Nero Multimedia Suite is comprehensive and if you are looking for a one-stop shop for your video editing, burning and back-up, it will definitely fit the bill. Although getting started is a bit of a mystery (the app installs lots of icons for features that can be managed via the StartSmart button), the various components are slick, easy-to-use and meet most basic to intermediate needs.

As in previous versions, Nero Multimedia Suite offers a range of quick burning/ripping tasks on the left and the complete range of features divided into tabbed areas at the top. When you choose an option, a window will open. You control the feature from there, choosing options and tweaking configurations.

The whole Nero Multimedia Suite experience is very simple. There are loads of online tutorials, wizards and step-by-step instructions for burning, ripping, backing up and editing - among Nero Multimedia Suite's most interesting features are the ability to digitize tapes and records, the file recovery application and, of course, Nero's famous burning skills.

Nero Multimedia Suite's critics will call it bloated and filled with unnecessary features. That's not entirely wrong, but what it brings in bloat, it makes up for in ease of use and centralization. Sure, you could carry out all of Nero Multimedia Suite's functions using other, cheaper software, and it's true that you may never use many of its functions, but users who will be interested in Nero Multimedia Suite won't care, because it allows them to do exactly what they want, when they want, and with minimal technical knowledge.

Nero Multimedia Suite 10 is bloated, but provides centralization and flexibility that many users will find irresistible.

Download Nero Multimedia Suite 12.0.02000 in Softonic

J. River Media Center is an intuitive program that will allow you to manage all of your multimedia files - audio, video, images and more - from a single interface. It isn't very pretty, but it does provide a great platform for your media and pretty much every configuration option you could hope for.

Although there are a number of skins for the J. River Media Center, none of them particularly help in the looks department. What is attractive, however, is the variety of viewing modes available: the four screen options available will take you from quick access to more theater-like viewing for movies and television. Playback quality is good, especially for audio, and larger screen options don't compromise viewing.

J. River Media Center has all the features you would expect from a modern player. As well as the standard audio, video and images, you can also subscribe to and manage podcasts, burn and rip CDs, sync with handheld devices, control via remote control, stream from the 'net and connect to high definition television (although to do this you'll need a tuner). Add this to J. River Media Center's extensive organizational, tagging and management abilities and J. River Media Center begins to look like a serious threat to other multimedia players.

Don't be fooled into thinking that the J. River Media Center is just a pretty face. It also has a fully functional browser, allowing you to search for information related to your music - and more - on the internet. Tech fans won't be disappointed either - J. River Media Center has a huge variety of configuration options ranging from the esthetic to the advanced, including a DSP (digital signal processor) studio for tweaking your audio, a media editor and audio recorder.

Often, a major problem with programs that try to do a lot is that they overreach and end up compromising quality. Not so with J. River Media Center. In the short time I tested it, the program performed perfectly, was easy to use and gave great quality output. If you just want a program that will play your CDs, you can probably get away with something lighter, but if you are looking for an integral multimedia manager with plenty of options, J. River Media Center might be the program for you.

J. River Media Center provides options galore and great quality - what more can you ask for in a multimedia player?

Download J. River Media Center 17.0.68 in Softonic

While hardly the most interesting piece of software, the AC'97 Audio Codec is a comprehensive addition to your audio set-up. It incorporates proprietary converter technology to achieve a signal-to-noise ratio above 90dB. It also supports multiple codec extensions with variable sampling rates and built-in 3D effects.

AC'97 Audio Codec provides two pairs of stereo outputs with independent volume controls, a mono output, and multiple stereo and mono inputs, as well as mixing, gain and mute functions that provide a complete integrated audio solution. The codec can be used to equal advantage in both PCs and netbooks.

The AC'97 Audio Codec also supports a SPDIF out function which allows easy connection from the PC to consumer electronic products. The codec comes bundled with Windows drivers and various sound effects (including Karaoke, emulation of 26 sound environments, and 5-band equalizer), features that round off any PC sound system.

If you need an audio codec solution for your PC, AC'97 Audio Codec is a great option.

Download AC'97 Audio Codec A4.06 in Softonic

WinX DVD Player has all the functions that you would expect of a DVD player and is controlled via the floating toolbar or by right-clicking on the screen itself. Language and menu options are also accessible from within the interface and the DVD Player can be used for bunches of file types, including AVI, DIVX, WMV, RM, RMVB, XVID, MPEG, VOB, DAT, ASF, MP3, WMA and RMA.

WinX DVD Player doesn't just stop there, however, and includes other functions that you wouldn't normally find on a DVD player, such as the option to bookmark specific parts of your film so that you can go back to them later, take screenshots from within the program and create playlists. In addition, the audio and video quality provided by WinX DVD Player is pretty high quality.

Unfortunately, WinX DVD Player has so many points against it that it's hard to see it in a positive light. Installation was buggy, the registration message is irritating, the floating toolbar doesn't disappear when watching in full screen mode, there is no information when you hover over options (meaning you don't know what you are clicking before you do it), and last, but certainly not least, WinX DVD Player is arguably unattractive.

A good DVD player can be hard to find, but WinX DVD Player is probably not the answer to your prayers.

Download WinX DVD Player 5.5.4 in Softonic

This driver supports all VIA southbridges with integrated sound plus several audio codecs as listed above. It also supports DOS sound for VIA VT82C686A/VT82C686B/VT8231 southbridges only.

The VIAAUDIO. COM file mentioned in the Readme concerning DOS sound can be obtained from this old audio driver package. It is no longer supplied in the Vinyl_AudioCodec driver package.

Download Vinyl Audio Codec 6.50 a in Softonic