Previously i have posted about free flv encoder, but for some people (and that’s including me) .. i prefer to extract the audio files within those flash video file so i can do some other thing as well while listening to various song extracted from various video download site such as Google Video and / or Youtube using my favorite audio player (winamp)

So without further adieu .. here’s the download page of Moitah FLV extractor .. (in order to use it you’ll need .Net Framework 2), and you can grab it from here

As for the other thing, Moitah already explained it all in his page, also you can find many other audio video related tools in his site :)

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0x87485B96 | Tags : Audio Tools, Freeware, Multimedia, Software, Video Tools, Windows

Do you have a lot of midi files available in your computer ? and you want to add some personal touch into it ? Well .. if that’s the case then you should try to use AnvilStudio by Willow Software and of course i choose this because .. well .. um .. it's free :P .. and best of all, it's really easy to use this software unlike many other professional sound editing program or any other midi program available on the web

Actually before i found this program, i have tried using various midi editor too (even i’ve tried various professional sound editing tools too). Unfortunately all of them can’t be used easily for a beginner in music editing like myself (um .. what makes it worse i can't read a musical note) :D , and at that time i only tried to edit the instrument used on some of my anime midi  collection into using other instrument because the current musical instrument used on some of my midi files is just .. well .. is not that good :P

And what makes this program even better than many other pay / free midi editor available on the net, because this program can do various other thing as well other than doing editing the musical instrument used.

And here’s the complete features list of this free midi editor program :

• Editors: Staff, Lyrics, Piano Roll, Drum, Loops, Audio, Events.
• File formats: standard .MID and .WAV files.
• Includes extensive integrated help.
• Piano Roll / Rhythm editor with:
  • multi-level loops
  • loops can refer to notes, other loops, samples, or Riffs.
  • Import, record and edit audio samples and play them like drums.
  • any note duration down to 1/128th notes.
  • dynamic editing while the song is playing, making it easier to experiment with rhythms.
  • duplet, quintuplet, and septuplet notes.
• Enter notes from external MIDI device, on-screen guitar fret board, on-screen piano keyboard, or by dragging notes to the staff.
• Per-track On/Mute/Solo, device, instrument, channel, fader, pan, and effects controls.
• For screens larger than 800 x 600, it shows:
  • up to 25 tracks of information displayed at the same time.
  • zoomed-out view of notes and wave data for all tracks at the same time.
  • option to play notes as mouse moves over them, making it easier to quickly locate a spot in the song.
• Dynamically change track volumes, mutes, instruments, and effects properties while a song continues to play.
• Fast loading and scrolling of large MIDI files.
• Time and Duration fields display time in Minute:Second:Frame(SMPTE), or Measure:Beat:Ticks, or sample format.
• Metronome includes tempo, lead-in, and accent beat attributes.
• Add Cue points for quickly positioning to a desired spot in the song.
• Play list for playing hours of different song files.
• File/Truncate menu to shorten the duration of .MID files.
• File/Merge Song menu for copying tracks between .MID files.
• Add standard music notation including: slur, crescendo, decrescendo, fermata, trill, repeat, D.C., D.S., segno, coda, prima volta, seconda volta, pp, p, mp, mf, f, ff
• User-defined keyboard shortcuts.
• Control Record/Play/Stop functions remotely using any MIDI controllers such as a Foot Switch, Modulation wheel.
• Free version has built-in patch-library support for SoundFont^®-compatible sound cards.
• Supports the Tascam US-428 External Mixing console.
• Runs on Windows 95, 98, ME, NT 4.0, 2000, XP
• ASIO, VST, VST-Instrument, and Automation support with optional Pro-Mix accessory.

Audio

• Free version allows you to record and edit a single, stereo or mono, one minute audio track.
  Optional $19 Multi-Audio 1/8 accessory allows you to record and mix up to 8 stereo/mono audio tracks, where recording time is limited by available free disk space.
• Uses Windows Audio Format Converters to import/export WMA and other audio formats.
• Mix audio files with different formats (bits per sample, samples per second).
• Controls for sound-card configuration.
• Mix all tracks down to a single .WAV file.
• Set record and play start and end times to control which range get recorded for Punch-in to re-record over mistakes.
• Record audio tracks from any sound card's Mono, Left, Right or Stereo channels, from any soundcard source including Microphone, Line-In, CD-Audio, etc.
• Audio effects: native reverb, native EQ, third-party DirectX effects.
• Audio filters: zero-range, pitch change, volume change, pan, filtering, reverse, normalize (to maximize a track's head-room), low-pass, high-pass, band-pass, and band-stop.
• VU meters
• Zoom in to the sample level
• Per-sample Volume, Pan and Reverb controls
• Record an Audio device's Left or Right channel to a track by itself.
• Mix stereo and mono Audio tracks in the same song to a stereo or mono mix.
• Split a stereo audio track into two mono tracks.
• Change audio tracks between Mono and Stereo without erasing the track.
• Paste Stereo to Mono and Mono to Stereo.
• Import .WAV files to audio tracks or sampled rhythms.
• Optional Multi-Audio 8/16 accessory allows you to:
  • simultaneously record up to 8 stereo audio tracks if you have a Sound Card with 8 mono audio inputs or 4 stereo inputs.
  • mix a song with 16 audio tracks down to a single .WAV file.
  • increase the number of audio Samples you can use in the Rhythm and Piano Roll editor to 64.
  • record and play audio tracks with 24 bits per sample and 192 kHz samples per second, if your soundcard supports it.
  • use soundcards with ASIO drivers.
  • load third-party VST effects.

MIDI

• Sequencing as MIDI Master or Slave
• Unlimited number of MIDI Tracks.
• When moving the mouse over notes on the staff, the equivalent keys on the piano keyboard are highlighted.
• Record notes from an external MIDI keyboard.
• Enter notes from Computer keyboard while real-time recording or manually composing.
• Select, Copy, Edit, Paste notes.
• Right-mouse popup menu control of individual note properties including:
  • pitch, duration, volume, stem direction, staccato, tie-to-next-note, and delete note.
• Button that lets you sing the note to be inserted on the staff.
• Staff style control to display 1 or 2 treble or bass clefs.
• Quantize.

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0x87485B96 | Tags : Audio Tools, Freeware, Multimedia, Software, Windows

For those who likes to use the Opensource MP3 codec, Lame Encoder 3.97 Final Version has been released, go and get it while it still hot (i guess .. because it's released at 3 October 2006) :P

• Lame MP3 Encoder 3.97 Final : Binary and DLL only
• Lame Directshow Filter 3.97 : Directshow Filter only
• Lame ACM Codec 3.97 : ACM Codec only

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0x87485B96 | Tags : Audio Tools, Codecs, Freeware, Open Source, Software, Windows

Many of you already has a CD Writer to burn your audio files and give / share it with your friend. But did you know that you can also protect those Audio CD so your friend can't distribute / sell it to other (at least for the not tech savvy user) ? Well .. if that’s what you can try using a free Audio CD Copy Protection software available on the internet. The exact method to burn it is rather confusing especially for those who’s not familiar to image creating from CD. But if you already knew how to burn an audio cd and creating iso image from cd / dvd, you can read this guide on how to copy protect your audio cd

The first step is you must already have this program available / installed on your beloved Windows computer :

• CloneCD : It’s a shareware program from Elby.de (at first) and now it’s a Slysoft Products .. as a side note i was using the original CloneCD from Elby.de when i'm using this copy protection but i think the SlySoft CloneCD will works too (just let me know if it's doesn't work for you ..it's doesn't.hurt to try something new, right ?)
• CAP : You can download it from here directly because i don't know where’s the author site (actually this is an old program and i'm using it since 2002)
• and of course the last program is your favorite CD Burning Program, for example Nero Burning ROM or other CD Burning program
• Optional : If you don’t want to waste your Blank CD, i suggest you download Daemon Tools too .. and another copy protection software at the bottom of this guide if you’re already familiar with copy protection / cd stuff ;)

Note: You must have the CloneCD and CAP first before continue because it's not going to work without those programs. And just like i said before you must already know how to burn an audio cd using your program and create image files using CloneCD

• The first step is Create a compilation of your audio cd (yes, this is important because what are you going to protect if you don't burn it first). But don’t forget to give a small space to insert the copy protection into the cd

Note: If you are using Nero and has Daemon Tools or Nero Image Drive, choose to save it as Image instead of burning it directly into a blank cd .. so you don't waste your precious blank cd. And you can do it by choosing Image Recorder as the Recorder in the Nero Recorder Dialogue and after Nero finished create the CD Audio Image, mount it using Daemon Tools or Nero Image Drive

• After mounting the cd audio image into the virtual drive, run CloneCD and choose to create a CD Image from the mounted audio cd image
• Wait until CloneCD finished creating the CD Image in CCD format, and then run CAP and open the created CCD image using CAP and choose the appropiate time (i'm usually using 30 Seconds at the end of the Audio CD) but that’s depend on the free space given when you’re creating your audio cd at the first step .. and don't forget to press PROTECT (just in case you didn't / forget to press that important button) :P
• After another waiting time, it’s time to run the CloneCD again and this time you’re going to burn it into a blank cd directly unlike before … and wait untill the burn process complete .. and you’re finished creating a homemade audio cd copy protection

And another note :

Dont forget to test your copy protected audio cd first using a CD Player before distributing it (just in case you want to sell it) .. and if you’re already familiar with the above steps you can try using CCD-Lock to protect your audio cd too .. and actually this CCD Lock is my favorite program because you can do another neat thing :)

Here’s the download link for CCD Lock (as i can't find the original author site, i put it in my webhost here).. and yet another note (well i think you’ve already seen at my blogs description / tagline that my blogs is all about Daily Notes of a computer freak not a geek) :P

Hopefully this guide can be usefull for those who want to copy protect their cd :)

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0x87485B96 | Tags : Audio Tools, Freeware, Guide, Software, Tutorials, Windows

Now i’m going to put another recommended software series , but instead of posting about recommended software for playstation 2 console, im going to put a recommended software for your audio files collection based on my experience and most of them are freeware (unless specified by me as shareware) ;)

And this is going to be my first looong post …….. since i included almost everything about audio converters, encoders, ripping, and many more

Note: Im not going to list lots of audio player since there’re lots of audio player but only a few of them deserved to get the Best of Best Software Titles and im not going to put the direct link to each file

Recommended audio player software :

• Winamp 5 (Freeware / Shareware) :

Since most of you already has winamp installed on your system im not going into more detail about this software. But for those who didnt know that Winamp can also be used to Rip an audio cd into various audio format like AAC / AACPlus, MP3, WMA, and standard WAV format.

Although the freeware version can also be used to RIP Audio files into AAC format but its bitrate cant go higher than 128 Kbps beside the CD Ripping speed also not at its maximum speed. So in the other words you must buy the Pro Version of Winamp 5 to get more features from it, unless you’re using Winamp to play your Audio files only ;)

But for those who are interested on improving played Audio Quality using Winamp can read my previous post about FFDshow Guide to Improve Audio Files Quality

And as a last note Winamp support various audio format so there’s no need to worry about such thing ;)

• Foobar2000 (Freeware) :

This audio player actually is the best audio player around, except you’re using my guide on Winamp / your DirectShow based audio players to increase its quality (its not fair to compare its quality when the other audio player using DSP or similar audio software to modify its sound quality)

This player comes with Simple UI (User Interface) and unlike Winamp or Windows Media Player which is easy to use because of its User Interface, you’ll need to try out some new stuff to become familiar with this software. But once familiar with this software you’ll know why this player called the best Audio Player

This player also support various audio format and in their site you can also find user made plugins to be used with this player.

Recommended audio encoders / codec :

• MP3 Format – Lame (freeware) :

This open source mp3 codec is the best mp3 codec out there, actually its alot better than the actual MP3 Codec created by Fraunhoffer. Since i already post about this at the first time i started this blog, im not going to put any detail in here again … unfortunately its in Indonesian Language (Bahasa Indonesia). And that’s because at first im going to post my blog in Indonesian Language but now i’ve changed my mind so i can learn and practice my english language by writing it :)

• AAC Format – Nero AAC (shareware) , Winamp AACPlus (shareware), FAAC (freeware) :

If you already got Nero installed, or Winamp PRO installed you can choose them as the main encoders to create AAC based audio format or you can use the free FAAC encoders and i also recommend KurtNoise program to simplify the creation of the AAC Files called BeLight

• OGG Format (freeware) – Official Page – Unofficial Page (but contains optimized version of OGG encoders) :

Since there’s only one option to create an OGG Audio format beside its very easy to create an OGG format so im not going into detail here

Note: Im not going to put AC3, DTS Format, etc in here since they’re not for standard use

Recommended audio decoders / enhancer / etc :

• FFDshow (freeware) :

There’s no DSP can compare with this universal decoder (if you use it properly) beside it can decode almost everything and of course its FREE :) . And as for the guide you can check my previous post about Improving your audio files on the fly using FFDshow and for more information about FFDshow check out my previous post again about FFDShow the Universal Decoders. And since my previous post already explain everything about FFDshow including the download link (including which FFDShow version is the right one for your system) so im not going to put the download link on this post ;)

• MP3Gain (freeware) :

This software can normalize your MP3 files without converting it first into another format, beside its very easy to use it

Recommended cd audio ripping program :

• EAC (freeware) :

This program simply the best ripping program for me, especially if you like to rip from a badly scratched cd (as long as the your CD / DVD Rom drive can read it) this program can be usefull for you, other than that most of its feature almost similar to other Commercial audio ripping program

• Winamp 5 (freeware / shareware) :

Did i say Winamp again … ? LoL … actually if you dont want to think alot about configuring audio settings or other technical stuff then this program is definitely for you, just go into the Preferences Page -> CD Ripping -> and choose what audio format and bitrate should winamp output … and insert your audio cd and choose rip from the media library (ALT+L)… and you’re finished

Recommended audio converters :

• dbPowerAmp (shareware) :

With just right clicking on your audio files from Windows Explorer, you can convert your audio files easily into various format, normalize an audio files, removing silence, adding silence, etc

• Media Coder (freeware) :

An All in One encoders … this program can encode your audio files / movie files into various format …

• WinLame (freeware) :

An all in one encoder too just like the above two Converters … this program can encode into several audio format

• BeSweet (freeware) :

This is the best encoder / converters / transcoder / you name it … it can convert into MANY audio format including AC3, DTS, etc. Note: this is a Command Line Interface program so to simplify it you should download the GUI / Frontend for this program

Recommended audio tagging tools :

• The Godfather (freeware) :

This is my favorite audio tagging tools, to tag my mp3 files, ogg files, etc. Other than that this software can also re-organized your audio files into proper directory. But the feature i like most is by inserting my picture / logo into my mp3 files so whenever the mp3 files played on the Windows Media Player your logo will show on the bottom right corner :P

I think i’ve list so many audio software already, but just incase i forgot to add something or i miss something, feel free to contact me or post your comments here ;)

Cya … and wait for more tutorials / reviews / etc from me ;)

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0x87485B96 | Tags : Audio Tools, Codecs, Freeware, Multimedia, Open Source, Shareware, Software, Tutorials, Windows