FREE Useful tools for your computer (Video Converters/Players, Web Browsers etc)

[dkst0426]

Just sharing some wonderful pieces of software that are out there for one to get. If at least one of these programs don't solve 90% of the questions regarding ripping/encoding/playback that surface on this board from time to time, I don't know what will. Enjoy! 

* = highly recommended

*K-Lite Codec Pack - full version comes with Media Player Classic, which plays .flv files)

*VLC - Advanced video player.

*Super Video Converter - quite possibly the best converter out there. Does pretty much anything for you.

VirtualDub AVI Editor - There's not much that this free program can't do with AVI files.

VirtualDub-MPEG2 - Modded version of VirtualDub that (as the name implies) can handle MPEG2 (SVCD, DVD, VOB) files.

*Audacity - Open-source, cross-platform audio editor.

Cue Player - WinAMP plug-in that reads .cue files and plays the associated MP3 and splits the tracks.

Exact Audio Copy.  Copy CDs to your computer with near perfect precision.  Can be configured to convert to WAV, FLAC, LAME, OGG Vorbis and more.  User guide here.

Videora Ipod Converter - for iPod video conversion.

*Firefox.  For those still using IE.

*Video Download Helper - My personal favorite of all the Firefox add-ons for video downloading. It's worked on just about every videohosting site I've been to, and other sites with media as well.

Pure-mac.com - for Mac users. Not all free software, but there are some.

*SourceForge.net - if it's on the internet, and it's open source software, you'll find it here. Very easy to get lost in technical jargon on this site.

Added/Suggested by others:

PSP video 9 - video to psp converter

www.file2hd.com - a site that rips all sorts of files of any url that you paste in

M4A to MP3 converter - converts m4a files from itunes to mp3s

KeepVid - for non-Firefox users. Rips video off sites, and also contains flv player download link

[maluze]

Versiontracker.com is also a great place to find downloads. For Windows, Mac, Palm OS.

[dkst0426]

P.S. If anybody posts other programs in this thread, please include links. Thank you.

[Top Gun]

P.S. If anybody posts other programs in this thread, please include links. Thank you.

program, link (NOT to download, just to site/info), and explanation.

[maluze]

yeah...this could even be a sticky!

[dj91]

yeah...this could even be a sticky!

That was the idea. http://www.christiandl.com/index.php/topic,33475.msg329872.html#msg329872

How about adding these to the list:

www.file2hd.com

M4A to MP3 converter

KeepVid (for those who don't use Firefox)

[dj91]

file2hd is a site that rips all sorts of files of any url that you paste in.

M4A to MP3 converter converts m4a files from itunes to mp3s.

KeepVid rips video off sites. Also contain flv player download link

[ai3gtmc]

PSP video 9 http://www.pspvideo9.com/  its a video to psp converter

[dj91]

Are the new links going to be added?

[king_of_fools]

the links will be added at his discretion, i'm sure you realize that if every linke that everyone suggested was added pretty soon it would just be an internet directory and not a thread about several key pieces of software that people might need.

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[maluze]

For Mac users, there is:

Handbrake, a powerful DVD ripper/converter with settings for iPods, Apple TV, PSPs, etc

Onyx, a powerful system maintenance app.

Carbon Copy Cloner, a simple yet powerful backup utility.

For Mac and Linux, there is WiNE (Wine is Not an Emulator), which can be used to run many Windows programs within the host OS. 

[maluze]

I just checked Handbrake's website, and it is available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It's as easy popping in a DVD, locating the video_ts file, and pressing start!

[king_of_fools]

Found this link to a decent Super tutorial

http://forum.videohelp.com/images/guides/p1608146/basicsuperguide.pdf

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[clublk]

DVDShrink DVDShrink is software to backup DVD discs. You can use this software in conjunction with DVD burning software of your choice, to make a backup copy of any DVD video disc.

µTorrent µTorrent, the best BitTorrent client that is..


Vuze,
formerly known as Azureus Search for torrents beyond Vuze straight from the client. Discover high quality, maverick content on the Vuze network. Download quickly and efficiently with intelligent bandwidth, queue and speed management. Download and stream high-quality content from the Vuze Network. Easily share torrents with Vuze "Friends" feature. Share bandwidth with "Friends" to get a "Friend Boost" and download faster

[dj91]

DVDShrink DVDShrink is software to backup DVD discs. You can use this software in conjunction with DVD burning software of your choice, to make a backup copy of any DVD video disc.

µTorrent µTorrent, the best BitTorrent client that is..


Vuze,
formerly known as Azureus Search for torrents beyond Vuze straight from the client. Discover high quality, maverick content on the Vuze network. Download quickly and efficiently with intelligent bandwidth, queue and speed management. Download and stream high-quality content from the Vuze Network. Easily share torrents with Vuze "Friends" feature. Share bandwidth with "Friends" to get a "Friend Boost" and download faster

Those are pretty useful. Nice job.

[clublk]

yup i use them a lot

[weto]

FireFox is the best ever!! 
no discution! rsrs

[merola1024]

here's a couple decent ones:

Xilisoft DVD Ripper Platinum

^^thanks to clublk for this one

Xilisoft Video Converter Ultimate

Xilisoft Audio Converter (convert between tons of formats-
MP3, WMA, WAV, AAC, M4A, FLAC, OGG, APE, more)

those three cost money... i have keygens though.


Free DVD Decrypter by DVDvideosoft (takes the copyright off of dvds)

Free Youtube to iPod Ripper by DVDvideosoft (also converts .flv files to .mp4 format)

[clublk]

here's a couple decent ones:

Xilisoft DVD Ripper Platinum

^^thanks to clublk for this one

so ur liking it

[merola1024]

here's a couple decent ones:

Xilisoft DVD Ripper Platinum

^^thanks to clublk for this one

so ur liking it

it's the bomb, bro. thanks for telling me about it!

[clublk]

welcome buddy

[isoar4jc]

DivX (Windows) you can use the player or just the =Codec added to another player ie. Quicktime, VLC, WMP.  Allows playing of XviD coded files, often .avi files.

QT-Lite (Windows) Codec Only version of Quicktime. used to make other players able to play Quicktime files ie .mov files. (won't work if you already have Quicktime)

7-Zip (Windows/Linux) Archive/Unarchive utility, compatible with all major file types: .zip .tar .rar and .7z the 7-Zip specific type.

[drone]

Altools - Great website with free utilities for Windows.  I use Alzip which is an archive program.

[crazydude726]

Any good freeware virus protection one could recommend? (Please not Norton)

[merola1024]

Any good freeware virus protection one could recommend? (Please not Norton)

AVG works for me. (that rhymed... hehe )

http://free.avg.com/