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I work on multimedia a lot these days and I find it amazing what can be accomplished with free, or very low cost, tools. These are some of my favorites.

You can look at an example of my streaming video work at http://www.chcgreer.com/video-01.htm.

There are many applications for each task. You may find/have some you prefer. These have worked for me. For info on building a multimedia computer (and much more) visit the Video Guys.

   Essential Tools and Weblinks for You and Your Church

Save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars here

AUDIO/VIDEO/PRODUCTION

Sound File Conversion Software

Switch sound file conversion software is an audio file format converter for windows. It can convert audio files from many different file formats into mp3 or wav files, including wav to mp3, au to mp3, aiff to mp3 and much more.

Switch audio file converter is very easy to use. Just add the files you want to convert to the list, select the format you want to use, and then click the convert button.

There is a wealth of information on audio file formats on the publisher's website at http://www.nch.com.au/acm/formats.html.
Download the free converter at http://www.audiochannel.net/software/switch.zip.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://tinyurl.com/h4nbn  

cross-platform media player

Sometimes someone may send you a media file you just can't seem to open or play. Popular formats like MP3, and WAV are easy. For others, try this. It's a highly portable multimedia player for various audio and video formats.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
 http://www.videolan.org/vlc/

Audiograbber

Audiograbber is a beautiful piece of software that grabs digital audio from cd's. It copies the audio digitally-not through the soundcard-which enables you to make perfect copies of the originals. It can even perform a test to see that the copies really are perfect. Audiograbber can also automatically normalize the music, delete silence from the start and/or end of tracks, and send them to a variety or external MP3 encoders, such as Fraunhofers L3enc, or even use some MP3/WMA encoders internally for automatic creation of MP3's. Audiograbber can download and upload disc info from freedb, an Internet compact disc database. You can even record your vinyl LP's or cassette tapes with Audiograbber and make WAV's or MP3's from them. There are a lot more functions in Audiograbber, but to put it simply: Audiograbber has all the features you're likely to want.

Audiograbber used to be shareware but since February 9, 2004 has been released as freeware! Get it from the download page.
 

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
 

Audacity

Audacity is a free, easy-to-use audio editor and recorder for Windows, Mac OS X, GNU/Linux, and other operating systems. You can use Audacity to:

  • Record live audio.
  • Convert tapes and records into digital recordings or CDs.
  • Edit Ogg Vorbis, MP3, and WAV sound files.
  • Cut, copy, splice, and mix sounds together.
  • Change the speed or pitch of a recording.
  • And more! See the complete list of features.
     
These articles give step-by-step instructions for common tasks using the free Audacity sound editor.
 

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://audacity.sourceforge.net
 


TPlayer is a free music player and mixer for mp3, wma, ogg, and wav audio files.

TPlayer's main features are:
 
  • Adjustable Automix Settings based on audio data to adapt to different music genres.
  • Four different Automix sort options.
  • One click manual mix and fade out options: Cut, Fade 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 seconds.
  • Dual independent players with real time Vu meters or Waveform display and Peak indicators.

There are many music players out there. Microsoft's Windows Media Player v11 is a good example. Tplayer is, however, much smaller and easier to deal with. No on-line stores, adware or other complexities. Make prelude and postlude play lists in advance and they'll be ready to go on Sunday morning.  

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free

Music player with broadcast cart machine interface

Sonicart lets you easily set up a full schedule for your on line broadcasts and/or services, complete with announcements scheduled at predefined intervals. Originally designed for MP3 files, OGG and WAV format support have since been added. Radio broadcast functions, similar to ones used in multi-thousand dollar systems have also been added, allowing you to switch song and announcement selections on the fly, and loop play lists. It calculates time remaining, allows creation of multiple play lists and more. All this, free of charge!

I find this player great for music before and after church services. No editing is done then...I'm more concerned about track control at this time.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.babyfishmouth.co.uk/  

Create Flash Videos
 

SWiSH Video2 lets you convert your video files into streaming Flash files in minutes. Now you can easily display your videos on the web complete with play controls and playback settings.
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: $49.95
Click Here
 

Sony Vegas Video Editing Software

Vegas Movie Studio™+DVD Platinum software offers everything you get with the standard version such as easy drag-and-drop video editing, integrated DVD layout and burning, Show Me How interactive tutorials. In addition, Platinum Edition provides added features, advanced editing tools, and other bonus materials to speed you through even the most complex of movie projects — from full screen DV to wide screen HDV.

Vegas Movie Studio+DVD Platinum software includes the following bonus software, added features, and other valuable extras worth over US $200:
  • HDV capture and editing
  • ACID® XMC™ music creation software
  • The 126-page DV/HDV handbook HDV: What You NEED to Know
  • SpiceMaster™ 2.5 TFX from Pixélan Software™
  • Advanced 3-wheel primary color correction tools
  • 174 Sony Pictures Sound Effects
  • Over 20 DirectX® audio effects

This is an amazing bargain for the price. Much easier to learn and use than many other non linear editors (NLEs).

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: $129
Click here

Top 7 Free Video Editing Software Products

There are a number of free video editing products available but, not having used many of them, I'd rather refer you to this page at About.com .

For a pretty complete definition and background on 'non-linear editors' or NLEs, click here .

A few more are listed on Kim Komando's site.

ConvertMovie

ConvertMovie is a simple yet smart and powerful video converter. With ConvertMovie you can easily:

  • save your video and DVD for iPod;
  • convert between all video formats: AVI, MPEG (DVD, VCD, SVCD), MOV, Mpeg4 (iPod, MP4), WMV, ASF, RM, VOB, DVD;
  • join multiple video files of different formats into one movie;
  • rip your DVDs;
  • extract soundtracks from your video files and save them to MP3, WAV, WMA.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: $19.95
Click here

OFFICE PRODUCTIVITY TOOLS

Church Office Helper

Church Office Helper 2.2 "A Windows 95/98/NT software application for handling the administrative functions of churches. It tracks the church's membership, contributions, pledges, committees, Sunday school classes, member interests in various music programs, church staff, church policies and maintains records about the sermons, music, scripture, attendance. User defined fields, 45+ reports, address labels and much more. Please read the beginning of the install for the password, the password is user.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free

Free office suite

OpenOffice is a multiplatform and multilingual office suite and an open-source project. Compatible with all other major office suites, the product is free to download, use, and distribute. To help build the community. With MS Office increasing is size and price, OpenOffice is a powerful, and free, alternative.  It includes a word processor, spreadsheet, presentation tool (like PowerPoint), drawing package and database. There is also a portable version you can carry on your flash drive and use on most any PC.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.openoffice.org/
http://portableapps.com/apps/office/suites/portable_openoffice/  

On-line word processing

Writely is a web-based word processor currently in beta. It can be used as a collaborative text editing suite, and features access controls. Writely's user interface is a WYSIWYG word processor that appears within a web browser. Menus, keyboard shortcuts, and dialogue boxes show up in a way similar to what you would expect on a GUI-driven word processor, such as Microsoft Word or OpenOffice.org. Read the complete Wikipedia article here. I never thought I'd use an on-line too like this, but now I'm working on five different computers in several locations and it's great to be able to work on a document (like this one created on Writely) where ever I am.
 
Since Google bought Writely, they have temporarily closed new subscription. If you know someone with an account, they can get you signed up, however. It's easy to get hooked on Writely!
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free

Desktop publishing

Scribus is an open-source program that brings award-winning professional page layout to Linux/Unix, MacOS X and Windows desktops with a combination of "press-ready" output and new approaches to page layout. Functionally similar to Microsoft Publisher, this application does work a little differently so be prepared to spend a little time with it. The development seems pretty aggressive so it should just keep getting better. And the price...Well, how about $0.00!

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free

Sketchup 3D Modeling (Drawing) Program


Google SketchUp is an easy-to-learn 3D modeling program that enables you to explore the world in 3D. With just a few simple tools, you can create 3D models of houses, sheds, decks, home additions, woodworking projects - even space ships. And once you've built your models, you can place them in Google Earth, post them to the 3D Warehouse, or print hard copies.
 
Planning a church remodel...Even a new building? This program lets you "build" it on screen and see what it might look like.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
 

Google

A combination of Gmail, Google Calendar and instant messaging makes for a powerful communications tool kit. The ability to share calendars and invite others to scheduled events just scratches the surface here. And, all free! Includes almost 3 gigabytes of free storage!

 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://mail.google.com/mail/help/intl/en/about.html
 

COMPUTER UTILITIES

Print Screen Utility

Gadwin Print Screen provides a far better way to capture any area on your screen and save it to most graphic formats than the functionality built into MS Windows.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free

Zip/Unzip Utility


7-Zip. Many files come to you in compressed (zipped) form these days. There are a number of utilities to help you unpack the files, but don't pay when you can get this great one free!

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free

Antivirus software

Avast! 4 Home Edition is a full-featured antivirus package designed exclusively for home users and non-commercial use. Both of these conditions should be met! Our company offers the Home Edition free of charge, since, in our opinion, it is possible to avoid global virus spreading by efficient prevention; however, many user are not able to or do not want to pay for antivirus software.
 
The major AV packages get more expensive, and more bloated each year. Avast is a great alternative, and there is a free version available.
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.avast.com/eng/free_software.html
 

Create Standard PDF Files

 

PDF reDirect is a fast, free, and easy-to-use PDF Creator. It has no restrictions, no watermarks, no spyware, no adware and no pop-up advertisements. Features include basic encryption, full merging and PDF preview. Adobe charges $300 for Acrobat 7.0. This program is free. PDF files are great because they print exactly as you created them, regardless of what printer or operating system you use. They, also, have proven virtually virus-free.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
Click here

PDF Reader

Acrobat Reader is the free program you need to be able to view, and print, PDF files. The latest version is always available at the link below.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html

Adware removal tool (1)

Ad-aware is THE award winning, multi-trackware detection and removal utility (designed for Windows 98 / 98SE / ME / NT40 / 2000 / XP Home / XP Pro) that will comprehensively scan your memory, registry, hard, removable and optical drives for known Datamining, aggressive advertising, Parasites, Scumware, Keyloggers, selected traditional Trojans, Dialers, Malware, Browser hijackers, and tracking components.


Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.lavasoft.com/
 

Adware removal tool (2)

Spybot Search and Destroy searches your hard disk for so-called spybots or adbots, the modules that are responsible for showing ads and transmitting information back to vendors. If Spybot Search and Destroy finds such modules, it will remove them or replace them with empty dummies.
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.spybot.info/en/index.html
 

Windows Clipboard extender

Yankee Clipper III is a powerful Windows clipboard extender/memory- now in its third generation. Handles Pictures, Richtext, URLS, etc - any size. Features printing, drag and drop, optional permanent storage of clippings. Familiar "Outlook" interface. The Clipboard that come with Windows will never get-er-done again after you use Yankee Clipper III.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.intelexual.com/products/YC3/
 

Password manager 

KeePass is a free/open-source password manager or safe which helps you to manage your passwords in a secure way. You can put all your passwords in one database, which is locked with one master key or a key-disk. So you only have to remember one single master password or insert the key-disk to unlock the whole database. The databases are encrypted using the best and most secure encryption algorithms currently known.
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://keepass.sourceforge.net/
 

WEB TOOLS AND SERVICES

Doteasy Web Hosting

Doteasy may be your answer if you're creating a church website for the first time and would like to have just an attractive brochure site, or would simply like to have the professional image of a personalized email address - the $0 Hosting plan is the right one for you.

$0 Hosting is the easiest for you to create a website providing you with a starting point to grow your site with flexible upgrade options. Trust the industry leader to help you with your website needs. By providing free customer support, online resources and intuitive web design tools, like freesitedesigner.com, we make it easy to get started and build the site you want.
 
One year of domain hosting PLUS domain registration is $25 or less.
 
Cost: Free (for hosting)

Even less expensive (free) hosting and domain name registration

Microsoft Office Live Basics lets you create your own professional Web site in minutes! Microsoft Office Live Basics is the perfect way to get started on the Web. It features all the basics you need to create your first Web site, including free hosting, Web site statistics, personalized domain name, and e-mail addresses.
 
No pop-ups, ads or funny URL names. This is a 'Beta' product. Final terms and conditions may change, but it looks like this will continue to be a free service.
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free

Stream audio on your website

My Website Talks lets you add instant streaming voice content to any website or email in minutes. No more weird Quicktime / WindowsMedia/ Real Audio downloading problems. Plays audio right from the webpage with No subscription fee's, No per minute charges, just clean, clear streaming sound in an instant. This really is easy and effective. Desktop audio and video software, and a headset microphone are included.
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: $79
http://www.mywebsitetalks.com/
 
PHOTO/GRAPHICS SOFTWARE AND UTILITIES

PhotoFiltre

PhotoFiltre has a lot of features for a free photo editor. It's got plenty of effects, filters and textures. You can take out red eye or turn photos into watercolor paintings. It even has an "old photo" effect.

It handles color saturation, blur effects and paint tools. PhotoFiltre covers all the basics of big programs like Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro. In fact, it lets you open and work on Photoshop and Paint Shop Pro files. It can also take gif, jpg, bmp, png, tiff and tga formats.

The only part of PhotoFiltre that I could call weak is the magic wand tool. That's forgivable from a free program. A magic wand tool is basically artificial intelligence. It's tough stuff.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
www.photofiltre.com

Resize your digital photos & images

PIXresizer is a tool for quickly generating screen-friendly versions of your images with dramatically reduced file sizes. It is a photo resizing program that enables you to quickly re size one file or a selection of image files for use on the web and in e-mail. A great companion for webmasters and digital photographers.

Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://bluefive.pair.com/pixresizer.htm

IrfanView

IrfanView is a very fast, small, compact and innovative FREEWARE (for non-commercial use) graphic viewer for Windows. Too many features/uses to describe here, but one of the free plug-ins allows you to view Flash movies on your desktop without a web server.
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.irfanview.com/
 

Paint Program

Paint.NET is image and photo manipulation software designed to be used on computers that run Windows 2000, XP, Vista, or Server 2003. It supports layers, unlimited undo, special effects, and a wide variety of useful and powerful tools.
 
This package competes well with Photoshop for the average user and costs...Well, nothing!
 
Requirements: Windows 2000/XP
Cost: Free
http://www.eecs.wsu.edu/paint.net/