Manage updates with the Download AppCNET Editors' review
Free Studio bundles DVDVideoSoft's numerous free video, audio, and image tools into a versatile suite. Despite its many choices, a well-designed control panel makes it extremely easy to access just what you need.
Free Studio requires at least 278MB of free disk space, quite a substantial package for freeware. The check boxes that set the developer's Web site and search engine as defaults were already selected by the installation wizard (can't blame them for trying); we unchecked them, of course. Free Studio's unique interface is one of the most sensibly designed we've seen. Aside from its attractive 3D graphics, it's laid out in eight large buttons accessing important features: YouTube, for Web video; MP3 & Audio, for your tunes; CD, BD, DVD, for ripping, burning, dubbing, and converting; DVD & Video, for playback; Photos & Images, for your pictures; Mobiles, for cell phone vids and apps; Apple Devices; and 3D, for making 3D videos and images. A slider button on top of Free Studio's interface toggles the animated intro on and off.
We were curious about the 3D items, so we started there. The 3D button accesses two tools, Free 3D Photo Maker and Free 3D Video Maker. The photo tool seemed very easy to use, but it requires 3D glasses to view images, which we didn't have handy, so we moved on to the Mobile selection, which offered a page full of small apps designed for specific brands, formats, and devices, such as Android, Nokia, Samsung, Sony PSP, XBox, and Nintendo. Each shared a simple, wizard-based interface, as did most of the other tools bundled in Free Studio; for instance, the disc-burning section contained not only audio and video disc burners but also video and audio conversion tools like Free Audio CD to MP3. The DVD & Video section offers 10 tools for recording, converting, dubbing, and sharing video. Some tools, such as the 3D video and photo apps, show up in more than one section, which we think is fine since it makes them more accessible.
DVDVideoSoft's multimedia tools are easy to use and good performers. We'd like to see links to a Help file or other assistance for the individual tools, though we encountered nothing confusing or unclear. We think Free Studio is a great idea, bundling together a full suite of competent, straightforward video and audio freeware.
Publisher's Description
From DVDVideoSoft:
Free Studio Manager is a completely redesigned all-in-one package for more than 45 programs. It contains eight sections to bundle all free multimedia applications which have been developed by DVDVideoSoft. These sections the following: YouTube, MP3 and Audio, CD-DVD-BD, DVD and Video, Photo and Images, Mobiles, Apple Devices, 3D. Thus all the programs are included in the new interface for easy access to any of them.
With this free software you can convert video and audio files between different formats and to iPod, PSP, iPhone, BlackBerry, and all popular mobile phones and devices burn and rip DVDs and audio CDs upload and download YouTube videos and music to your computer, iPod, PSP, iPhone, and BlackBerry perform basic editing of audio and video files as well as record videos and make snapshots.
More Products to Consider
-
Mix, scratch, and remix MP3 or music videos live. -
Burn the files and images on CD and DVD discs. -
Convert CDs to MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, FLAC formats, convert audio ... -
Convert DVD movies to all the popular video or audio formats wi... -
Cut desired parts from your MP3 files. -
Rip CDs, convert audio files, and burn discs easily. -
Play video and audio files, convert to other file formats, burn... -
Create, edit, burn, mount, and encrypt CD, DVD, and BD image fi... -
Convert M4A/AAC into MP3/WAV format. -
Convert and backup DVDs to AVI, DivX, iPod, iPhone, iPad, WMV, ... -
Copy DVD to iPod, iPhone, 3GP, PSP, Zune, HD TV, AVI, Divx, Xvi... -
Convert FLAC audio files to MP3. -
Convert your MP3 files fast and easily. -
Create drum or audio loops and play sample files and MIDI instr... -
Get fast and flexible digital-media playback with access to sma... -
Bring High Definition sound to YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, Pandor... -
Locate and display lyrics in Winamp, WMP, and iTunes. -
Change your voice and add sound effects to games and voice chat... -
Edit your digital audio files on your Windows PC. -
Split and join MP3 files and WAV files. -
MP3 Cutter Joiner is easy-to-use MP3 Cutter and MP3 Joiner tool... -
Record your own voice, music, or any other internal / external ... -
Combine multiple MP3 files into one and optionally convert the ... -
Mount ISO images as CD/DVD device virtually.
-
All versions:
3.8 starsout of 263 votes
-
Current version:
0 stars Be the first to review this product -
My rating:
Write review
-
"I found this great."
Version: Free Studio 6.1.1.430
Pros
It is easy enough for a computer cluless to use. Also it works awesomely (if that is a word.), I can do what I want to get done.
Cons
No cons cause I have not figured out something I can not do with it.
-
"Not even worth the 1/2 star"
Version: Free Studio 6.1.1.426
Pros
..........
Cons
upon download - it infected my computer! ANNOYING!!!!!!!
Summary
DON'T BOTHER
-
"Great Programs AND they are FREE"
Version: Free Studio 6.1.0.320
Pros
A great product and it's free... So there is NO reason to complain.
Cons
Read my summary for more details, but I like this program. I have AVS Suites and paid $60 for it 2 years ago and it does not have many of the features FreeStudio 2013 has.
I recommend it highly and by the reply's to most negative comments, it is easy to see the company is trying to correct those problems by asking those with problems to contact customer support to find a fix for their problems... VERY PROFESSIONAL!Summary
So far, I have only tried the "Free Video to DVD Converter".
This program takes your AVI, MP4, MOV, WMV, etc., files and converts them into DVD viewable files that you can watch on your DVD player.
The first time I used the default settings and the program converted 6 WMV videos into a DVD with an opening menu consisting of a simple list of the video file names that you can scroll through and select individually.
The only problem I found was trying to MAX out the amount of files to see how many I would be able to fit on a single layer DVD. I selected about 9 video files and the set the program to the highest capacity of compression. The conversion took about 2.5 hours and after the burn I tried watching but something went wrong and the DVD turned out jerky with pauses every half second. This happened throughout the whole DVD. So until they fix the "Highest Compression" settings, use the default settings.
I did not use any other settings, but the default settings turned out surprisingly clear and without problems.
I would recommend this program to others. -
"All glitz and no Glamour"
Version: Free Studio 6.0.0.128
Pros
Nice interfacce and it's free.
Cons
Couldn't edit the simplest AVI file without making a mess of it and making my speakers turn out the most painful noise as it tried to play back the sound.
No sound editor.
Few editing controls.Summary
If it can't edit a little video I don't think I'll wast time tring to convert formats.
-
"Rating based on one program - Free Video Dub"
Version: Free Studio 6.0.0.128
Pros
It works a little sometimes
Cons
I've tried doing simple editing with mp4 and mkv files. It works about one third of the time. If it doesn't like the file it crashes. It had few features.
Typically it can't edit files that it created from the editing process. I hope there is something better that is free -
"Works perfectly."
Version: Free Studio 4.2.2.63
Pros
Absolutely no problems.
Cons
Frequently needs to be updated to keep up with evolving technology. Not exactly a con, but actually a plus.
Summary
Highly recommended.
-
"Like a scaled down windows Movie Maker"
Version: Free Studio 6.0.0.128
Pros
Relatively easy to use interface
Cons
lacks a LOT of features, if you just need a quick clip and edit, this is good.
-
"Great program! Works well."
Version: Free Studio 4.2.2.63
Pros
Very useful when converting videos
Easy to use-simpleCons
Converting files can take quite a long time.
Summary
It is free after all, Very worth the download!
-
"It's a Good Stuff."
Version: Free Studio 5.9.0.1212
Pros
No need to look for doin' something about audios and videos convertions.It's all there in one piece.
Cons
But some conversions in these product are too slow to convert, wait three hours at least to convert.
Summary
Thats Good Enough for this product, I look forward for this product when updated that could make more faster to convert.
-
"GPU acceleration not ready for prime time"
Version: Free Studio 5.9.0.1212
Pros
The simple interface in the screen shot conceals a surprisingly powerful program with plenty of options for advanced users.
Cons
The Free MP4 converter is one of only two free video transcoders with GPU acceleration, the other being the AMD AVIVO video converter. GPU acceleration of video conversion sounds like a great idea, but in practice it is fundementally flawed. When using a bitrate of 1000 Kbps for H.264 output files I found that the result was excessively pixilated even though this bitrate gives adequate results in CPU only transcoders. To get adequate quality results it is necessary to increase the bitrate to 4000 Kbps which slows down the coversion and defeats the object of GPU acceleration. You also end up with an output file four times larger than is normal and the high bitrate puts an excessive load on the GPU when playing back the video. According to reviews the same problems affect shareware GPU accelerated video transcoders like Xilisoft.
Summary
GPU acceration of video encoding is supposed to be cutting edge technology, but it may be fundemantally flawed and unrealisable in practice. Maybe the only way to do this is with a custom encoder chip on a PCI card costing thousands.
CORRECTION: I should have written that this is one of only two free video transcoders that support ATI Stream for GPU accelerated video conversion. Thus you are getting the equivalent of shareware costing $40. The poor results may be due to the fact that for GPU acceleraton to work with ATI cards it is necessary to have the AMD AVIVO codecs already installed on you PC and these codecs may be optimised for speed over quality. It would be interesting to compare other users results using NVIDIA GPUs since the free MP4 converter supports CUDA.
Updated on Jan 23, 2013
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
Previous Versions:
