Scan & Fix 50 registry issues FREECNET Editors' review
You'd probably resist buying vinyl albums if you needed a different record player for each one. And wouldn't it be annoying to need a bunch of different gadgets to watch your favorite movies on video? (We know; you already do). That's pretty much the situation with digital music files, especially compressed files like MP3s. It's a rare music collection that doesn't have a few songs in weird or orphaned formats.
That's not a problem if your media player handles it all, but it's an issue when you're loading up tunes to take with you, or transferring them to another archive, or trying to do something with them that you can't because one or more files is in an incompatible format. Which brings us to Helium Audio Converter, a free tool that converts audio files between different formats and bit rates, including tag data. It can analyze the original and converted files to identify any problems or potential issues, too.
Helium Audio Converter's user interface is simple but attractive and efficient: just a toolbar, a file view with plenty of column headings, and a panel of Output Options at the bottom. Beyond selecting source, destination, format, and encoder options, the only control is the Convert button. We browsed to our "Misc" music folder and selected some files. Helium lets you keep or change the output directory; we created a new folder to keep our originals and converted files separate. Next we selected an output format. Helium can convert files to and from MP3, WMA, WAV, WAVpack, FLAC, Ogg Vorbis, MP4, M4a, AAC, and MPC.
We successfully converted files between several formats, with generally good results. We also converted MP3s to WAVs, which are much larger files and typically have better sound, depending on the source. Helium Audio Converter converted a 2.86MB MP3 into a 31MB WAV in a second or less. The new WAV took up much more space than the MP3 yet could only faithfully copy the MP3's sound quality rather than improve it. Most users convert WAVs to MP3s, though. Helium Audio Converter proved a capable performer at converting MP3s to and from common formats.
Publisher's Description
From Intermedia Software:
Helium Audio Converter is a tool which enables you to quickly and easily convert files between different audio formats and bit-rate qualities. It supports converting from and to mp3, wma, wave, flac, m4a, mp4, Ogg Vorbis, WAVPack, aac and mpc. Helium Audio Converter not only converts the audio data between different formats, it also converts the tag data. It can analyse the input and resulting files (applies to MP3 and FLAC) and let you know if any of the files contain problems.
What's new in this version: Version 1.1 build 191:
- Corrections to WMA tag handling. WMA files should now convert successfully.
- Added two new languages; Spanish and Czech
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All versions:
4.9 starsout of 18 votes
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Current version:
5.0 starsout of 10 votes
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My rating:
Write review
Results 1-10 of 10
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"It is a fantastic program and is free"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
It is only 4 MB so download was fast.
No Spywares or Mal-wares. Clean Installation. May be they did not want Cnet adding Babylon and stuff so kept it in their place.
Converted my wave files to mp3 very fast.
It converted my 25 MB wave files to 5 MB mp3s without losing its quality.
What more do I need? Fantastic!!!Cons
I saw Nothing
Summary
I advice anybody who wants conversions to download this. It is Free like clean air
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"Worthwile to reclaim disc space(from WMA files)"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
Free program used on approx. 130 WMA encoded music files and converted to MP3 320kbps files saved 1.6 Gbps of space on my hard drive.
Cons
13 of the WMA files could not be converted due to "Unable to create source stream".
I looked at the Intermedia Software website for an answer to this, but their site gave no help.Summary
Very useful if you need to create more space on your HD without removing any data !
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"Perfect!!!"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
Quick, simple and does just want its meant to. I can now play ALL my music in Spotify :)
Cons
None! None!
Summary
Just get it!
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"It works, is easy to use, and is free. Excellent."
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
Free
Intuitive interface
Works as it says, and moreCons
Not found yet
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"Very Very Good"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
The interface is great, the conversion is slick and seamless. Works wonderfully.
Cons
None that I can think of.
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"Download it"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
Convert wmv to mp3 & others in a cinch.
Cons
None none none none.
Summary
Download it. Convert wmv to mp3 & others in a cinch.
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"Free like in free beer"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
* It transfers tags to the destination files (far from all other products have been able to handle this for my files)
* Works quick and reliable
* No extra software installedCons
I haven't found any.
Summary
I have tried numerous of the most downloaded audio converters on this site and many of them wants to install spyware on my computer (they call it browser toolbars). This program does no such thing and still works flawlessly. There isn't even a pro version!
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"The way an audio converter is supposed to be!"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
Helium Audio Converter does exactly what it says it does, convert audio the way you want it to. It is fast and gives you all the options for tagging and extensions.
Cons
No cons at all.
Summary
If you're looking for a converter that does what its supposed to do, easily and without a bunch of stuff that is not needed, This is it.
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"Very clean and easy ."
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
Absolutly NO toolbars or any other dodgy attachments. Very clean design and very easy to use. Well done !! A simple effective program.
Cons
None so far.
Summary
A great free program.
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"The best audio converter and for free"
Version: Helium Audio Converter 1.1 build 191
Pros
Clean interface, reliable, easy to use.
Cons
None at all
Summary
Another great piece of music software from Intermedia Software. Check all of their products, especially Helium Music Manager - unbeatable music manager.
Results 1-10 of 10
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