5 comments about Singing Coach Unlimited.

1. This is a fun singing coach and it has features that really helps. I really like that it can graph your voice and how high or low your voice is. It tracks the notes you are hitting while you sing into a computer microphone.
   
   I'd recommend you read a good book on how to sing along with using this program:
   
   Singing for Dummies
   
   This program touches on info like how to exercise your voice, how singing works etc. but if you'd like lots more detail or another perspective this Singing for Dummies Book is a good one.



2. I'm an experienced amateur singer. I've taken voice lessons, but I just wasn't satisfied with my ability to sing in tune. This program has already helped me, and I've just begun to explore it. It provides instant feedback, letting you know if you're on the correct pitch. My only complaint is that it does not allow you to edit imported songs in Compose mode, and it does not import perfectly - a few notes did not import at the correct duration, and it doesn't seem to import triplets. But it does so many other things so well, these are minor quibbles.
   Yes, it uses cartoon characters, but I enjoyed them. If you've got a microphone stand up your rear end and can't imagine singing being fun, maybe this program is not for you.



3. Maybe I got a bad copy, but I couldn't even install this software on any of my computers and I'm a certified computer repair tech.



4. Just wanted to say that the full price I think was $99 on the "official web-site links". Don't pay that! The files are midi which is strange to the common person. I has some cool features and some cheesey features. I would recommend trying it out before buying it if possible. I am not disappointed overall for the price I paid which was about $30 and it came with the microphone.



5. Bought this in August 2008 and I'm very happy with it. I mostly use the song editor to create vocal exercises which I use to train with everyday. I've never taken singing lessons (and can't afford them at the moment), so this is a great way to train my voice and ears. The sing-along pitch tracking system had me singing on key in no time, at least while I'm watching the screen. I have not had any problems running this program on Windows Vista 64-bit. The lessons are good for learning how the program works, though they are obviously geared toward kids. It's fun to mess around on this with friends as well. For $20 (and I noticed the price is dropping further), this program is WELL worth it.

No comments about Adobe Photoshop CS4 [Mac].

5 comments about Spector Pro 6.0.

1. My wife and I installed purchased this product on the recommendation of her co workers. We were concerned about our daughter's internet activity and wanted a discrete way to check on what she was doing.
   
   I knew monitoring software existed but I had no idea software like this could include so many features. The Spector Pro program records all the keystrokes, chats, emails and it even takes snap shots of the screen that I can play back like a VCR. It allows me to see everything that has been on the computer screen.
   
   We originally purchased the program because we were concerned about her use of MySpace and Facebook. One of the main reasons we chose Spector Pro was because it has separate recording features for these sites. I can see all the MySpace and Facebook information separately; including login information, profiles she is viewing and who is viewing her; it even lets me when she posts to her blog or posts pictures.
   
   This program has been a real life saver. It not only allowed us to correct some issues we were concerned with; but it now gives us the piece of mind that comes from knowing EXACTLY what she is doing online.
   
   If you are like me you have been disappointed by software that did not live up to the manufacturers claims. Not true with Spector Pro. Not only does this product work exactly as advertised the toll free tech support is also top notch and available 24/7.
   
   I can't recommend it highly enough; in fact my wife is a school teacher and recommends this program to many of her students' parents.



2. Spector Pro is an amazing program. It works just as advertised with many new features not on earlier versions. The fact that I can block out periods of time that I don't want the kids on the internet yet still allow them to use the computer is a big advantage. It records everything!! The kids have tried every way to comunicate with others thinking that they were skirting the program. It didn't work. Well worth the money for the knowledge they they aren't doing things that are not appropiate. Highly recomended!!



3. HAVE HAD IT IN USE FOR A MONTH....ITS EVERYTHING THAT THEY SAY IT IS..EXACTLY WHAT I WANT.. I HAVE NO FEAR OF HER BEING ON HER PUTER....I CAN REST EASY



4. The program is very intuitive. I found it easy to install & use. There's no end to the features, so I'm more than happy.



5. I recently attended a presentation at my child's school about keeping kids safe when they use their PC and connect to the Internet. One of the speakers, from the FBI no less, recommended Spector Pro from SpectorSoft so I took a look at the company website when I returned home. After looking at the Spector Pro information there, I had a couple of questions and comments and was amazed to find out that SpectorSoft has live sales persons and technical support 24/7. And I spent almost no time waiting on the phone, which was amazing. I decided to buy the product and take advantage of the option to immediately download the product. It took less than 5 minutes, just like the company suggested. Install was easy and I found setup very intuitive, even though I am not a PC expert.
   
   I found that it's true, Spector Pro monitors everything a person does on the PC and the Internet. I especially like the MySpace and Facebook monitoring categories, and the screen snapshots function is amazing ... you get to see exactly what a PC user does, almost like playing back a video. The Top 10 Reports category also is a favorite ... gives me a great overview when I don't have time to look at every detail, which I can if I want to ...
   
   Before hearing the FBI recommendation re: Spector Pro, I fooled around with one or two other cheaper programs ... and that's just what they were: cheap. Is your child worth the difference between an also-ran and the best program available, Spector Pro, at $99? Mine is ... many times over ... from now on out it's SpectorSoft or I wouldn't even bother ...

5 comments about VHS To DVD 3.0 Deluxe.

1. I wanted to use this device to convert my vhs tapes to dvd. I was only using the basic feature of this unit and it didn't work very well at all. The software would often crash out of nowhere. There would be multiple dropped frames of video which makes watching your converted footage a nightmare. This product should not even be on the market! Avoid this at all costs!



2. I had a lot of VHS tapes I didn't want to lose and was not about to pay someone $30 an hour to convert them to disc.
   
   This is as easy as hit play on VCR and record on the Honestech software. There's also tons of editing tools and special effects if you want them.
   
   There's also a bonus I didn't expect, Audio recorder which let you convert cassettes, LP' and any other type to mp3 and or dic.
   
   Very cool product.



3. This product did not function as advertised. It promises to do more than it can.



4. The hardware works ok, but the software is lacking, the documentation not helpful and the support is non-existent.



5. A few months ago, I was searching for a product to convert my VHS tapes to DVD format, as I am moving in the coming months and wanted to "downsize" a bit. The first product I chose was this one, and I was severely disappointed for a couple of reasons:
   
   First, any product of this nature involves a bit of an investment. One must buy DVD's and cases, as well as an audio/video cord (and probably an extra long one, if you don't have an extra VCR laying around, as it needs to be pretty near your computer).
   
   Now, that investment wouldn't be so bad if the finished product was satisfactory, but sadly that probably will not be the case. From my own experience (with a new Gateway computer), I found that the newly-created DVD turned out to be less quality than the original tape unless taped on the highest quality mode, with which you only get one hour of dub time (or, essentially useless). Basically, the very best one can expect from this product is a reproduction of the original VHS tape.
   
   I did, however, give this product two stars based on the fact that, with a large hard drive and top-of-the-line video capture card, it may work quite well (and thus would be much less expensive than a VCR/DVD recorder combo unit). Yet, if I have a new computer and wasn't satisfied with the results, it would take a mammoth effort (too much for the hassle) to make this product acceptable.
   
   Thus, if you have a super-powered computer geared for playing videos, this product may be a fit for you. If not, though, I would suggest buying a combo unit (or at least waiting until they come down in price!)

No comments about Adobe Contribute CS4.

5 comments about ACID Music Studio 7.

1. I love this product. I am a novice and this product has put a studio at my fingertips. I'm so overwhelmed but everything seems pretty simple with easy to understand help/tutorials. I have already made four quick songs and downloaded them into my mp3 for the gym. Now i need more loops, a keyboard, a microphone, a camera, a video camera and some turntables. So many ideas and so little time.



2. So far I've spent hours trying to learn this product, and I finally got the hang of it to do very basic stuff. The biggest issue that I have with this product is that Sony does NOT give any technical support, not unless you buy a technical support package, which consists of $14.95 fee each time you call for help!
   
   I called Sony before I purchased the product and asked them if they had a certain feature, the sales rep said yes. She told me to try it out, download a free trial and a Tech Support person would help me with any questions. Because she told me they had the feature I was looking for, I went ahead a purchased the product instead. Well, now I'm finding out that Sony will help those with trial versions, but not those that have already purchased.
   
   If you're not familiar with the normal jargon for music software, you'll have a harder time figuring this out. Especially since no one at Sony will walk you through anything. The tutorial is a joke! It doesn't address a lot of issues, so now I have this new product I paid Sony for and they won't even help me figure it out without shelling out more money.
   
   Anyone that writes a positive review about Sony's technical support or tutorials is probably a manager at Sony trying to make their product sound better than what it really is.
   
   If you already know terminology such as loops, BPM's, Track FX, Soft Synth, snapping, crossfades, compressors, Marker, Region....then you'll breeze through this product. If music software is new to you, buy another product where they'll actually support you after you buy their product.



3. Only got this because Sony Sound Forge Audio Studio didn't contain all the features I needed.
   
   
   Make sure you download the trial versions from Sony's website BEFORE making a purchase. Make sure you know the difference between the Sony Audio products (many of the features seem to overlap).
   
   Does what I wanted it to do, and didn't find many good alternatives. No crashes or other problems. Has a very old, sad looking interface. Not that intuitive to use. If you want to import a video mpg file so you can edit the audio, you'll need to buy a $30 Sony codec!!! Considering there are very good opensource mpeg codecs out there, this seems crazy. BTW, the audio file you edit this way will be saved as an audio file (wav). You'll then need to add that file back into the video with a video editor.
   
   PROs
   Does the job
   Cheap?
   
   CONs
   Sad, old, counter-intuitive interface
   Extra cost of plug-ins (codecs etc.)
   Don't think this can capture audio streams from the Internets



4. The old one (5) had wav files which were about as easy as pie. The midi's are a pain in the neck because you have to pick an instrument...otherwise you get a drum beat that sounds like someone pounding on a piano.



5. Acid music studio 7 worked great for me. I tried Cakewalk and Cubase and could not get them to work with Vista! Acid worked great the first time, and it has multi-track capabilities unlike song sound forge. Super easy to use also.
   You can try it for free if you download the demo version from sony to test your computer with it.

5 comments about Nova Art Explosion 800,000 Clip Art.

1. Love the Nova 800,000 clip art. Has a great variety of clips for everything I need and works easily with my scrapbook program. Only picture I couldn't find was a good orchard picture, but oh well. It's a great value.



2. This was a fun collection of clipart! I have one major critique and that is the handy search feature and gallery they discuss in the product description did not work. If you are counting on being able to keyword search or view galleries do NOT buy this product! You're stuck using the old fashioned book with tiny black and white thumbnails. I have no idea why it failed but it did so on multiple computers, one brand new. The vector clipart is what you would expect, poor quality and pretty much useless. The rest of the collection is fun and just what I needed to complete my personal/professional projects.



3. O.K. I'm not going to list 800,000 best things about this software, but I can say:
   It's a designer's dream - great images that you can adjust
   It works with Windows Vista
   Very well cataloged and indexed - necessary as there is so much to choose from
   Sparks unlimited creativity
   If you are looking for something, but will not know it until you see it, you will find it in here
   Excellent! I used it to create the images for No man is an island
   Alison J. Macmillan
   www.WordisWorth.com



4. They sell you a clipart-collection for over $ 80,-- and than they ask for another $ 5,-- for the printed catalog. That must be a joke guys!



5. I wanted a clip art program that worked with Vista. I found it here. It's easy to view the images. It's easy to transport them into projects. It has a wonderful variety of clips under one topic. It's worth every penny. An excellent product.

5 comments about Sound Forge Audio Studio 9.

1. Great Product, allows me to input audio, make adjustments and create in many different formats.



2. this software is not able to burn cd by itself.it needs another program to burn cd.



3. Sound Forge is a simple and effective audio engineering and recording tool. It could also, in the way of recording, be used for vinyl to go to mp3, not to mention, you could record vocals, and instrumentation as well if you had the proper equipment. As well, you can use it to edit and master your audio or add effects, mix or remove vocals for the sake of using them, if you cared to, for karaoke. Sony bought the rights from Sonic Foundry for this program and it has always been great.



4. This item was missing the code to activate the software. The vendor was very gracious in resending the item ordered. I just had to pay shipping and time to repackage and send the original back. The Hurricane did not help in expediting the transactions.



5. Make sure you download the trial versions from Sony's website BEFORE making a purchase. Make sure you know the difference between the Sony Audio products (many of the features seem to overlap).
   
   Does what I wanted it to do, and didn't find many good alternatives. No crashes or other problems. Has a very old, sad looking interface. Not that intuitive to use. If you want to import a video mpg file so you can edit the audio, you'll need to buy a $30 Sony codec!!! Considering there are very good opensource mpeg codecs out there, this seems crazy. BTW, the audio file you edit this way will be saved as an audio file (wav). You'll then need to add that file back into the video with a video editor.
   
   PROs
   Does the job
   
   CONs
   Sad, old, counter-intuitive interface
   Extra cost of plug-ins (codecs etc.)
   Don't think this can capture audio streams from the Internets

5 comments about Microsoft FrontPage 2003 [OLD VERSION].

1. I have been using FrontPage since 1997. I am webmaster for three websites and have alway really thought this was a great program! BUT! I have only upgraded to FrontPage 2000 and find that with my XP computer, Win XP does not support FrontPage. Now, if I want to continue with my family Genealogy Site and a community Genealogical Society site, I will need to purchase and learn ANOTHER program. At age 70, I really don't feel like doing that!
   
   Does anyone know if FP 2003 will work on Win XP? OR How can I get my FP 2000 to work on my WIN XP computer?



2. Web pages can not be easier to design without this program and book. An excellent resource.



3. Software is a big improvement on Frontpage 2000, and is more user friendly than the previous version. Easier to navigate through and create web pages from scratch.



4. This is easy to use. I have used for several years. I just needed an extra copy for another computer. Product shipped fast and works fine.



5. If this MS Front Page works as well as the old one I have I'll be a happy camper. I will soon be upgrading to MS Vista and my old version won't work with the new operating system. I need to work with the program a bit to see if it will work for me, but I'm sure it will.

5 comments about Turbocad Deluxe V14.

1. I ordered TurboCAD Deluxe V14 (for Windows) because my family and I needed a good drawing program that could calculate things like area and angle and that didn't cost the earth. I had used AutoCAD about 10 years ago and knew that it had those capabilities, but I was reluctant to pay the hundreds of dollars required for just AutoCAD LT. Fortunately, TurboCAD Deluxe 14 does all that I need and more, and for a very reasonable price.
   
   TurboCAD Deluxe 14 has a very smooth and quick installation. As with most programs this size, the user is allowed to choose a minimum (2-D tools only), standard, full, or custom install. A full install includes a software development kit for more custom applications.
   
   Also available with the installation is a separate building materials scheduler for architects and builders who want to quickly produce a quote for a project. This program is included on the TurboCAD Deluxe 14 CD.
   
   There are two more CDs that come with the package. One is a very comprehensive TurboCAD tutorial, which starts from the very basics (how to set your screen for 1024x768 resolution), and goes through all the standard CAD drawing features (layers, snaps, grids, dimensioning, etc.) and into more advanced topics like custom templates. The other CD is a library of common CAD symbols.
   
   TurboCAD Deluxe 14 itself is very nice to use. The interface is about as configurable as you can imagine, with standard toolbars that can be moved all around the screen, docked at the sides, minimized, or whatever else you want, and the ability to create custom toolbars. All the standard CAD tools are available, such as layers, multiple types of snaps, dimensions and standard units, different types of lines and line thicknesses, creation of standard polygons, different ways of drawing circles and arcs, etc. Symbols for all these tools are pretty intuitive. I haven't tried the 3-D modeling options yet, but I'm expecting they will be as easy to use as the 2-D tools.
   
   IMSI, the company which makes TurboCAD, offers additional add-ons and plug-ins, as well as a user's forum and a blog on current issues.
   
   All in all, I am quite happy with this program, and I look forward to exploring its possibilities.



2. The install was easy. The program is VERY different from Autocad, which makes it harder if that's what you've worked with in the past. It looks like the program has a lot of potential, but it would be extremely helpful if Turbocad would break down Architectural, machine design, and other uses with mini-tutorials that would help you get started! Most designers (we're architectural/engineering)don't have time to get involved with a program and learn it from scratch.
   
   Brandt Junker
   Anodyne Services



3. I learned CAD via AutoCADR9 and got disgusted with AutoDesk by ACADR13.
   TurboCAD was a pleasant substitute. The major drawback was a steep learning curve to get acquainted with TCAD, as its formalism is very different from ACAD.
   
   Installation is typical, with a registration step required within thirty days on insertion onto your hard drive. One note for CAD beginners: Get as big a monitor that will fit in your workspace. The typical engineering CAD interface is very cluttered. You could configure your interface to eliminate all the tablet features, but you'll bring them back as you go through your drafting tasks, anyway. The actual drawing area is quite small on smallish (15 to 17 inch) monitors. Be advised.
   
   With TCAD12, came online tutorials, which answered many questions, like how he heck do I do whatever in TCAD? TCAD12 was also the first version to supply an excellent rendering engine, and TCAD14 sports enhanced
   rendering and textures. Your TCAD14 package will have a CD-based tutorial, but go to the website for more helpful lessons.
   
   TCAD14 will open and edit, layer for layer, any AutoDesk format DXF/DWG file. However, some TCAD-edited files may not display properly in ACAD.
   
   If you are new to CAD, the supplied documentation and online tutorials will get you started in engineering drafting. You must spend a lot of time learning these new skills; CAD proficiency has no shortcuts. If you came from an AutoDesk background, be prepared for a lot of frustration; you will have to unlearn many ACAD tricks.
   
   However, consider how much money you have saved by avoiding AutoDesk.



4. To me the main criteria of any software product is how intuitive it is. This product falls in the top category. I was up and running fast and producing drawings. I am now assimulating the finer points to be more productive.



5. If you can't afford AutoCAD, this is the software for you. It does all I need and it's very affordable!