We advise you which software and apps to use
Can I convert my CDs to MP3?
Q Can you recommend a program for converting CD tracks to MP3 for playing on my music player? I’ve tried using VLC Media Player and Windows Media Player, but they won’t work.
Carl Hughes
A You should be able to rip your CDs in Windows Media Player. Indeed, it’s what Microsoft recommends (expand the section ‘Rip music from a CD’ at www.snipca.com/47642 for details). But if you’re having no luck, try Foobar2000 instead - it’s a free download from www.snipca.com/47644. You’ll also need the Free Encoder Pack – download at www.snipca.com/47645.
Once you’ve installed everything, insert your CD then click File followed by ‘Open audio CD…’. Foobar2000 should detect your disc and display it in the Open Audio CD box. Make sure it’s selected then click Rip. It will offer to automatically download track information from online databases. If you’re happy with this, click Yes, and it will show every track it has found ( 1 in our screenshot), plus the album name, artist and year 2 .
Click ‘Proceed to the Converter Setup dialog’ 3 . Click the ‘Output format’ link and select ‘MP3 (LAME)’ from the list of options, followed by Back. Now click Convert and select the folder in which you’d like to save your new MP3s.
How can I play DVDs in .VOB format?
Q I have some DVDs from old camcorders in
.VOB format. When I play them using VLC Media Player I only get sound, no video. Which software would work better?
Terry Sutton
AVLC and Windows Media Player should be able to play VOB content, but we wonder whether there’s something strange about the files you’re trying to open. Although the video format inside a VOB file should be MPEG, it can also contain some non-standard features. Because this
