Some favorite useful free files

[dnavarrojr]

http://www.virtualdub.org/features
VirtualDub is at the top of my list because it's small, clean and darned useful. I use it to trim files to the right size, resizing, fixing audio-sync issues and encoding into various AVI compatible formats (DivX/XVID for example). If you get a chance, check out the 3rd party filters, there's some really cool stuff there.

http://www.squared5.com/
MPEG StreamClip does an OUTSTANDING job of converting files to QuickTime format even if you don't have QTPro. It has lots of configuration options for tweaking things until you get it just right. It also supports MPG, MPEG2, and AVI files but MOV files are where it really shines.

http://applian.com/flvplayer/index_martijn.php
If you need to capture a YouTube video and convert it to something you can use in PSP, there are some good free tools here. I've only used them a few times, but they got the job done.

http://www.xvid.org/
XVID is a free DivX compatible decoder and ENCODER. That's right, you can encode files to XVID format and they will play on any device or player that supports DivX. Works directly with PSP and PSG.

http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Audacity is a professional quality sound editor. I use it to record the audio for my Podcasts as well as general audio mixing and editing. Yup, it's an audio mixer with multiple track support too. So you can mix sound-effects in with your background music and naration. This is as good as nearly any professional sound mixing program that costs hundreds of dollars. To get the best use, visit their WIKI at http://audacityteam.org/wiki/index.php?title=Tutorials

[gpsmikey Profile Private message]

Good list !!

I would add to that list,
http://www.imgburn.com/
Imgburn - the free ISO image burning utility to burn DVD's from an iso you
have created in Proshow (includes a verify option to verify the burn
was correct). Just noticed, a new feature in it allows you to create
an ISO image FROM a burned DVD - I don't think that was there before.
It will also verify a burned DVD can be read correctly.

mikey

[Sigrid Profile Private message]

Agent Ransack is a fast and no-nonsense Windows search utility for all files.
http://www.mythicsoft.com/agentransack/ ... e=download

MusicCube is my favourite music library/organizer
http://www.musikcube.com/page/main/download

[briancbb Profile Private message]

For cutting out bits from DVD's, you know the .vob files, I would use this program (free )

http://fixounet.free.fr/avidemux/

Once having got the 'knack' it is easy to use, it even joins all the associated .vob files together for editing.
Instructions for use are here http://www.mythtv.org/wiki/index.php/Avidemux .

If you have a DVD recorder for recording TV programs, it is superb for editing out those darned adverts, that's how I first found it.

Brian

[Sigrid Profile Private message]

it finds you tons of mp3s for your own personal use.
It is not a filesharing software, so no risk for you, it just searches the net . Not everything can be found but it is surprising what is going. Used in conjunction with a download manager such as Getright very easy to use and the music is for free.

http://www.remlapsoftware.com/clicksterdonate.htm

[DickK Profile Private messageWebsite]

Good topic!

Excellent free image (and video) file viewer and it has some nice simple editing features. I like it because it installs nothing anywhere except where you put it so it can be freely moved or copied to a CD and run from there.
http://www.irfanview.com/

I'll second the recommendation of Audacity.

Then there's Picasa, an editor and organizer. There are better but not easier and free.
http://picasa.google.com/

Pixort is a neat little program that fills a small niche well by doing just one job but doing it well. It's basically an image review and sort program--think along the lines a light table for slides. Haven't found anything that does this any better.
http://www.pixort.com/

Here's a simple way to look at and manage all the fonts on your system, Free&Easy Font Viewer:
http://www.tucows.com/software_detail.html?id=375023

CKRename: A batch file rename utility, unbelievably handy for putting meaningful names on all the pictures coming from your camera. This is one of those programs I didn't need until I had it and now I can't do without it!
http://www.musicsucks.com/CKSoft/CKRename/

Dick

[Pat Profile Private message]

SUPER © Simplified Universal Player Encoder & Renderer.
A GUI to ffmpeg, MEncoder, mplayer, x264, mppenc,
ffmpeg2theora & the theora/vorbis RealProducer plugIn.

If you need a simple, yet very efficient tool to convert (encode) or play any Multimedia file,
without reading manuals or spending long hours training, then SUPER © is all you need.
It is a Multimedia Encoder and a Multimedia Player, easy-to-use with 1 simple click.

http://www.erightsoft.com/SUPER.html

The hardest part is finding the download on his webpage!

[nannybear Profile Private messageWebsite]

I use the Free and Easy Font Viewer and it is excellent. I have them all printed out, so I can just go look when I want something different. Cheers Jan

[DickK Profile Private messageWebsite]

Backup tool: Microsoft's SynchToy

Another one I thought of due to recent discussions about backups. Here's a Freebie from Microsoft that unlike most MS things is actually simple and does just what you might need: SynchToy. It's one of the handy utilities that MS offers in the "Toy" group. This one works for Vista or XP and automates the task of synchronizing two folders; the two can be on the same machine or across a network. Offers one way synch (backup) and several varieties of two way synch. Can be run manually or on a schedule. Only downside to the program that I know of is that it will also require you to download the .NET framework (big download but no issues once you get past that).

http://www.microsoft.com/downloads/deta ... laylang=en


Dick

[iromero Profile Private message]

For those on a budget that are looking for a decent image editor, try paint.net.

http://www.getpaint.net/

I was onsite for a business event when i was asked to modify the award PSP show that i had created prior to the event. I thought was good to go. Then Murphy reared his ugly head and a change was made the award recipient list.

This little program allowed me to re-edit the images in the show and meet the deadline.

Ivan