Convert and Play

very good
key review info
application features
  • Convert to MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG Vorbis, and ARM to MP3, WMA and WAV.
  • (5 more, see all...)

If you are a music lover/addict, you know how important and valuable a good working conversion tool can be. Although this is a domain constantly expanding, not many tools of this type provide the best conversion quality, and you may end up even worse: with corrupted audio files or lost songs. As we tested different apps, we came across a small, but quite precise converting tool: the Need4 Audio Converter.

This app can be downloaded for free in demo mode, which can only save the first 60 seconds of your song. If you want to register, you can choose between 1 one year ($29.99) and permanent ($39.99) unlimited access. The price is not too exaggerated, especially when considering that you’ll also receive some other products for free.

Need4 Audio Converter is not a complicated software, but you still have to install it on an XP 2000 or Vista OS, not to mention that it requires about 1 GB of free hard disk space and 256 RAM. However, that’s about everything when it comes to system requirements.

This little tool can perform pretty cool stuff, like converting unprotected audio files in MP3, WMA, WAV, OGG Vorbis, ARM to MP3, WMA to MP3 or WAV to MP3. It also has some ready-made quality presets implemented, allowing you to obtain excellent sounding without any audio mixing knowledge. To be more specific, this is a simple conversion utility that can be used by anyone, anytime, and still return quite good results.

The main interface is not crowded, thus, it’s easy to use. There is no way you can “get lost” around it, because there’s nothing to set you off-track since there’s no other way to go than straight ahead. The menu has two basic options, File and Delete, so you can add and remove files according to your needs. We should also add here the fact that you can convert dozens of files during one session, which means that the batch conversion mode is available and in top shape. This tool also has the capabilities of a small and simple audio player, thus, after adding the audio file, you can check if it’s not corrupted or if the device recognizes the format it comes in. This option can prove very useful sometimes, especially since all you have to do is to just press Play and, in a second, you’ll see if the file is convertible or not.

On the bottom of the interface, you’ll find some other options that need to be checked before the process starts. This tool offers you just 3 output audio formats, WAV, MP3 and WMA, which, while not making up the most generous list ever, will have to do just fine since they are the most common audio extensions used.

A strange element that we don’t seem to find a place for is the CD Quality option. We should mention that it becomes available only when the output format selected is the WAV mode. Should you want to choose another type of quality other than the CD, you’ll find yourself in a pretty pickle because you will come to realize that this is actually the only selection you can make. So, as you can see, why this section exists is quite a mystery, as also is the fact why other options are not available, like in the case of the MP3 or WMA formats.

If you want more advanced options, to allow you to customize the conversion process in a more detailed manner, use the Settings window. Here, you’ll find the presets we were talking about earlier, and which are useful tools for all those that don’t really know how to mix and combine audio stream values.

An interesting feature that is worth noting is also the Variable BitRate Encoding mode, which you can modify using the quality section. Granted, you won’t find any numerical values to specify the exact parameters used, but, like already noted above, this is not a tool destined for professional users.

After adding and selecting all the options, just hit the Convert button and you’ll have a fresh new song in no time. Guaranteed.

As a final note, we have to add that nothing should stop you from trying out this tool. It’s simple, sticks to the basics and does its job as it’s supposed to. If you’re not looking for a fancy, close to professional tool, then go right ahead and test it.


The Good

Overall, the Converter promises a lot. It can batch convert, uses VBR encoding, supports plenty of formats, and creates high quality audio files. The price is quite satisfying, especially since you will also receive some free products. If that weren’t the case, we would have definitely considered it a major drawback.

The Bad

However, some minor issues still exist with the Need4 Audio Converter. Had some numerical values been displayed in the preset and VBR area, at least with an orientation purpose, if not to allow a better judgment of the choice to make, the app would have been all the more useful.

The Truth

Besides the insignificant flaws that don’t really count on the overall, we consider that Need4 Audio Converter is one of the best converters we have tested so far. It’s the perfect app for those that have neither the time nor the skills necessary to configure a heavy and complicated audio converter. You get already created presets, waiting for you to use them, and plenty of settings that are not that many as to become boring. With just a few clicks, your song is ready to be played, or even converted, again.

Here are some snapshots of the application in action:

 Review imageReview image

user interface 4
features 2
ease of use 4
pricing / value 3


final rating 4
Editor's review
very good
 
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