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. -
Convert CDs to MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG, FLAC formats, convert audio ... -
Burn the files and images on CD and DVD discs. -
Convert DVD movies to all the popular video or audio formats wi... -
Play video and audio files, convert to other file formats, burn... -
Cut desired parts from your MP3 files. -
Rip CDs, convert audio files, and burn discs easily. -
Emulate up to 18 DVD/BD drives. -
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, ... -
Download YouTube videos and convert them into MP3 files. -
Copy DVD to iPod, iPhone, 3GP, PSP, Zune, HD TV, AVI, Divx, Xvi... -
Get fast and flexible digital-media playback with access to sma... -
Convert FLAC audio files to MP3. -
Bring High Definition sound to YouTube, iTunes, Spotify, Pandor... -
Split and join MP3 files and WAV files. -
Convert between WAV and mp3, wma, ogg, and FLAC. -
Change your voice and add sound effects to games and voice chat... -
MP3 Cutter Joiner is easy-to-use MP3 Cutter and MP3 Joiner tool... -
Convert audio between formats such as MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, M4A, ... -
Locate and display lyrics in Winamp, WMP, and iTunes. -
Combine multiple MP3 files into one and optionally convert the ... -
Mount ISO images as CD/DVD device virtually.
-
All versions:
3.8 starsout of 265 votes
-
Current version:
3.8 starsout of 4 votes
-
My rating:
Write review
Results 1-4 of 4
-
"awesome product"
Version: Free Studio 5.6.3
Pros
comes with everything you need to make DVDs, download YouTube clips, Etc, Etc. Some of the free apps are even compare to paid products.
Cons
For those of you who think that this product contains too much apps, you can download the one that you want from the DVDSoftWare website.
-
"I like it so much!"
Version: Free Studio 5.6.3
Pros
It is very fast to download video from youtube.
Cons
it is good to post video on facebook.
Summary
I love it so much!
-
"no viruses or adware for me"
Version: Free Studio 5.6.3
Pros
it just works.
Cons
comes with tons of extra programs. it seems that their design philosophy is to create a series of smaller apps to do individual tasks. While is this is appropriate for those new users, having everything integrated into one app would of been cleaner.
Summary
@9thRay, I don't know what your talking about. After the install I didn't see any unwanted viruses, spyware or adware. This program seemed to do exactly as promised without any negative side effects.
I hate to assume, but I think you had those problems before you installed this app. With that said, its always good to have your anti-virus updated. -
"Update your antivirus software before you download this"
Version: Free Studio 5.6.3
Pros
It does convert wma to mp3.
Cons
This software will ask if you want to install other software, but even if you say 'no' you will still end up with software you did not request. When I checked the Programs and Features control panel I found 4 other programs installed that I did not ask for. Norton Security Suite 6 found the trojan zero access and 3 other virus/trojan programs that took me 3 days to remove. Norton tries but cannot remove them, with the exception on their forum I found a link for the base search engine registry repair file. The audio converter states you need another file, but when you download it no visible change happens except receiving unwanted software. I found when I searched on a web page it redirects your result when you search for topics to remove the trojan zero access. When I clicked uninstall the program had a web page pop up to ask for a reason, when I clicked other to type in a response I was directed to error 404, a nonexistent page, after hitting return.
Summary
I wonder if the majority of the reviewers have the latest antivirus software? Does CNET have the latest antivirus software? After reading many of the recent reviews I cannot help to wonder if the reviewers have updated their antivirus software. Why would you choose this software unless you love removing computer malware and trojans?
Results 1-4 of 4
Add Your Review
Submit your reply
E-mail this review
Report offensive content
Previous Versions:
