Tag Editors
Both of these will handle either version 1 or 2 tags. Both will...
Rename files based on tag information
Write tags based on file name information
...and more.
Tag&Rename...not
free but one of the best
MPTagger...free
and good.
QuickEditor...only
does version 1 tags but that's all I use anyway. I have it set
up so that it is the default extension for MP3...if I click
on one, QuickEditor opens and I can make any correction I want
to on the tag. It's my "down and dirty" tag editor. |
Editors, MP3
MP3
Trim...Trims and adjusts volume. A must have!
MP3
Gain...Adjusts volume. Excellent program
MP3
Direct Cut...edits without decoding to wave
MP3
Merge...hooks different MP3s together into one track. No
install.
MP3
Trackmaker...splits into segments or tracks. Works great
with Winamp v2.x to queue the cuts making the job easy and quick.
MP3
Cutter...splits into segments or tracks. Versatile |
Editors, wave
CDWave...without
a doubt the best program to split waves into tracks
GoldWave...does
not keep ID3 tags when writing wave back to MP3, excellent otherwise.
Audacity...new
but good. No install, one registry entry. |
Cleaners (more here
and here)
Use these to remove tape hiss or pops. Most wave editors will
do it too.
Wave
Repair...very good, very non-destructive. You can make tiny,
discreet adjustments. Has pre-sets too.
Depopper...my
favorite for cleaning recordings from vinyl.
Groove
Mechanic...works great
WAV
Clean...easy to use & does a good job. |
Encode/Decode/Convert
CDex...first
rate multi-function program. Uses LAME.dll encoder
RazorLame...frontend
for LAME.exe
which is faster than the dll
Fastenc...Fraunhofer
encoder. Easiest used with a frontend.
Caution: if transcoding (MP3 > MP3)
make sure the source and destination directories are different
or you'll lose both old and new files. Read the "readme"
for switch info.
MP3
to Wave Converter...installs a context menu entry, easy
to use, uses LAME
dbPower
Converter...converts just about anything to anything via
the context menu, lame encoder. A very handy program. |
Record Line-in and/or Rip CDs
Audiograbber...a
versatile and popular ripper.
dbPower
Converter
CDex...not
many things it won't do.
LP
Recorder...will set the line-in volume to the maximum possible
without clipping.
Total
Recorder...will record anything you can play via the computer
either to wave or MP3. Well worth the modest $11.95 price. |
File Renamers
These aren't necessarily MP3 related but that's what I use them
on mostly so I put them here. Tag editors can do some of the
things these do but only on MP3 files. Besides letting you work
on any file type, these will add a prefix or suffix, number
sequentially, trim or replace characters from any place in the
file name, change case, substitute strings and more. I use all
three because each has functions the others don't. There may
well be just one program that does everything but I'm used to
these.
CK
Rename
Flash
Renamer
Magic
Renamer |
Various
NCH
Tone Generator...The maximum frequency possible in MP3s
is 22,050 Hz (44,100 Hz / 2). Many encoders cut off the higher
frequencies. Is that important? It depends upon whether or not
you can hear them in the first place. As we age, we lose ability
to hear higher frequencies. You can use this program to generate
a tone at different frequencies to determine exactly what you
can hear. You might be surprised...I was - at 69 the best I
can do is about 13,000 Hz.
MP3
Test...handy program for checking MP3's for errors. Won't
fix them but at least you know there is something wrong with
them - which doesn't mean they won't play perfectly well. The
page is in German, link near the bottom.
EncSpot...gives
lots of info about MP3 files including a guess as to which encoder
was used and a subjective opinion about their "quality".
MP3
Lister...very configurable program to make text, html, CSV
(or any other delimiter) lists of MP3s on CDs or the hard drive.
No help with it so you'll need to click around a bit to explore
the many options.
Burn
to the Brim...great for archiving MP3s to data CDs. Set
it up, point it at the source and it will set things up so that
the CDs will be brim full. Doesn't actually burn, you still
need your favorite program for that.
GrabIt...an
exceedingly efficient and easy to use program for downloading
MP3s from binary groups. If it weren't for this marvel, I would
have probably quit downloading after the demise of AudioGalaxy.
I don't know if that is good or bad...
PowerPost...if
you are going to download from binary groups, you should post
too. Only fair, right? PowerPost makes it easy. There is also
a modified version for posting yEnc files (don't have the URL
but you might start looking here
if you want it). For an explanation of yEnc, see here;
for tools, check here. This
site will give you an explanation of binary groups
and how to down load and up load. There is lots of general information
on MP3s too, not to mention excellent links. |
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