October 2008, about.com, quotes and excerpts from
the article:
"When Tunebite 5 was reviewed a while ago it proved to be a
versatile program for not only removing DRM copy protection but also for
providing an essential set of audio tools. RapidSolution Software AG has now
released Tunebite 6 (also part of the Audials One software suite) which has new
features. Find out in this review how Tunebite 6 performs, and if it's really
worth the upgrade.
Pros:
* Improved user-interface
* Good file format support and conversion speed
* Excellent set of media tools...
Tunebite 6 – Getting Started
System Requirements:
* Operating system: Windows XP / Vista
* Minimum Processor: 1 GHz
* Memory: 512 MB RAM
* Software: Windows Media Player 9+ / iTunes 6+
* Video: Minimum resolution 1024 x 768 pixels
Interface:
Tunebite's graphical
user-interface (GUI) has been improved since version 5 by the reorganization of
the existing controls, and the addition of new features such as Perfect Audio,
an external player synchronization icon, and a switchable conversion interface
for either default or advanced mode. Overall, the cleaner appearance makes using
Tunebite 6 more intuitive and easier to use than before...
Media file Conversion:
Tunebite 6 makes it
easy to convert media files by providing a drag-and-drop area, or via clicking
the Add button near the top of the screen. A new feature introduced in version 6
is a drop-down menu on the add button that gives you the option to either add
single files or entire folders. During testing Tunebite was able to convert a
mixture of music and video files (copy protected and DRM-free) without any
problems and produced good results.
* Output Audio Formats: M4A, MP3, OGG, WAV, WMA, WMA
Pro
* Output Video Formats: 3GP, AVI, MPEG4, SONY PSP, WMV7,
WMV9, XVID
Perfect Audio:
A new feature in Tunebite 6
is the Perfect Audio mode which guarantees, as the name suggests, a perfect
reproduction of the original copy-protected file. It does this by creating two
simultaneous recordings and then comparing them to check for errors. The
downside to using this new feature is it takes significantly more time to
convert files; if you've got a lot of DRM-protected files then be prepared for a
long wait!
Conversion Modes:
Another new feature for
version 6 is being able to choose what technical level you want to work in. The
default mode is aimed at the beginner who needs a simplified interface to
quickly convert their files. For the more advanced user, a change in mode will
reveal more options for bitrates and custom configurations.
Conversion Speed and Quality:
Tunebite 6's
conversion performance has been improved since the last version; up to 54x speed
is now possible. The quality of the converted files is also excellent.
Tunebite 6 - Additional Tools
Surf and Catch:
Originally named 'Capture
Streams', the new 'Surf and Catch' (also a component of MP3videoraptor 3) tab is
one area of Tunebite that has really been enhanced since its last incarnation.
You can now record both audio and video streams from popular streaming websites
like, Last.fm, Pandora, iJigg, SoundClick, LaunchCast, MusicLoad, YouTube,
MySpace, and others. There's also...ahem...a few erotic sites that are listed in
Tunebite 6 - there's a parental control feature to hide these if needed.
Virtual CD Burner:
An excellent new tool
to convert files from within a software media player such as iTunes. Instead of
burning to a physical CD, you can choose the Tunebite virtual CD burner as your
device to use. Similar to Noteburner, it employs a virtual device that can be
used to remove copy-protection... Once installed, Virtual CD burner
automatically used Tunebite 6 to convert the test DRM'ed tracks.
Ringtone Maker:
The ringtone maker hasn't
changed since the last Tunebite version but still offers a great way to make
ringtones from your digital music files and CDs; it can also strip out the audio
from a video clip and record sound from an alternative source such as a
microphone. You can generate MP3, AMR and MMF ringtones which can be transferred
via WAP or downloaded as a file.
DVD/CD Burner:
Tunebite 6 now has the
facility to write data to DVDs as well as audio and data to CDs; useful for
creating backups of your media collection.
Tunebite 6 - Conclusion
Is it Worth Buying?
Tunebite 6 is certainly an improvement over previous versions
with additional benefits such as faster file conversions, support for more
streaming media sites, and the Perfect Audio feature that guarantees error-free
replication of your original DRM'ed files... It's a solid performer that's got a
great selection of additional tools that go beyond simple DRM file conversion.
Tunebite 6 is certainly recommended if you're frustrated by the restrictions of
DRM or need a media toolbox that can convert, record, and backup your music and
video files."
