uMusic

Any presentation is best accompanied by multimedia support, helping to capture attention and make a proper impression. A presentation can come in the form of a slideshow, or even simple video. In case you’re looking for something to build a presentation video, then uMusic might be what you need.

The application gets installed in a short while, letting you check out the set of features before you know it. However, before rushing to see what it’s all about, it’s best to make sure that the computer you use it on is fitted with .NET Framework, because it’s one of the main requirements.

In order for the output to live up to expectations, you need several types of files, such as audio and pictures. These can’t be dragged over the main window, so you need to use the built-in browse dialogs separately. Audio files can only be under the MP3 format, while pictures need to be JPG files.

A large preview area shows the selected image on the list of imported items. There’s also the possibility to initiate playback, but you need to sit through the whole project, because there’s no option to stop it, so it can get frustrating to preview large presentations.

Choosing to create the video asks where to save it. The only video format you’re able to export to is WMV, with no quality options to configure. This means you need to make sure pictures are at optimum quality. When you’re done, uMusic gives you the possibility to upload your video to your YouTube account, in a simple process where you need to select source, and write down credentials.

Bottom line is that multimedia content is a powerful component of the modern worlds, with various tools and types to create. Applications like uMusic come with good intentions, but this one in particular leaves more to be desired, with poor file support, no options to set transition time, and preview you’re forced to watch until the end.