Have implemented our new "Free Software of the Month Club". Click the above image to check it out!

Most all our software has been tested to be Windows 7 Ready.

This means that our software is ready for any surprises that 7 may bring (you do remember the Vista problems don't you?)

If you're look'n for a set of specialized audio tools to "make ready" audio files to put on your MP3 Player then this might be exactly what you need: the concept was derived from personal experience. I invite you to give this software a test drive...

Download evaluation version here...

Register here for just $12.95...

  25% of all sales go to charity - the Salvation Army.

Includes tools to play, create playlists, transform, format, set volume amplification, rip Audio CD's to MP3, edit MP3 ID tags, edit MP3 files, record to MP3 and much more: most anything you want/ need to do to get your audio files ready to put on your MP3 Player can be done with "MP3 Sidekick".

Features:

* option to  activate at Windows startup - places a widget icon (exactly like the screen shot above) on your desktop at the "ready".

* left click on the widget icon (or use the "hot keys") to select/ activate:

• a built in MP3 Audio Player with playlist options

• a full featured MP3 Audio Editor/ Recorder

• a CD 2 MP3 Ripper

• a MP3 ID Tag Editor

• a MP3 Format Transformer

• a MP3 Volume Normalizer

MP3 Sidekick "Quick Start" guide...

This software sits on your desktop, at the ready: presented as a "widget" type icon/ graphic. You can configure to activate at Windows startup or merely activate it like any other software from a shortcut or within your programs menu.

First off, like most any audio solution there is a cool interfaced audio player that has playlist abilities (load and/ or save), drag into the playlist window or select files to load, offers a fancy display, and most anything you'd expect from a media player.

Of course this software also offers a "CD 2 MP3 Ripper" and a "MP3 ID Tag Editor": I won't go into any detailed description of these tools as most anyone knows how to use these type tools. They were both developed under the "KISS" method: no learning curve required!

Now let's get to the nitty-gritty: I'll explain, in some detail, why I developed this software solution to be the way it is. It has all the tools I personally use to get my MP3 files (whether ripped from a CD or downloaded off the iNet) ready to load on my MP3 Player.

MY STEP #1:

If I have any files that have applause at the start and end on the tune I'll want to delete it: this is just a personal preference - your mileage may vary. All I will do is activate the included "Audio Editor/ Recorder", load the file, highlight the applause portion(s) and select to delete from the edit menu or faster yet - just press the delete key. After I'm sure all is well (I can always use the UNDO function if I didn't highlight the portion just right) I elect to SAVE or better yet SAVE AS so that I  won't overwrite the original file. 

Oh by the way - you might want to apply a "fade-in" and "fade-out" effect (or any other effect or filter) to enhance your MP3's - the choice is yours - as you have this full blown audio editor at the ready.

MY STEP #2:

My next step is to get all my MP3's the same format and sample rate. Why? Most likely any MP3 ripped off a CD will be 320 bit-rate (which I think is over kill for a MP3 Player) and files downloaded off the iNet might be a mixer of any sample rate and/ or format. To do this I load up to 100 files at a time, into the software's "MP3 Transformer".

I personally prefer to set the format to MP3, 44100 Freq, Stereo, 128-bitrate.This is more or less the standard for MP3 files. I also prefer to go ahead and set the software to "Normalize" (at 100% value). A note about sample rates: if you set the bit-rate to 96 bit-rate - unless you have a lot better hearing then I do - you won't hear any difference and you'll be able to get approx. 1/3 more files on your MP3 Player. 

NOW before we click the "GO" button: a word or two about the MP3 ID tag Options of the Transformer. I included this option cuz I personally prefer to strip (from the files) the original ID tags and elect to "Set New ID Tags" - I just add the artists name as shown in the below screen shot. Why? I could care less about the album info (tag) and all the other stuff: I put all a particular artists tunes into a folder named after the artist (i.e. Eagles).Then when I want the player to play all my Eagels tunes I just elect to do so. This is how I do it but everyone has there own preference: with the MP3 Transformer you have options!

By clicking the "GO" button - the software transforms the list of files to your sample rate preference, adds any effect you selected (i.e. Normalize) as well as sets the MP3 ID tags. It puts the transformed files into the "target" folder you select: leaves all original files intact. 

STEP #3:

Next I want to get all my MP3 files the same volume amplification.: I use/ activate the included "MP3 Volume Normalizer" to do this in a heart beat!

Brief description (but there is SO much more!) of this tool: 

Tired of reaching for your volume knob every time your mp3 player changes to a new song? This software analyzes and adjusts mp3 files so that they have the same volume.

Analyzes mp3 files to determine how loud they sound to the human ear. It can then adjust the mp3 files so that they all have the same loudness without any quality loss. This way, you don't have to keep reaching for the volume dial on your mp3 player every time it switches to a new song. View a tutorial video about this tool here... 

You can also download complete set of help files for our "MP3 Volume Normalizer" here...

All I personally do (cuz, I'm basically lazy) is to load the folder of my transformed files (converted in Step #2) -  leave the "Target Volume" to the default value of 89 db, click the "Modify Gain" menu the select to "Add Track Gain". This just bypasses all the other advanced features and just does it!

STEP #4:

Plug my MP3 Player into my puter via a USB port, create a folder named after the artist, load my transformed files into this folder - It's history. Now I can cruise down the road listening to my favorite artists in style! All my files are the same format, don't have any of that annoying applause at the start and end of the tune, tagged after the artist's name and approx the same volume amplification.

SUMMARY:

I developed this software to my specs: these are the most used tools that I personally use almost daily. Sure - our "Wave MP3 Editor" has lot's more specialized tools but just like using Microsoft Office - I prob only use 10% of it's features and the rest - I must admit I consider "bloat" (as I rarely use these other advanced tools). I just really like "MP3 Sidekick" the best: it fits my needs 95% of the time!