14 DAY TRIAL // For some time now, I have been noticing that more and more audio conversion software emerges on the web and that, even more, these new programs are becoming addressed to the inexperienced users, being dead-easy to use. Not that this is a bad thing, but this is rather interesting...meaning that people are "using" more and more music hence the higher need for so much and diverse software.
After all, I guess almost anyone (software producers that is) can write code to produce a high standard; the battle is between those who can issue software so simple to use such as to be suitable for both pros and newbies while still retaining quality. In a world where the number of people using computers and also having internet access is in constant increase, making software that produces very good results AND being usable by almost everybody can mean the difference between anonymity and celebrity, no matter how much money (if any) are to be spent for its acquisition.
The Looks
WAVE 2 MP3 is definitely one of the simplest audio converters available or thinkable: it has a very ordered GUI with Input and Output fields on top of the unique window, each covering half the width of the screen. On the left side, the WAVE 2 MP3 sports very handy checkboxes which let you choose the settings for the processing you are about to perform while in the rightmost side three large buttons are present: Encode, Edit Tags and Help. The BitRate and VBR are accessible as two distinct dropdown menus.
What has really made me look with increased attention was the fact that the GUI for WAVE 2 MP3 really has everything in this main window: no alternative menus opening secondary windows and definitely no complex menus at all. Whatever commands or options you would think of, they are all on the front window and you must admit that not being forced to navigate through interminable or over-crowded menus, open and close sounds of windows or watch in despair text you don't have a chance to understand can all really be features which newbies will simply adore, while the not-very-demanding pros will like as well.
The center of this main window is dedicated to an area in which your every command is being listed as if on a prompter. Thus, besides the checks in the checkboxes, you have easy and quick visual access to whatever you have done prior to converting a file. WAVE 2 MP3 does not have any color schemes and definitely no skins as it is rather a quick "use-then-forget" software; the buttons are very simple and really do not differ at all from the Windows usual buttons, they all have text on them and thus are very hard to miss or misuse.
The Works
Being a program not intended for heavy duty use, the WAVE 2 MP3 does not support batch-mode working and this means that - if you plan to convert a rather large number of wave files into the MP3 format - it's quite likely that you'll grow nervous and decide to go for another software.
WAVE 2 MP3 is rather a program developed for the instantaneous needs that sometimes (more and more often, I daresay) occur in our lives, whether we are working with audio everyday or are just enthusiasts, even simple listeners.
If you needing a wave file in the mp3 format, to send it easier over the net or store it on a mobile device, the WAVE 2 MP3 can easily be the answer to your queries: small, simple, working very fast when quality is a feature of lesser importance and decently fast even at high bitrates. Operating the WAVE 2 MP3 is more than simple: select the wave file for the Input field and then the name for the Output (resulting MP3) file in the other field. It's then up to you to decide if you just want an MP3, no matter the quality or you need to keep as close to the WAV quality as possible (therefore choosing a higher BitRate).
The checkboxes allow you to further set up other specs for the output resulting file, such as stereo or mono mode (by obviously checking or unchecking the appropriate checkbox), encode files with CBR or VBR (Constant/Variable Bit Rate), Swab (a method of improving the sound quality) and some other features that will ensure you get as close to your goal as WAVE 2 MP3 can.
As a final consideration, WAVE 2 MP3 will also let you quickly and easily edit the tags for your freshly-encoded MP3 files, so you won't need to do this later, maybe with another software. Finally, press Encode and sit back while WAVE 2 MP3 will transform your files.
The Good
First of all, WAVE 2 MP3 is free so no need to think about your wallet; then it's simpler than you might have expected and even more, one large window containing all the things you need, all directly-accessible. Test it and you'll see what simple means...
The Bad
The only bad thing which passes through my mind now is the fact that WAVE 2 MP3 does not support a batch-mode.
The Truth
WAVE 2 MP3 is just perfect for your occasional and small conversion needs, but I seriously doubt that you'll get to use it as your everyday converter.
See the screenshots below and give it a try!
