as of 12:16 this morning the website top graphic still said 100% free as well as adware & spyware free- I saved a copy, I'm just on the wrong network connection to access and post it right now.

The free part has been edited out sometime later, but even at that time the buy button wanted bucks... so I'd call this a clumsy transition at best.

as of 8 pm it's still on FreewareFiles as v1.0 at http://www.freewarefiles.com/MP3-Toolkit_program_76340.html - at least the download from the FreewareFiles Mirror (US) *is* still 1.0.

I agree heartily with Giovanni there are many better free individual task tools available, and even some 'packaged' suites that can easily equal and better MP3 Toolkit at no cost- even when MP3 Toolkit was openly free.

I've downloaded that version in the past; it's on a couple of my freeware DVD's as I saved it before trying it and finding it wanting.

and what does a PDF tool vendor know about how a good audio frontend should work, anyway? jeeze. no thanks.

This is not for any serious music collector, sorry to say. First off there are only 3 audio grabbers or "rippers" worth using:

Windows
[freeware] EAC [exact Audio Copy] http://www.exactaudiocopy.de/

A secure, a fast and a burst extraction methods selectable. Fast extraction should run at the same speed as other grabbers with jitter correction, but is probably not exact anymore. Burst mode just grabs the audio data without any synchronization.
Detection of read errors and complete losses of sync and correction in the secure mode, as far as possible
Output of time positions of all non-exact corrections and the possibility to listen to these positions
EAC is able to copy ranges of music data, not only tracks
Automatic speed reduction on read errors and fallback to a higher speed afterwards (depends on the used drive)
Volume normalization of extracted audio to a given percentage
Usage of the Windows Audio Compression manager (ACM Codecs) for direct compression to e.g. MP3 waves
Support for the LAME DLL that is usable like an ACM Codec for on-the-fly MP3 compression
Support of external MP3, WMA, flac and OggVorbis encoders for automatic compression after extraction (supports multi-processor environments)
Batch compression to WAV files and decompression of supported encoded files to WAV
Compression offset support for exact compression/decompression
Detection of pre-track gaps (positions where negative track times runs towards 00:00:00)
Detection of silence in pre-track gaps
Automatic creation of CUE sheets for Burnnn, Feurio, Nero or even EAC, which can include all gaps, indicies, track attributes, UPC and ISRC and also CD-Text for an exact copy
CD player functionality and prelistening to selected ranges
Automatic detection of drive features, whether a drive has an accurate stream and/or does caching
Sample offsets for drives with noaccurate streams, including the option of filling up missing samples with silence
Synchronizing between tracks for non-accurate stream drives
Trackname editing with local/remote CD databases support and more features like ID3 tagging
Browse and edit local database
Certified Escient ® CDDB(TM)Compatible
Local CDDB support
Record and loop record functions for recording from LP, radio, etc.
Automatic renaming of MP3 files accordingto their ID3 tag
Catalog extraction function (e.g. first 20 seconds of a track)
Multisession (CD-Extra) support
CD-Text support
CD-Write support for some drives (internally and using CDRDAO)
ID3 V1.1 tag editor with drag and drop ability from track listing and CD database browser
Glitch removal after extraction
Small WAV editor with the following functionality: delete, trim, normalize, pad, glitch removal, pop detection, interpolation of ranges, noise reduction, fade in/out, undo (and much more)
Program is free for personal use, so feel free to copy

[trialware] dbpoweramp http://www.dbpoweramp.com/

Secure Ripping from the inventors of AccurateRip,
PerfectMeta blends 5 metadata providers,
High resolution Album Art,
DSP effects: ReplayGain, Volume Normalize, HDCD. Main audio codecs supported, ID Tags & Artwork preserved, Multi-CPU encoding support,
Batch convert large numbers of files.

MAC
[freeware] Xact xact.scottcbrown.org/

These are the only true "secure" rippers based on accuraterip technology and are offset correcting. What this means is that these will create as close to an exact copy as possible, by adjusting itself to your burner. Non-secure rippers produce sector boundary errors in the files, meaning the tracks do not start and end cleanly. Think of the cells of a honeycomb. An sbe causes the track to start in the middle of a cell. This results in skips, pops etc.

[freeware] Traders Little Helper tlh.easytree.org is a great tool for compressing/de-compressing, fixing sbe's, creating checksums for accurate bit torrent sharing.


Traders of lossless compressed audio files (e.g. ape, flac, mkw, or shn files) have to handle a lot of different applications to decode, encode, create/verify checksums, fix sector boundary errors, or create torrent files. Moreover most of the tools used are command-line programs requiring a deeper knowledge of how to use various parameters. Trader's Little Helper bundles the most important features of those applications in one single easy-to-use frontend.
Features
- Encoding of wav files to ape, flac, shn and mp3 format
- Re-encoding of flac files
- Decoding of ape, flac, mkw, shn, mp2 and mp3 files to wav format
- Direct conversion of ape, flac, mkw and shn files to flac or mp3 format
- Test of audio files encoded in ape, flac, shn and mkw format
- Verification of cfp, ffp, md5, sfv and st5 checksum files
- Creation of cfp, ffp, md5, sfv and st5 checksum files
- Display of audio file properties (ape, flac, shn, mkw and wav files)
- Fixing of sector boundary errors that come with ape, flac, shn, mkw, wav and mp3 files
- Removal of extra RIFF chunks in audio files
- Rewriting of WAVE headers to canonical format
- Creation of skt files for non-seekable shn files
- Test of wav files for mp3 source
- Creation of torrent files
- Display of the information encoded in torrent files
- Hashing of torrent files against local filesets or files
- Drag & Drop functionality for all supported file types
- Integration into Windows Explorer
- Check for update function

Lastly: [freeware] www.foobar2000.org

foobar2000 is an advanced freeware audio player for the Windows platform. Some of the basic features include full unicode support, ReplayGain support and native support for several popular audio formats.

Main features
Supported audio formats: MP3, MP4, AAC, CD Audio, WMA, Vorbis, FLAC, WavPack, WAV, AIFF, Musepack, Speex, AU, SND... and more with additional components.
Gapless playback.
Full unicode support.
Easily customizable user interface layout.
Advanced tagging capabilities.
Support for ripping Audio CDs as well as transcoding all supported audio formats using the Converter component.
Full ReplayGain support.
Customizable keyboard shortcuts.
Open component architecture allowing third-party developers to extend functionality of the player.

If you cherish your music avoid these 1 click apps like today's GAOTD. Sure, my way is more work, but your ears will thank you. I won't start a rant about mp3, just know it really reduces the quality of music. Depending on the rate, it strips the data from typically 15Khz up. Yes, the human ear stops at 20-22Khz, but stereo separation mostly occurs in this range, which is why mp3 are "flat" sounding.

As Mothballs and blea101 mentioned, this does not appear to operate in a lossless way. Mothballs mentioned an alternate, and I'd like to add what I use to the list. That would be the freeware MP3DirectCut. Excellent software.

Have the software installed to default program folder. Like for us Swedes: C:\Program. Not Program Files but default for my language. When not using default install folder shows a sign of bad programming....

This comment is in response to Giovanni and LittleBear as well as those having problems getting the program registered.
#1- Only install from the GAOTD download and use the registration code in the GAOTD Readme file. If you do the download from the PDFzilla website the GAOTD registration code will not work. There is a difference in the names of the install zip from PDFzilla's download and the GAOTD download. The GAOTD download is 'MP3Toolkit.zip' but the PDFzilla download is all in lower case letters. Those having trouble installing be sure you are unzipping the GAOTD file not the lowercase file from PDFzilla.

#2 Little Bear is correct that the current 'free' download at PDFzilla site is a trial unregistered version and you have to pay $29.95 to register it. The following is how I tested this after reading Giovanni's comment about freeware version but before reading LittleBear's comment above.....
I followed up on Giovanni's link to LittleBear's World of Freebies.(BTW...Great site--I'll be back) LittleBear's link took me to the current MP3TOOLKIT site. I downloaded the 'free' down load from there. Installed it (placed it in 'Program' folder--on my Win7HomePrem) Once program loaded I clicked on 'register now'. This caused my browser to open a "give me your money" tab. Immediately closed it and this revealed the registration popup window. I entered the registration code from the GAOTD Readme file (which I had opened from my down loaded of the GAOTD MP3toolkit file but had not installed the program from there yet). I used cut&past to enter code into the registration window. Got message that "registration was successful"; however, after closing the program and restarting it, the unregistered copy notice was still there. Tried twice more entering code manually with same results. I then ran the GAOTD setup.exe without uninstaling the program. This time it installed on top of the trial version and took the registration. I closed program and reopened it. This time the 'unregistered copy' notice was gone. So looks like I have the full version.
Will report back after giving program a test run.

@comment 10, GAOTD Team. Thanks for explaining why programs on here are often (always?) larger than the original file on the mfr's website. I know this has been a concern for several people, and it does look suspicious. Glad you cleared it up. Hope all those folks read it!!

Several post have mentioned this program going from "freeware" to "shareware" with little or no modification. Many popular programs have done the same thing. Some of those programs have been listed on GOTD and get good reviews and are referenced frequently. An example is "Revo Uninstaller". I believe that "CCleaner" did the same thing.

A really cool little program, lightweight, loads fast, does what it says. It replaces three or four tools I used until now.

MP3ToolKit, this is an awesome program, I've only used the mp3 cutter so far and that is the reason that I wanted to try this program, it is so easy to use it to cut off my mp3's that I download from YouTube. Some has talking at the end of the song and this fixes that issue for me fantastically! I had been using Audacity, but could never get it right. Thanks GOTD!

So it was free 5 months ago and now it is not. Got award from Freeware Files on website.

This is version 1.0.4

Besides charging money for it now, was anything changed to the software?

If not, then it is a joke to offer it here as a giveaway, complete with serial key. Then, we would all be a bunch of suckers.

#5(Yes) said it is portable.
I don't think so.
If it was portable, that feature would have been trumpeted all over the website page. There was no mention of portability.
I did a check with Regseeker for MP3toolkit
(you can do the exact same check.)
There were 117 new registry entries made by this software.
So how can it be portable?

Yes, if you surf, you can find MP3ToolKit - version 1.01 portable from certain websites. Not sure whether they are dubious or old versions.

#4 & #8, Keith & Bobby Baker: you both make good points, but I can overlook a minor inconvenience when it's only in the front-end for previously separate modules, like this one is. Considering it was 4 am, I was lucky to catch it at all, but of course we should always be watching the installation anyway since it could try to sneak in a toolbar or even worse.

Dear Giovanni,

I am the author of Little Bear's World Of Freebies. Thank you for referencing my blog in your post.

I am very skeptical of this Giveaway this morning as the program was previously FREEWARE. And now its a paid version which leads me to believe the versions they release as FREEWARE are not all that good, they rely on our feedback and then change it to a paid version.

It was free in May when the developer sent me the news letter, even was listed on Freeware Files as 100% Clean.

I don't like this business practice one bit.

Easy CD-DA Extractor does all this and more, there is a free version but the paid version is excellent they call it the swift army knife of audio.

@17 friedhaggis. Copy the two missing components to your windows/system folder and register them.
Goes portable just fine.

no help files????????????????

#1, internet explorer:
I would suggest that the main reason most developers choose to install into any folder heirachy other than program files is that they have chosen not to follow best practice or even simple guidance regarding use of the win32 API in placing only read only material in the programs install folder and any user preferences or user editable files in a user specific folder that even limted user accounts have read-write-modify-create rights to. AND their product is not compatible with Microsfts workaround for bad coders, Virtualstore redirection of write attempts to restricted locations.

If it is coded that way to be portable then it should be marketed as portable and not pretend to be an properly installable product because it is not and by installing into a different folder heirachy it is defeating at least one layer of microsofts security protection in that the executables and dll's within the install directory will be modifiable even with limited user rights and so be ripe for infection by any malware operating within a limited users shell with no requirement for rights elevation or obtaining the identity of trusteduser MSI installer pseduo-account identity.

The CD to MP3 ripper crashes shortly after the 'Please Insert the Audio CD' screen.

Win7/x64

Anyone else experience this?

A Word Of Warning:

Though this appears to be intended as a "portable" application, it most certainly is not. In fact, I would recommend avoiding this application entirely. MP3toolkit has a very intrusive registry footprint, and will install its own version of several OCX & DLL files without checking if a newer version is already installed - thus possibly breaking other applications. The uninstall does appear to properly reverse the registry changes (about 90% sure, because of the large quantity), but it will only do so if the program is immediately uninstalled - as time passes & other apps are installed, some changes cannot be reversed.

MP3toolkit is an attempt to put a front end on several individually developed modules built on freeware / open source libraries & tools. As a result, settings do not get passed between modules, quality control varies widely, and there is an uneveness to the user interface. An additional result is that there are two LAME encoders, part of the BASS library & Monoton_DS (very intrusive install) being used when one set of libraries would be sufficent and the proper development approach. Using the original freeware tools won't give you a nice GUI and requires more manual intervention, but it will generally give you more control and thus better audio results.

A rather scary example of what not to do in software development... Unfortunately appropriate as Halloween is coming up...

To #16 #25 and #29:

If you are using Vista/Win7/win8, Please run the program as Administrator: click on the icon by right mouse button, select "Run As Administrator"

then activate.

If you want to install this on 2 pc's is it allowed to use the same setupfiles or must I download this 2 times for each pc?

Same problem as #16 and #25.

‘Successfully registered’ followed by ‘Program Unregistered’

an infinite loop, maybe.

My frustration level only allowed
about 6 tries with a variety of details.

Re. my post (#26), I meant of course clicking, not clocking. Sorry about that. I hope that the company support or someone can help with the problem.

By definition, this application is not portable sensu stricto if, when you move the executable folder, it leaves modules that it needs to run here and there in other locations. And how can "soft" possibly be portable?

Thanks installed on XP-PRO-SP3, but there is a problem:
Clocking the "MP3 RECORDER" (bottom) button makes the program window disappear - the program closes. What to do?

Stuck in the 'Successfully registered' - 'Program Unregistered' loop as with #16. Solution anyone

Just a note for everyone...

Most of us are aware that MP3 encoding offers a way of drastically reducing the size of digital audio files whilst preserving a reasonable sound quality BUT when you convert to a lossy format (.mp3 for instance); you are removing some information/sounds from the file for the sake of size preservation. Once lost that information can never be brought back.

It is always better to re-rip your media in the desired format and quality rather than "up-scale/down-scale" your file. The only source files which should be converted are lossless, these are master files. A converted 192kbps will not sound as good as a cleanly ripped 192kbps.

I cannot FIND the supposedly converted file, though I carefully specified the folder that I wanted it to go into. There's a 'ding' and a 'done', but can't locate the result. (mp3->wav)

Hmmm seems a pretty decent MP3 manager which does what it claims pretty well...

But strangely enough here it was (or it is still?) FREEWARE a few weeks ago:

http://freebiebear.blogspot.it/2012/05/new-freeware-release-mp3-toolkit-from.html

30 Bucks?? Well....it's undoubtely a reasonable price especially for those folks who do not know that there FREEWARE ALTERNATIVES out there which do more or less the same things for FREE....LOL!

* iTunes + iTurns Pro
http://www.apple.com/itunes
http://www.dvd-ranger.com/index.php/products/iturnspro

*(Portable) MusicBee
http://www.getmusicbee.com/features.html

Screenshots:
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/MusicBee-Screenshot-119994.html

Full review:
http://www.thewindowsclub.com/musicbee-review-download

*(Portable) MediaMonkey 4.0.6.1501
http://www.mediamonkey.com/information/free/

Screenshots:
http://www.softpedia.com/progScreenshots/MediaMonkey-Screenshot-6209.html

And to find (for FREE of course!!)your favourite MP3 song on the NET in a blink of an eye...

http://getmp3.altervista.org/
http://www.softpedia.com/get/Internet/Download-Managers/SongsBusters.shtml

My 2 cents for today's giveaway...

Unlike, e.g. mpTrim, this doesn't appear to work losslessly. Thus any maniplation of an MP3 is likely to result in some degree of degradation.

On that basis I'll have to give this one a miss, thanks.

NICE! Installed on Vista Home Premium/32 on a Dell 530 with 2 GB RAM. This program is simple, straight-forward and easy to use and I think most people (especially a beginner) would find it a good choice.

Notice to Charter Internet Security Suite Users: If you're using Charter Internet's own anti-virus/security program, their "Deepguard" security program provided by F-Secure will stop the installer cold in its tracks and put up a warning box. You'll need to click the "Accept" link in the text of the warning and run the installer again to install it.

I do a lot of work with voice-grade mono MP3's and it's nice to see one that so simply supports the low conversion rates and so forth that I use for this kind of work. Definitely a keeper for me.

Does anyone know of any software that is capable of converting MP3 to GP3/4 format?

The interface is simple and the controls are basic but it does do the basic job of conversion if you want a quick and easy route.

I too would be concerned that installation to the root of C: would indicate coding of a sloppily basic nature but it doesn't seem to affect what the program actually does.

I can only add one track at a time, so no option to add a folder and there is no real batch processing.

It is unknown whether there is multiple CPU support to assist the speed of conversion.

The name MP3 Toolkit, does not, for me, on the whole describe what I had hoped to have found from this offering.

Appears to be portable, but (unlike some portable applications) if copied to another hard drive some modules will not run - complains about missing components.

Installed okay. Went to insert Reg code and it says it is accepted but when I reopen the programme again it says it is unregistered. Have repeated this several times and it's still unregistered. What goes?

What are the differences between this giveaway-version and the free version (100% FREE) from the developers homepage (http://www.mp3toolkit.com/)?

Thanks for answers

Marvin

What are the differences between this giveaway-version and the free version (100% FREE) from the developers homepage (http://www.mp3toolkit.com/)?

Thanks for your answers

Marvin

A reasonable interface, I mean not too complicated but also doesn't have the feeling of using an adware at least :) Anyway the coding looks professional yet they have missed some simple things like the default install directory, doesn't have problems in Win7 x64, installed flawlessly, and running smooth. It's worth a shot.

Verry nice software. Verry nice interface.
Yes, this software is like portable.

I suspect most users have all of these tools in separate programs. This one offers them all in one place. So that may give a reason to try it. You can go t this link and learn more about using this program.

http://www.mp3toolkit.com/tutorial.html#1

Thank you GAOTD team and PDFZilla.com

Tried to add FLAC files to the tag facility - failed. It seems to support tag editing on mp3's only.

re:explorer-if the program actually installs to where it says it will that is not sloppy coding.These programs try to configure their installer to meet the needs of various and sundry consumers. Notice the browse button to enable you to pick the location suitable to you.Watching the install&using a little common sense is not the producers job.My 2 cents

Feels disjointed and badly thought out. Ripping and cd id/naming surely should in the same place. Doesn't remember your output directory
I click rip cd to mp3 - start and a window opens despite already selecting an output folder, nowhere to go for the app to procede. Why??
Very counter-intuitive

Mp3Tookit.zip here to download is 17 MB
But...On the publisher site mp3toolkit.exe to download is...10.5 MB
Could someone tell us why !?

The soft is portable.

Comment by 'exploror' mentions "sloppy coding" as reason to not blindly install. I would suggest sloppy coding as reason not to install at all.

Thanks, finnaly something that I can use!

Mp3 Toolkit - does what it says, a solid performer. If you do not already have tools for doing all these little jobs then this is a nice little package to have. Does all the jobs in a reasonable time, not the fastest but not the slowest either.

Install - Straight forward on W7 64bit

Loads Quickly

Valve - Its free so who cares what it normally retails for.

By default it will install to C:\ drive root instead of Program Files(x86) folder, which is very bad form. However, it is easy to fix using their Browse button, and otherwise it seems OK, so I'd only take off half a point for installing to the wrong place. Just watch what you're doing instead of clicking blindly through installations and you too can catch sloppy coding like this.