Switch Sound File Converter Plus

CNET Editors' review

by: CNET staff on January 19, 2010

We see a lot of audio converters, and there's really only so much that they can do to differentiate themselves from one another; we rarely see any that are particularly impressive. Switch Sound File Converter didn't do anything that blew us away in terms of design or features, yet this lightweight, uncluttered program won us over with its simplicity and ease of use.

The program's interface is quite basic and intuitive, with its features organized with well-labeled graphical buttons. Using the program couldn't be easier; users simply select the files they want to convert, choose the output format and destination folder, optionally adjust the encoder options, and Switch does the rest. Although the program only supports MP3 and WAV input formats, users can convert files to 21 different file types. The program has a few nice extras, including the ability to access the freeDB Internet Database for track listing information and the option to run Switch in the background if other programs are being used. Most impressively, users can configure the program to be accessible via right-clicking; up to three right-click options can be set, and then users need only right-click on an audio file within Explorer to select the desired output format and start the conversion. The program comes with an HTML Help file that is well-written and thorough. Overall, we found Switch to be extremely simple, suitable for even file conversion novices, but customizable enough to suit more advanced users.

Switch Sound File Converter is free. The program installs a desktop icon without asking but uninstalls cleanly. We recommend this program to all users.