, you need to refine the audio so that your audio levels are precise, especially if you're creating a musical CD. Sony CD Architect provides all the tools you need to produce professional CDs from beginning to end. Be warned though, this is not a program for the faint hearted and you'll need some experience in audio engineering or mixing to use it.

With Sony CD Architect, you can perform full PQ code editing, apply effects, create customized crossfades, and generate disc-at-once premasters suitable for professional replication. There are a multitude of special effects that you can apply including EQ, compression, reverb, and noise gating. You can apply effects to individual tracks, sections of a track, or the master bus itself.

You can edit soundwaves in minute detail as it allows you to zoom right-in on waves and perform precise, real-time edits, fades and crossfades. You can invert audio phases, normalize tracks, and perform audio scrubbing - even apply real-time pitch changes and time stretching. The amount of features and options in Sony CD Architect is in fact mind boggling and for anyone interested in producing a professional music album, an essential tool.

Download Sony CD Architect 5.2 in Softonic

Being the owner of two turntables, I enjoy playing my records and creating my own mixes. Don't get me wrong though, I limit myself purely to the bedroom dj experience, and I'm quite happy with it. I bought my turntables nearly 6 years ago, and in that small time span it's interesting how the MP3 has made them close to obsolete. Nowadays the majority of DJs, carry their tracks around on laptops and mix with sophisticated applications like Virtual DJ. These offer all the classic characteristics of a mixer and turntables but usually add sampler-like effects and loops to customize your set.

With Virtual DJ, you can do all your djing on your PC. Drag and drop your tracks from your music database to the turntables. Adjust the sound levels, synchronize the songs by adjusting pitch, smoothly drag the cross fader to create the transition between the tracks and set high, mid and low to ensure that your mix is flowing. If you don't want to worry about your transitions, press the auto mix button and let Virtual DJ do all the work for you.

What makes Virtual DJ exciting to aspiring DJs are the sample loops and jingles you can spontaneously add to your mix. Drag and drop effects like backspin, flippin double and brake to play around with the tracks. Bring in loops to add a rhythm or melody to the music. If you know how to introduce and time these effects well, you can really turn the set to your own flavour and create your own signature sound.

Virtual DJ also lets novice djs dominate the dance floor. If you're really not confident about your djing capabilities you can choose to prerecord your own mix. Saving your recording as an MP3 is probably the best option, although in Virtual DJ you can also create a mix CD, handy if you want a backup or if you're not planning on bringing your laptop to the party. If you have your own show on the net, you can connect to an internet radio server and broadcast your own session live. That way you can attract a bigger audience and make your name known on the internet.

Virtual DJ is accessible to beginners and packed with extra features. The only real downside however, is that Virtual DJ has a tendency to jam when you're adding effects, samples or tweaking the equalizer during a mix. There's nothing worse when you're in the middle of a set and you've got people on the dance floor. To avoid surprises, we suggest that you record your mix beforehand or that you use effects sparingly.

On the whole, Virtual DJ is an intuitive and exciting application for beginning and aspiring DJs. You'll get the chance to showcase your very own styled mix without having to buy and carry around expensive and bulky equipment.

Download Virtual DJ 5.0 in Softonic

There seems to be no end to the stream of audio software being released for playing music and organising your collection but if you actually happen to be involved in the creative process you may notice a distinct lack of variety in the tools on offer. Sure Pro Tools does it all but not everyone is willing to fork out hundreds or even thousands of dollars for the required breakout box and other associated hardware. For those with a slight interest in audio editing and who would like to get a taste for what is involved, Digital Audio Editor proves to be a great platform, both thanks to the basic set of editing tools it offers and its pleasant, easy-to-use interface.

On getting started you can open any audio file you have saved or record a track from a CD or for example, your favourite internet radio station. Once you’ve chosen the sample rate and made a recording, you are given a visualisation of the wave form on both the left and right stereo channels. On a very basic level, you can simply select chunks of audio and manipulate them as you want; cutting, pasting, copying or mixing. Luckily, for those who like to experiment, you can set the level of undos available anywhere between one and one thousand meaning that even if you make a complete mess you can still get back to the original sample. However, if you do go into detailed editing beware that the trial version doesn't allow you to save files.

Of course, it features all the tools you'd expect to help you fade in and out, normalize samples, convert sample rates and add delay effects among others. However, when choosing an effect to add, there is no way to preview how it will sound which compares poorly to Sound Forge, another quality audio editor that lets you hear a short clip of the audio with the effect applied. In the case of Digital Audio Editor, this could well lead to a lot of time wasted waiting for effects to load and then going back again to adjust them to perfection.

All considered, Digital Audio Editor warrants its price tag of $40 (considering the professional solution will set you back $300), especially for users who have simple editing work to do such as cleaning up a podcast or correcting the sound levels of a mixed track. However if you are intent on doing some serious editing work then you would be better served by the pricier but more complete Sound Forge. As such, this makes a great option for beginners, hobbyists or anyone who's just curious.

Download Digital Audio Editor 7.8.2.13 in Softonic

Mixcraft is a great multi-track audio recorder that enables you to record your band, create a podcast, create mash-ups or remix a song. Mixcraft functions as two programs in one! Use it as a multi-track recorder or as a music loop remix program.

As a multi-track audio recording program, Mixcraft allows you to record and play multiple tracks at one time. Add effect processing such as reverb, delay, flanger or any 3rd party VST or DirectX effects. Mix down your recording to CD or MP3 directly in Mixcraft. No need to dust off your old four track recorder! As remix software, it supports Apple Loops, Acid Loops and our own custom loop format. Mixcraft’s Song Kits allow you to create your own song in dozens of styles to sing along or rap to.

Creating your own loop or extracting a loop from a well known song is a few clicks away. With Mixcraft, you can always be on the beat! Even with all this power, Acoustica engineers have kept the design easy-to-use and clean.

This is what Mixcraft has to offer:

• Clear, colorful, and intelligently designed interface to streamline your work
• Custom loop library includes hundreds of royalty-free sounds and loops in dozens of musical styles
• Works with Acid and Apple Garage Band Loops
• Add unlimited tracks and effects (including VST and DirectX effects)
• Record multiple tracks simultaneously
• Visually time stretch sounds with FlexAudio
• Includes 16 ultra-high quality effects
• Mix down to MP3, WAV, and other audio file types
• Burn CDs of your mix with just one click

Download Acoustica Mixcraft 3.1.38 in Softonic

The world of dance music has changed a fair bit in the last few years. Where DJs could once come on and just play a few records, many of today's ravers demand a more immersive multimedia experience when they're dancing the night away. Cell VJ gives you the chance to dazzle the crowd with stunning visual experiences to accompany the music.

The application is a companion to the VideoDJ software and contains everything you need to be able to mix video and music in real-time. With so many options to get your head around, it's a little tricky to use at first but gradually the interface becomes easier to understand and you should be creating decent mixes within a couple of hours. Handily, Cell VJ comes with 36 default clips which are great for trying out all the nice effects, transitions, speed controls and mixers in the program.

Download Cell VJ 1.0 in Softonic