New Music Industry Book Takes You Behind the Scenes

Go behind the scenes of the music industry with Scottish producer Rory Nicoll, author of the new book, HIT CLICK, a must have book for anyone in the music industry. HIT CLICK is packed full of exclusive interviews with industry leaders and artists, contact information and reviews, offering collective wisdom on all aspects of the music industry, from the alchemy of a hit record to the business side of music.

NCH Software is honored to have been included in the books reviews of music software. Nicoll concludes that "NCH does exactly what it tells you it will: It provides easy to understand software solutions to many of the activities required of an audio engineer." In another excerpt from the review, Nicoll states:

"Ive spent about a day and a half experimenting with various NCH audio programs and one thing that continually surprises me is just how powerful the programs are. With each application measured in MB, the entire suite can be loaded at once without causing any detriment to even the oldest hard drive. The applications run quickly. Speed is always good. The functions are simple to find and they are overall user-friendly."

To read more about all aspects of the music industry, you can find HIT CLICK: Thriving In Tomorrows Music Industry released today and on sale now on Amazon.

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PhotoStage Android Slideshow App

The Android releases are continuing, now one of our long time favorites, and best slideshow software, PhotoStage, is now available for Android tablets. So you can make and share slideshows of your vacations before you return home. Quickly combine photos, video clips, music, record narration and more to make fun slideshows that will make everyone wish they were there too. You can download it now from the Google Play app store.

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Visual Studio Express 2012 for Desktop

Visual Studio Express 2012 for Desktop

Microsoft decided to make programming more accessible than ever. With the new Visual Studio Express 2012 software, it will replace all previous express editions (Visual Basic, C#, C++. You could code with your favorite language and finally start learning a new one.

This software version is more complete with Windows Forms and win32 capabilities. What is best is that you could start developing Windows 8 applications and take advantage of and IntelliSense more powerful.

What is most interesting is the Team Foundation Server. With this tool, you could finally work as a professional with free software. The Team Foundation Server is in other word a Microsoft Life Cycle project management. With a tools a like this, you could easily save your project and sub-project. You could easily undo the mistake even if you saved your files. Work in team or share your code between specific individual will be easily a simple. Control and versioning is key for fast and efficient programming. That is quality.

Minimum requirement

Base with the information from Microsoft, the minimum requirement are:

Supported operating systems

• Windows 7 SP1 (x86 and x64)
• Windows 8 (x86 and x64)
• Windows Server 2008 R2 SP1 (x64)
• Windows Server 2012 (x64)

Supported architectures

• 32-bit (x86)
• 64-bit (x64)

Hardware requirements

• 1.6 GHz or faster processor
• 1 GB of RAM (1.5 GB if running on a virtual machine)
• 5 GB of available hard disk space
• 100 MB of available hard disk space (language pack)
• 5400 RPM hard disk drive
• DirectX 9-capable video card running at 1024 x 768 or higher display resolution

I decided to download and test Visual Studio Express 2012 for Desktop on my old Windows Vista and evaluate it. I could say I am pretty excited because it is close the Visual Studio 2010 Professional.

Here are the specifications of my old computer:

Test Computer specifications

• Acer Aspire T180
• AMD Athlon 64 3800+ (1 core processor)
• 4 Go of RAM (Max Available is 3 Go)
• 26 Go free space on my hard drive.
• Windows Vista 32 bits Home Edition Service Pack 2
• ATI Radeon HD 2400 Pro

Is important to keep in mind that the Express Edition is for personal use and it can’t be use for commercial use.

In other words, you could develop anything from the Express Editions event if you work for a company but you or your company can’t sell it or try to make profit with it.

Beside, if you want to sell or make money fro your code, you should always make the best of your with the best tools available.

You can’t permit your program to stop working if you client start using newer technologies, mobile, pad, laptop, desktop with Windows 7 or Windows 8 for desktop or for mobile.

Here is the link :

Visual Studio Express 2012 for Desktop (.iso) 

Visual Studio Express 2012 for Desktop (wdexpress_full.exe) 

But if you are looking for something more complete, don’t hesitate and get the 2012 editions. It is an investment and a useful tool.

Buy Visual Studio Professional with MSDN 2012 from Amazon, cheapest you could find.

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Learn or Improve Your Typing Skills with Award Winning Typing Tutor Software

We are very grateful that the editors at CNET recently took the time to review NCH Softwares KeyBlaze Typing Tutor Software. They wrote a very nice review and awarded our free learn to type software with a full 5 out of 5 stars, saying:

"KeyBlaze Free Typing Tutor from NCH Software can help you learn touch-typing or practice your skills. It offers basic lessons, drills, and speed tests suitable for typists ranging from absolute beginners to keyboard jockeys. Its easy to use and effective, too. KeyBlaze is great for beginners, and has more to offer to those who already know how to type. The lessons are easy to understand, getting progressively more difficult to master, and effective, with immediate feedback that helps users quickly overcome bad habits."

– CNET

You can read the complete review of KeyBlaze Typing Tutor on download.com, or download it now to start improving your typing skills right away.

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T is for Typing

NCH Software ABCs Series

Typing is a part of life. The written word is more frequently typed than penned these days and there is no turning back. Weve gone from having scribes to copy documents, spending their days putting ink to paper, to having professions like medical or legal transcription that focus on typing words instead. Strong typing skills are required in many other professions as well. So it should come as no surprise that we provide typing software to help you learn how to touch type, testing your typing speed, speed up transcription and making typing more efficient. Check out all of these typing software solutions:

• KeyBlaze typing tutor software
  
• Express Scribe transcription software
  
• FastFox text expansion software
  
• Typing Speed Tester
  

<<< Previous: S is for Sharing

Next: U is for Utilities >>>

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Password programming for beginners

A password generator to attack a system is not a difficult concept to understand. The program produces a large number of combinations in order to find a password to enter the system. Most passwords are long and complex, the system is secure against intrusion. Programming a generator of passwords is very fun and the public interest. Indeed, when a programmer is able to produce a good generator of passwords, it will normally be entitled to produce any code. Here, we do not show how to become a genius infiltration or even how to find a good program that cracked the computer systems. Here I show the basics. These bases are essential to understanding software. These bases are valid in certain types of programming such as object-oriented programming.

As an example to start with. The sample project is available for download at the end of this article.

The user enters any value in the first text field TextBox1. All characters are replaced by an asterisk to simulate the password to find. Then the second line TextBox2, the user has to guess the password is hidden. If the password entered in TextBox2 is the same as in TextBox1, then the result is displayed in the ToolStripStatusLabel1.

To guess a password without cheating, we must use every technique imaginable. You can not rely on the power of your computer to find a password quickly. If this is the case, you should change your way of thinking.



In the next article, I outline the problem of a mathematical point of view. Must know the possibilities password before writing our program. We begin with a very simple case with numbers from 0 to 9.

Public Class Form1     <summary>     This is a very basic basic basic password game, is not even a game.     </summary>     <param name="sender"></param>     <param name="e"></param>     <remarks></remarks>     Private Sub Button1_Click(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles Button1.Click         ToolStripStatusLabel1.Text = "Searching..."         If TextBox1.Text = TextBox2.Text Then             ToolStripStatusLabel1.Text = TextBox2.Text         End If     End Sub     Private Sub Form1_Load(sender As System.Object, e As System.EventArgs) Handles MyBase.Load         Button1.Text = "brutal force find"         GroupBox1.Text = "secret password"         GroupBox2.Text = "Stupid password Cracker game"         With TextBox1             .PasswordChar = "*"         End With     End Sub End Class

Download the sample project : PassWordGame.zip

Next Post : Password Programming for Beginners (part 2)

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Free Video Converter Software

Lets say that theres this video that youd like to be able to play on a certain device, mobile phone, TV, DVD, mp3, media player, etc....  But lets also say that the device doesnt particularly like your video, and refuses to recognize it or play it.  To make it even harder, lets also say that your video may be many GB s in filesize, and that you really wish it could be smaller so that it would fit within the memory for your particular device.  Just what can you done?  Well, just about anything you want.

What would help you is some good "video conversion software".  As for video editors, there have been some very good recent freeware releases that will fit most peoples requirements.  And even though free, they are each excellent quality, easy to use, yet very powerful.  

Freemake Video Converter

Freemake is a new breed of "All-in-One" video processing programs.  And as the word infers, it is totally freeware, no trial periods, no watermarks, nothing.  Its no-kidding freeware.  But because of its gaining popularity, Im sure that one day this program will include some means of monetization for its makers.  But for now, Im very happy with it and use it quite frequently.

Freemake, the ultimate Swiss Army Knife of video processors.  Freemake is the easiest program that Ive seen to convert all those short video clips from your digital camera into a final production that you can view on your DVD, BluRay, or just about any other device that can play videos, no matter the format.  FreeMake can convert your videos into just about all the main video formats used by smartphones, tablet, and even many game and mp3 players.

Capabilities include:

* DVD Ripper/Converter - for converting DVDs to other formats, such as viewing on mobile devices.  Or just making backups of your DVDs (let your conscience guide you where you can go with that).

* DVD and Blu-Ray burner capability - for viewing your videos on BR and DVD players.

* Video downloader and uploader -  for downloading/saving your favorite videos from YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, Dailymotion, + many many other websites.  With its built in video uploader, it also makes it very easy to upload your own videos to YouTube (the uploader only supports YouTube at this time).

* Basic Video Editor - for clipping, splicing, joining.  Also can modify each of you video clips audio level individually from the editor.  Only 2 transitions available, none or Fade transition.  But really these are all you need.  Nothing emphasizes a lame video more than tumbling, swirling, transitions.

* Video Converter with customizable video resizing, bitrate and audio modification.  Also included is subtitle support, so that you can view your movies with their subtitles on your various devices.

* Device video presets, or you can set and save custom video presets for your particular device.

* Photo slideshow maker with user inputted audio (You can load up any audio that you please.  Some other free video makers may force you to only use their preset music).

* Audio converter and extractor - Save the music or audio track from any video (yes including YouTube) as an mp3 file.  If you desire, you can modify the sample and bitrate for your saved file.

The following video was actually created and uploaded with Freemake.  It goes over each of the above abilities in more detail so that you can see for yourself, and judge whether this program might be for you.  The program also requires Microsofts .NET Framework 4.0 to run.  Usually this is installed on most newer PCs.  But if Freemake doesnt run on your computer, you likely need to also install NET Framework.  Its very easy to do, and you can install .NET FW 4.0 for free directly from Microsoft at this download link (Download .NET FW 4.0 here)  

And here is an overview of Freemake, followed by a tutorial.  Note that the Freemake downloader will suggest installing additional bundled software along with Freemake.  This is why Freemake is free.  Carefully read those installation screens and make sure to uncheck any software that doesnt interest you (probably all).  In other words, dont just hit Next, Next, Next, or you might install additional programs that you did not want:

Read each screen when installing Freemake

Freemake Overview (Download Freemake Here)

Freemake YouTube HD Video Editing Tutorial

VSDC Free Video Converter

Another relatively new release!  VSDC is an "All-in-One" video processing programs.  It is also totally 100% freeware.  Has most of the capabilities of Freemake, but has some additional conversions that Freemake does not currently have (such as Real Media RM conversion).  It also does not require MS NET Framework, and runs just fine on most PCs.  Recommend that you try both Freemake and VSDC to see which best suits you.  Cant go wrong as both are free.  


But note that the VSDC downloader will suggest installing additional bundled software along with VSDC.  This is why VSDC is free. Carefully read those installation screens and make sure to uncheck or decline any software that doesnt interest you (probably all). 

VSDC Free Video Converter (download VSDC Converter from VSDC Here, or from Softpedia here)

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