Zortam Mp3 Media Studio

CNET Editors' review

Zortam Mp3 Media Studio is an all-in-one program for managing your MP3 collection, editing song tags, searching for and adding lyrics and cover art, and much more. It accesses and edits a lot more information about your MP3s, including ID3v1 and ID3v2 tags. It's freeware, but when you install it, you actually get the Pro version, which is shareware. If you don't buy the Pro version, it reverts to the standard program after a three-day trial period. But some of the Pro features we can live without or already have tools for, such as Normalization, CD Ripper, and batch album art and lyrics. Both standard and Pro versions excel at managing your MP3 library, though.

Zortam Mp3 Media Studio's user interface is busy, mostly due to the amount of information it displays, but a clean take on the classic Explorer layout makes everything easy to find. We started by scanning our system for MP3s. Zortam found and cataloged our MP3s without moving, renaming, or changing them in any way. The scanner has an option to overwrite library files. Don't check it if you don't want that to happen! If you're not sure, just consult Zortam's extensive Help menu, online forums, or support options. The same goes for Normalization, which equalizes volume levels for smoother playback but can re-code your files. Zortam's toolbar has lots of features, some standard, some Pro -- and the Tools menu has still more, including Autotagger, WAV and MP3 Converter, and a tool that creates books of lyrics, not to mention just about every means of searching or modifying metadata.

Zortam Mp3 Media Studio's standard and Pro versions share a basic embedded MP3 player that's OK for previews, but we changed it to our usual media player in the General Preferences since we wanted Zortam's advanced organizing and editing capabilities, not another MP3 player. The most obsessive music collectors will appreciate not only the plethora of data Zortam records and edits but also the ability to customize many features, including tag colors. The Pro version isn't expensive, but the free Mp3 Media Studio already has everything we need it to have.

Editors' note: This is a review of the full version of Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 15.0. The trial version is limited to three days.

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All User Reviews

Results 1-10 of 57

  • 4.0 stars

    "Best product for editing MP3's, but not for the novice."

    February 13, 2013  |   By perskakras

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 15.0

    Pros

    You can edit multiple MP3 files at once.
    Zortam has a pretty good online MP3 autotagger from then net
    (as long as you have an artist name and title; does not scan the audio like MusicBrainz Picard - wish they had this feature as well)
    You can also rename multiple file names in one swoop.
    Things don't change much from update to update.
    Not intended to be a MP3 player - more for a ID3 Tagger.
    Scrolling lyrics while music is playing.

    Cons

    BEWARE - some versions out there are BUGGY.
    Program crashes for no reason. Version 15.0, you can't move around the boxes. I am sure there will be a fix for that.
    Music player isn't the best but I do like the scrolling lyrics.
    Sometimes music player requires a separate license which sucks!
    Only works with MP3's. No other file formats.
    Don't like the "Normalize" feature - haven't had the best of luck with it.

    Summary

    I have been using this program for YEARS folks. It is a legitimate program. Some of the reviews say that this is a scam - it is not folks. Just want to clear that up. I have purchased the Pro about 6 years ago and it works like a charm every time I have to re-install it (on different computers). Once again, though, a new version comes out and has some bugs in it. Be sure to save older versions of this program and you should be fine. This program is not for newbies - you need to read the instructions on how to use it properly. I use it to manage my 500+GB audio files.

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  • 4.0 stars

    "Not for the novice"

    June 13, 2012  |   By aplusmiami

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 13.85

    Pros

    It tagged and added lyrics to over 25000 mp3's I have in my library. Very useful tool.

    Cons

    Player is horrible. Needs some work. Luckily you can launch an external player of your choice.

    Summary

    If you are looking for something turn key.. this is not it. There is a definite learning curve.

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  • 4.0 stars

    "I have been using this software for four or more years."

    February 20, 2012  |   By jlitzza

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 13.35

    Pros

    Great control over almost every bit of MPs meta data. Great bility to name and attach relevant files and pictures.

    I Hold all of thoses negative reviews in complete disregard. Clearly there is something wrong with the reviewers systems or mind. This program does what you request of it, and apparently them requested something very wrong.

    Cons

    A little complicated,but not unlearnable. Older versions have had bug crashes, but most seem gone.

    Summary

    Great software, highly prized. I am truly an independent Pro version user but I have no idea who Zortam is or any relation to them.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "STOP !!!!!!"

    January 6, 2012  |   By Batmandwk2

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 13.20

    Pros

    It sounded like a good program

    Cons

    This Program should be forced off the market !! It is 100 % Garbage It will take me days to get my files fixed again. It deleted my song file titles so now I have no Idea what they are, It put each song into it's own file so now I get to spend the day deleting empty files.

    Summary

    I Use Media Monkey Tried this thinking I could edit my files better, It was worse and when I uninstalled it it left my files a mess that will take me weeks for renaming and deleting. This program is trash !!!

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Bad Software update"

    August 21, 2011  |   By Leahcim7707

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 12.50

    Pros

    I can't find anything good to say about this very mediocre software

    Cons

    It locks up the machine, doesn't provide the same results twice and it's tagging capabilities are non-existant.

    Summary

    After spending more time trying too convince my self I was wrong about this software, here's the update....I wasn't wrong, this stuff is junk. I had been using some free ware tagging programs and read the sales material on the Zortam and decided if the freeware was good, the Zortram should be better, because after all something you pay for is supposed to be better than something for free - right?? WRONG. This software doesn't stay loaded with the correct database, locks up the machine, comes up with different displays each time it reloads, which is about every time it is opened, which takes about 5 minutes to complete. I can recommend WinAmp, Tag Editor, Musicbranz because all of these free programs are better than this Zortam rip off. This was my second and final purchase of anything from Zortram.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "This was mediocre software, after upgrade is worthless"

    June 18, 2011  |   By Leahcim7707

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 12.27

    Pros

    If you can live with something that works 50% of the time before it locks up, this is the software for you.

    Cons

    The software was marginal and then Zortram updated it, now it will lock up every time it is run and does not provide any results. It is impossible to go back to the previous version, so the software is now worthless. I am running Windows 7.

    Summary

    I don't believe any automatic music tagging software is as good as it is advertised to be, but this product doesn't come close to performing the way it is represented. There is no customer support, it is just "buy and take your chances" software, so if you want to waste time trying to get some results for the money you spent on the software, this is the product for you. If you want something that works and does what it is advertised to do, stay away from this line of software. Great promises, but I wanted something that would do something more than lock up and stop running. One further thing, this company collects sales tax for your state, however when I checked with my state, they did not have a sales tax license, so they are ripping consumers off for that as well. That was my first clue that this was going to be a problem.

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  • 3.0 stars

    "free but getting told about pro version is annoying"

    May 29, 2011  |   By hugh750

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 12.15

    Pros

    free and it looks good

    Cons

    after installing and running program, getting told about zortam mp3 media studio pro trial is 4 days!

    Summary

    ok since its free for basic version

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Fake License Scheme (it say free and it's free to try)"

    March 16, 2011  |   By tamer_nada

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 11.85

    Pros

    No pros for this tool. What this tool does, so many other tools can do, yet this tool does not respect users and does not comply with international code of ethics.

    Cons

    The tool is classified as Free tool, yet, after you download and install it you find out that it's free to TRY. Now you have to un-install the tool or go ahead and buy it; yeah, like someone will do that...

    Summary

    It is against all codes of ethics to mis-classify your toll in order to market it. If your tool is a trial and you want to sell it for money, go on and say that, and gain people confidence... Above all, gain your self respect.

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  • 3.0 stars

    "Powerful tagging software"

    February 25, 2011  |   By GeSchmidtt

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 11.75

    Pros

    Finds Lyrics, and is a highly functional tagging program. High promise

    Cons

    Buggy and odd. There is so much to like but the interface is uneven and it crashes. I don't think you could use it very realistically as your every day player.

    Summary

    The suite of software that constitutes the studio may not be the best way to take advantage of the things it does best. Tagging. Use the tagging engine and another program to manage and play your music.

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  • 1.0 stars

    "Not Worth The Time"

    October 3, 2010  |   By D.J.Larry

    Version: Zortam Mp3 Media Studio 11.25

    Pros

    ???????????????

    Cons

    Can't do anything unless you want to re-type every song back in after you lose id3 info. Tigo Tago was f&$king everything up. So Have fun I'm going back to typing over 400gb of music by hand since there is not a product that can do it for me.

    Summary

    Garbage Junk Pain In Ass waist of time

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Results 1-10 of 57

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Zortam Mp3 Media Studio