Audio Editing Software Review

There are a variety of reasons to use audio editing software; while some people use it to create and record files, others use it to edit and restore old recordings, and some use it only to convert and change file types. Thanks to audio editing software, more people have the opportunity to get their creative juices flowing by using the affordable and capable applications available on the market today.
If you are curious about what you can do with audio editing software and trying to decide if it’s the right purchase for you, here are some basic features each application allows you to perform:

• Create – With an easy-to-use basic program, even an amateur can create unique voice and music mixes for an internet radio station, website, PowerPoint presentation or for personal use.

• Restore – Advanced filters and other tools within the audio editing software applications can restore the sound of aged LPs or damaged audio recordings. You can also use these filters to filter out background noises, static or other unwanted noise.

• Edit – Audio editing software applications include several editing tools, including cut and paste options and the ability to edit tag or media information.

• Record – Through a compatible program, you can record your favorite podcasts, internet radio stations and other types of streaming audio. You can also pull audio from a video or audio file, CDs, DVDs or even your sound card, so that you can edit and listen to it on your computer or a portable device.

• Convert – Most programs can convert file formats. For example, from a MIDI to an MP3, WMA, WAV or OGG file.

Audio Editing Software Benefits

The top eight programs in our review ranked quite close to each other and are within a similar price range; however, they all support different formats, editing tools and recording/ burning abilities.
There are several factors to consider when looking for suitable applications. Before choosing a program, determine what you want to do with the software. Are you interested in working with streaming audio, making arrangements for your iPod or MP3 player, restoring sound files, forensics, creating audio for your website or burning a CD of your band's music?
There are also a variety of editing tools, effects and filters available. If you are a beginner, you may want to look for a product that includes a large number of preset effects and filters. Alternately, if you already know how to use this kind of software and know how to make adjustments on your own, you may want a program that supports a high level of manipulation through a 10-band equalizer, a mixer or various processors.
Below are the criteria TopTenREVIEWS used to evaluate each application:

Audio Editing
All good programs contain play, record, cut, copy, paste and so on; this criterion looks beyond the essential editing tools to include tools such as equalizers, processors, mixers, preset effects, filters and analyzing tools like the waveform or spectrogram.

Recording/Editing Ability
The best programs will capture audio from files, the sound card or from downloaded CDs as well as from outside sources such as a line-in from a stereo, MIDI device or microphone. As a bonus, it is also helpful if the product includes burning software so that you can use your CD or DVD burner to save edited files. To be the most compatible, the product must be able to work with and convert many file formats, like the various WAV file types, Windows Media Audio (WMA), AIFF (used by Apple) and MP3 files.

Ease of Use
All key features of the product should be easy to find and use. It is accommodating if the product contains preset effects and filters placed in the dropdown menus or icons, mouse zooms, right-click edits and unlimited undos. Fast recorders that search for sound cards or streaming audio automatically are also handy.

Help and Support
This type of software can be tricky for inexperienced audio editors and non-professional mixers to master. Comprehensive help and support obtainable through FAQs, direct contact with technical support, user forums, help pages or other documents are necessary for this type of software.

For great prices, flexibility and easy-to-use audio editing software applications, check out the top 10 best options found above in our side-by-side comparison.

Windows 8 bundled Metro apps revealed

The next beta of Windows 8 will apparently give us a healthy dose of Metro apps, whether we want them or not.
Microsoft plans to release the Windows 8 Consumer Preview--basically, a pre-release version of the new OS available to anyone who wants to download it--on February 29. Microsoft is reportedly finalizing the Metro apps that will be bundled with the new OS. Citing "sources familiar with Microsoft's plans," the Verge revealed the current list as:

• Calendar
• Camera
• Mail
• Messaging
• Music
• People
• Photos
• SkyDrive
• Video

These are just the apps known so far, so there could be more in store before the Preview reaches consumers.
Among them, Mail, Calendar, People, and Messaging will be the main communications apps, with one source telling the Verge that Microsoft is trying to add SMS support to the Messaging app. And as with all Metro apps, each one can be updated through the new Windows Store. Further, the Metro apps that pop up in the Consumer Preview may not necessarily appear in the final version released later this year.
SkyDrive will be a key part of Windows 8 as Microsoft is hoping to bridge the gap between your local PC and the cloud. The new OS will let you log in with a Windows Live ID, helping you synchronize settings, preferences, and other data both online and across other PCs. The SkyDrive integration will further allow you to save and access files directly on your own 25 gigabyte chunk of the cloud-based storage service.
This latest report follows a similar story from the Verge revealing some of the games that would be available for the Consumer Preview directly through the Windows Store. Among them are Angry Birds, Toy Soldiers, Ms Splosion Man, Reckless Racing, and Rocket Riot.
Of course, the Metro UI has fired up some users who've complained that it's designed more for touch-screen tablets than for PCs driven by mouse and keyboard. Microsoft has repeatedly defended the new interface and has promised that the Consumer Preview will offer a more PC-friendly experience than did the Developer Preview.

A Microsoft spokesperson told CNET that the company has nothing to share about bundled apps at this time.
But the company did confirm yet again that Media Center will indeed be part of Windows 8. Concerns over Media Center being MIA surfaced last September when the application failed to show up in the Developer Preview.

A later pre-beta build of Windows 8 did feature Media Center, but Microsoft apparently felt the need to clear up any rumors once again by tweeting yesterday: "Good Grief. We said 'Media Center will definitely be part of Windows 8.'"

Five smart ways to handle multiple tabs in Chrome

• The aptly named TooManyTabs gives you quick access to your tabs through an icon in the top right which lets you know how many tabs you've got open. Click it to bring up a sortable list of tabs with previews of those you've visited since starting the extension. It's easy to find tabs, reopen closed tabs and even export tab sets for use on other machines. 
  

  TooManyTabs

  (Credit: Rob Lightner)
• Tab Menu is extremely simple, which makes it perfect for those who just want to find tabs with minimal fuss. Click on its icon in the upper right at any time to get a vertical list of open tabs in the current window. Select any one of them to switch to it. This is great for those times when you've got so many tabs open that you can't read their titles. 
  

  Tab Menu

  (Credit: Rob Lightner)
• TabJump offers an interesting set of options for frequent tabbers. Click on the icon on the address bar to bring up a set of lists: recently closed tabs to reopen, related tabs that the extension thinks are similar to what you're viewing, and frequently used tabs. It takes a little thought to start using, but once it clicks, it's pretty handy. 
  

  TabJump

  (Credit: Rob Lightner)
• If you use multiple windows and prefer a visual guide to your tabs, try Tab Expose. It includes tabs from every window you've got open, and shows a list with thumbnails of the tab contents. Like the rest, it's accessible from the top right, and it shows the number of tabs you've got open. 
  

  Tab Expose

  (Credit: Rob Lightner)
• Visual Tabs is also a visual guide to your tabs, but it offers the cover flow style made popular by Apple. Just set your cursor on one side or the other and scroll to zip through open tabs. It can only show you tabs you've already viewed since installing the extension, so you may need to swing through them quickly before breaking it out.
  

  Visual Tabs

  (Credit: Rob Lightner)

Vonage dials up new mobile apps

It remains to be seen whether Vonage can make much traction against Skype’s installed base. Vonage’s international calling rates are 30 percent less than Skype's.
But that’s . The larger tale here goes well beyond . Just a few years ago, Vonage was on financial death watch. The company has rebuilt a balance sheet that looked like it wasn’t worth the paper it was printed on. Mark Lefar, CEO of Vonage, talked last month about how the company refinanced its debt twice in the last 13 months, cut those liabilities in half and trimmed interest rates in the 20 percent range to less than 4 percent.
In other words, Vonage is poised to report positive earnings growth on Feb. 15. Today, Vonage is known for more than its quirky commercials. So what’s the strategy? Can Vonage really grow beyond its U.S. base?
The answers to those questions were outlined during Lefar’s talk a month ago. Here’s the short version of Vonage’s strategy.

Grow international. Fifty percent of Vonage customers are on the Vonage World plan and 35 percent regularly make international calls. Vonage has opened three bilingual sales and services sites. Hispanic callers are the primary target. Lefar said that the consumer communications market outside North America tops $300 billion.
Snatch share in the U.S. In the U.S., Vonage research shows there are more than 20 million households that are looking to switch carriers.
Mobile growth. Lefar said there are free VoIP players that have invested as much in mobile. Vonage’s new apps use the phone’s established contact list. The plan is also to add feature phone software and a low-cost international roaming service.
For Lefar, Vonage’s mobile efforts at the very least will bring in more active users. “What we are finding is that those who download the applications do become active users. The issue becomes one of frequency of use, pricing structure, and simply getting penetration of those downloads,” said Lefar.

Drum Machine Software

Want to know about Drum Machine Software?

Drum Machine Software Programs have been around for years in one form or another. The basic concept is to create a computer emulated model of a hardware drum machine. The Drum Machine Software will either come with preset audio bits, and or allow you to load sound files like .wav's into the individual buttons.

The reality is that you can either spend $50 and buy a software beat machine or $1,000+ and buy a hardware one.

I personally would pick the software counterpart. At the end of the day the finished product is the same... music usually in a .WAV or .MP3 format.
There are also tons of kits for 808, 909, 303, 606, and other drum machines. These kits are usually single snares, hi hats, kick drums, crashes, toms, and any other drum hit you would find on that kits drum machine. In fact you can do a search here on the top right for say 808 and come up with tons of free hits\ to be downloaded and put into your favorite drum software.

Professional Home Design Software

Home Designer Pro is professional home design software for the serious DIY home enthusiast. Enjoy the same tools that the professionals use for home design, remodeling, interior design, decks, landscaping and cost estimation.
Home Designer Pro offers advanced design, building, and tools with the ability to create framing plans, roof plans, to produce construction documents.
Create your dream home today with the help of Home Designer Pro!

Professional Home Design, Interior Design & Landscape Software

Home Designer Pro makes it easy to design and visualize your ideas on your next home or remodeling project with over 8,000 powerful integrated tools. Use the automated building tools to assist you in your design process. The tools have commonly accepted defaults for most building practices to help you in your home design projects. Create accurately scaled floor plans that automatically generate 3D models in minutes.
– Create the Virtual Look and Feel Before You Build!

3D Home Design Software by Chief Architect

• Over 5,000 Sample Plans for design inspiration
• Choose from built-in style templates or create your own custom home design, or use the House Wizard™
• Powerful building tools like automatic roof generation, dormers, stairs, framing and foundations
• Artistic rendering techniques for Watercolor, Glass House™ and Technical Illustration
• Advanced 3D camera tools like Glass House™, Doll House™, Framing, Elevation and Cross-Sections

Get Started Quickly & Easily

• The Quick Startup Options Guide will help you begin with "How-To" tutorials based on your type of project
• Use the House Wizard™ for quick and easy layout of your rooms
• Select from the pre-designed Home Design and Landscaping Style Templates complete with colors, cabinets, decks and more
• The online help system provides detail information on all types of building projects
• Includes over 90 easy "step-by-step" tutorial videos that will quickly get you started on your next home design project

3D Home Design Tools

• Design in 2D and 3D. 3D Views are automatic with a point-and-click of the camera tool.
• Glass House™ View provides a full translucent view of your design. Choose other Artistic rendering techniques for Watercolor and Technical Illustration views.
• Doll House™ View, a 3D overview without the roof, is an effective tool for space planning of furniture placement and traffic flow
• Create a Virtual Tour – draw your record line to Automatically Generate; or record your camera movements
• Visualize your home with day and night views
• Assemble a scale model of your home design with Model Maker™
• Generate shadows from the sun for realistic 3D views
• Point-and-click to remove wall surfaces, or use 3D Cross-Section Elevation Slider™ to quickly create a 3D slice of your desired view

Automated & Manual Building Tools

• Design roofs and walls in 3D
• Automatic & Manual Roof tools - hip, gable, gullwing, salt box, shed or manually design a custom roof
• Use the Automatic Dormer tool to quickly place dormers – shed, gable, eyebrow and barrel
• Automatic Structural Dormers
• Unblock and manually edit Automatic Dormers
• Create any custom roof or ceiling plan with the Roof Design Tools. Edit and create roof planes to create a roof of any pitch and shape. Start with an automatic roof and then add custom details, or create the entire roof manually.
• Automatic framing tools
• Manual framing tools for fully editable framing, including joists, rafters, trusses, posts and beams. Choose structural or engineered lumber
• Choose from several built-in wall styles with individual wall layers or define your own wall style
• Ability to read and edit files
• ICC Residential Design Checklist will allow you to check your plan against national building codes

Kitchen & Bath Design

• Design the kitchen of your dreams – move walls, create new cabinets, add appliances – Design your perfect workspace!
• Create virtually any cabinet style with the Cabinet Designer tools and use the Material Painter to change the wood-style and colors
• Create custom cabinets in minutes by choosing your own colors, countertops, door styles, backsplash, counter edge, crown molding, base molding and hardware
• Plan the new layout of your bathroom with custom cabinets, sinks, showers and garden tubs
• Choose from a Library of fixtures and appliances and place inside or adjacent to cabinets
• Smart cabinet objects know how to bump, merge countertops, and create fillers automatically
• Create custom shaped countertops
• Choose from thousands of appliances, sinks, fixtures and kitchen islands
• Elevation camera tools for details and technical views

Interior Design

• Give your home the exact look and feel you desire – visualize new styles, colors, wall coverings, flooring, and other materials
• Plan your space with 3D models, virtual tours, and advanced design tools. It's easy to make your design ideas come to life
• Choose from a variety of latest interior items – including cabinets, chairs, tables, sofas, fabrics, and accessories. Resize, change colors and materials to meet your exact needs
• Import your own symbols from 3D file types including SKP, DXF, OBJ and 3DS
• Choose Pre-arranged furniture groupings that are already assembled to help quickly layout rooms kitchens, bedrooms, offices, and kid’s rooms
• Choose from thousands of colors and textures or create your own materials using a digital photograph
• Material Painter^® allows you to change the color and material of any object in your design – cabinets, countertops, walls, and flooring. Choose one of name-brand colors from Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore or Behr and apply as a stain or solid color
• Smart Design Objects, Drag-and-drop from thousands of design objects in the built-in Library organized by category
• Design for your lifestyle and personality – change colors, add lighting and choose furniture to accent your new room

Decks & Landscaping

• Get started quickly with templates for landscapes, decks, patios, and pools
• Design straight, curved, single level, multi-level, or stepped decks
• Control the orientation and size of deck planking, gap, width, overhang, direction, and border planks
• Automatic deck framing provides the structural components and foundation supports
• Estimate Costs, such as deck posts, planking, framing and concrete
• Generate cut and buy lists for your decking projects
• Deck foundations automatically generate to match sloped lots
• Plant Encyclopedia to learn more about the plants in your designs
• Choose from over 3,600 plants with the Plant Chooser™
• Plant Hardiness Zone reference maps
• See what your plants will look like in 0 – 20 years
• Pathways – Use the Pathway tool to design curb-appealing landscaping using stone, pavers, or sidewalks – line with trees, shrubs, flowers and more

Site Planning & Estimating

• Use Automatic Build Terrain and Terrain Perimeter tools to create flat, irregular shaped, or sloped lots – use a GPS to import or enter elevation data
• Create plot and perimeter plans; automatically generate a 3D model of your actual terrain
• Export Material List to spreadsheet programs including Microsoft^® Excel
• Save snapshot Material Lists for different stages of the project
• Add detail to each individual component in the material list for a comprehensive cost estimate breakdown
• Master Materials List allows you to store and manage commonly used material prices
• Sprinkler Designer™ tools to easily layout sprinkler zones
• Fences and Driveways – With the Fencing tools you can choose a variety of fencing styles and custom gates. You will also find driveway, sidewalk and curbing tools
• Hill and Valley tools make it easy to add gardens, beds and slopes that automatically appear in 3D views. Choose from landscaping style templates or create your own.
• Define Terrain Elevation lines, Elevation Regions and Terrain Breaks

CAD Tools

• Powerful CAD tools to detail cross-section views with insulation, cross-boxes and more
• Advanced CAD editing tools such as replicate, line weights, point-to-point move, custom patterns and more (Compatible with AutoCAD^® patterns)
• CAD-to-Walls™ allows you to convert CAD lines from DXF file format to walls
• Layers can be used to separate key building components such as electrical or framing. Display or hide features of your design, set colors, lock layers and use reference layers for precise editing.
• Create Back-Clipped Cross Section/Elevation Views to limit your view to relevant details for precise plan editing

Building Tools

• Customize construction methods for walls, floors, ceilings and foundations. Identify the exact placement of framing components, specify wall layers, floor structure platform height, mudsills and more.
• Advanced stair and ramp tools allow control of shape, starter treads, flaring, tread width and more
• Create pony walls and edit wall shape or create a stepped foundation in cross-section view
• Multiple-select editing. For example, select all your cabinets and change them all with one command.
• Use callouts to reference between details, plans and cross-sections in a blueprint layout
• Create blueprint layouts (up to Architectural C drawings 18" x 24") with 3D, CAD, Cross-Section/Elevation and Plan Views
• Rotate and Flip Plan
• Advanced dimensioning tools include angular, end-to-end and interior dimensions
• Fully editable dimension lines and configurable dimension editing allow you to change where dimensions locate walls, windows, doors and other objects

2012 Best DVD Ripper for Mac and Video Converter for Mac

With the application of various portable devices, video converters have become one indispensable tool to solve the incompatibility among different file formats. One video converter could help you convert a video file to any video format you need. And you can rip any DVD movie to your devices to watch on other than a DVD Player. Video Converter for Mac and DVD Ripper for Mac are the best tools to realize these ideas on the Mac OS.

Aiseesoft DVD Ripper Mac aims to rip DVDs to various video and audio formats on the Mac for playback on an iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, PSP, PS3, YouTube, and all kinds of cell phones and digital players. It also owns powerful editing functions like Video Converter for Mac.

Aiseesoft Video Converter Mac is specially designed to convert between all popular video formats and extract audio from video and convert them to other audios. It works perfectly on all mainstream video/audio players, such as iPods, iPhones, Apple TV, Pocket PCs, YouTube and mobile phones. This best Mac Video Converter also has more practical editing features.

Both DVD Ripper for Mac and Video Converter for Mac will bring you an unexpected audio-visual feast. If you are interested in, free-download one and begin to your fantastic digital life now!

Price and Availability

Aiseesoft DVD Ripper for Mac is now priced at $ 35.00
For more information, you can visit http://www.dvd-ripper-for-mac.com/

System Requirements

OS Supported: Mac OS X 10.4 or above
Hardware Requirements: 512MB RAM, Super VGA (800×600) resolution, 16-bit graphics card or higher