audio converter
DbPowerAmp Review – Lossless Music Converter
January 11, 2010
After deciding that I would like to convert my large collection of .flac lossless music to apple lossless format so I can organise them all in iTunes, I was faced with the task of finding the best software for the job. I started by using Foobar2000 to convert them via .wav, however I consequently lost all of the ID3 tags on the way and had to manually add them in through iTunes which was unsurprisingly tedious.
Enter DbPowerAmp Music Converter. I came across the software package after some extensive Googling and browsing of related forums and decided it was the most attractive option when compared to rival software. I immediately downloaded the trial and eventually got my hands on a full license.
Basically the package consists of several applications. As well as the music converter there is also a CD ripper and a batch converter. Personally, the only one I use is the latter of the three as I use iTunes itself for the CD ripping and I prefer to do my conversions in bulk as it is much less hassle.
Continue reading »How To Get Dolby Digital Sound From A Standard PC/Mac Mini Audio Output
December 29, 2009
I use my Mac Mini for everything… Surfing the net, managing my humongous iTunes library, watching HD video files? You name it, I do it. Sitting next to the Mac Mini is my Sony DAV-DZ260 Home Theatre System (amazing amp) which outputs to a 5.1 surround sound system.
Ever since getting the Mac Mini, I’ve connected it to the amplifier with a standard PC audio cable, but this meant that when I was watching my downloaded TV or movies from iTunes or other sources, I could only get 2.0 stereo sound which wasn’t as good an experience as the 5.1 I got from DVD’s played through the system.
Continue reading »XLD Review – Lossless Audio Decoder (Mac OS X)
December 15, 2009
If you’ve read my article rant about the future of digital downloads where lossless music is concerned, you’ll know that I’m somewhat of an audiophile. The problem is, even if you can find lossless music online, it will most probably be in FLAC format, which is incompatible with Apple’s iTunes. You’ll therefore need a converter, which is where X Lossless Decoder comes into the picture…
XLD is an extremely simple, but powerful and free application for Mac OS X that can convert audio from one format to another as well as rip CD’s. Format support is extensive, with support for popular compressed formats such as MP3 and lossless formats such as FLAC and Apple Lossless. There’s also an option to output to multiple formats which comes in handy on the odd occasion!
Continue reading »USB Tape Express – Audio Cassette Tape To MP3 Converter
November 28, 2009
The USB Tape Express is an ingenious piece of technology that converts almost any type of audio cassette into digital audio for your PC and/or MP3 player.
Connecting via USB, the device uses EZ tape converter software, compatible with Windows or Mac OS X to guide you through the transfer to MP3. Firebox.com claims the software to be ‘idiot-proof’ so it should be an easy enough process for just about anyone to use, perhaps your parents will find this item particularly useful and would be able to tell you about these strange items they used to use in their youth – audio cassette tapes!
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