VideoPad: Video Editing Excellence

We are very proud of the fact that even though VideoPad hasn't broken into the top three on TopTenReviews' list—yet—they have awarded our video editor for excellence. With each new release we strive to add more of the advanced features professionals crave, and just as importantly stay easy to use. That user-friendly quality that allows everyone to make movies is in a large part what TopTenReviews has noticed and is recognizing:

"Using VideoPad requires little effort. Before we even looked at the manual, we were able to create a video. To add transitions, effects and more, all you have to do is drag and drop them in place ... Overall, VideoPad has some excellent features. It can import files directly from many types of devices and it has 3D and green-screen capabilities. It is easy to use and has basic editing tools."
    �  TopTenReviews

If you haven't tried VideoPad video editing software yet, why not download a copy today. We think you will agree that VideoPad is both an excellent and easy video editor. Those of you who are already VideoPad users remember you can always send us suggestions on how we can make VideoPad even better. With your help those other video editors better watch out, because we plan to keep moving VideoPad forward and raising the bar on video editing excellence.

New Mac VideoPad Video Editing Software

VideoPad has been praised for being an easy-to-use video editor, and is one of the most popular programs NCH Software provides, but until now it has only been available for Windows. Today however our Mac customers can rejoice that VideoPad Video Editor is now ready to start making movies on OS X too.

VideoPad joins Prism Video Converter and Debut Video Capture to make a very useful video software toolbox for Mac users. Ensuring that platform support won't get in the way of anyone's ability to record, edit, or watch videos.

Keyframing and More VideoPad 3.00 Improvements

The release of VideoPad Video Editor v3.00 has some exciting changes that long-time users should be happy to see, including additional video tracks and sequences, and keyframing, while remaining as easy as ever, keeping the learning curve to the bare minimum.

Keyframing is one of the new features we really think you will enjoy. Keyframing allows greater control over an effect�s usage in a video, including the rate at which it is applied, intensity, and even the animation of an effect or overlay on the video. From the Video Effects dialog, you can show the animation controls button by clicking the keyframes icon to the right of the Applied Effects heading. Add keyframes to the effect�s timeline and position them higher or lower to change how the effect is shown in the final video. Use the preview to make sure your effects look just the way they should.

Keyframing gives advanced users a lot more control and flexibility in their editing, and many of VideoPad�s newest additions streamline the editing workflow to help anyone new to video editing work like a pro with their first project. To help get people started we have updated the VideoPad tutorial to introduce you to the interface and the video editing basics you need to make your movies look their best.

The Best of 2012 Software

Now that 2013 is upon us, here is a quick look back at what was big in 2012.

Top Downloads of 2012

WavePad Audio Editor

Prism Video Converter

VideoPad Video Editor

Switch Audio Converter

Most Popular Blog Posts

How to Add Text to your Videos	Change Video Speed in VideoPad	Video Stabilizer Software
How to Rotate Video Clips	Record Audio Playing Through Your Speakers	Chroma Key Video Overlays
Pocket WavePad iPad Audio Editing	Record your Own Audio Book	Remove Vocals from a Song
Practice Transcription Audio Files	Is Dreamweaver Worth It?	WavePad Sound Equalizer
Time Lapse Video Capture	Express Scribe Speech to Text	Best Slideshow Software, PhotoStage

Other Big 2012 Software Updates and Releases

	NCH's First Android App, PitchPerfect Guitar Tuner		Voice Command Makes Express Talk Hands Free
	New Voxal Real Time Voice Changing Software		Crescendo Music Notation Software New Midi Playback
	New Mac version of Express Zip Compression Software		More CardWorks Business Card Templates
	New Typing Games Added to KeyBlaze Typing Tutor		KeyBlaze Typing Tutor New Mac Version

Free and Easy Backup Software, Now Available for Mac OS X

Having a backup system is an important line of defense to prevent you from losing any important files or photo memories you have on your computer. FileFort is a simple, yet powerful data backup program that is now available for Mac OS X in addition to Windows. With FileFort backup software you can automatically backup all your files, folders, documents and photos to any one of a large number of places. Burn your files to CD DVD or Blu-ray disc, save them on a USB flash drive, upload them to a remote FTP server or even store them of an online account such as Dropbox or Google drive.

Simply select what files should be saved, where to save them, and schedule how often to have the back up run. It is like having an insurance policy on your files, only instead of getting compensation if something is lost, you can retrieve the actual files. This really is one of those cases where it is better to be safe than sorry, so whether you are on a PC or a Mac if you don't have a backup solution already in place you will want to download FileFort backup software today to set things up quickly and easily, for added peace of mind in minutes.

Convert Old Files to Give Documents New Life

Have a large number of .doc files? Did you recently upgrade your word processor? Or get a new computer?

The good news is you don't need to manually open every document in order to re-save them to the .docx format. As Computeractive recently highlighted, with Doxillion Document Converter to help you, you can easily batch convert documents, transforming them all in one pass.

In their article on, How to convert text documents to other formats, the Computeractive staff detail how to use Doxillion for converting documents, praising the program as "a handy free tool that can convert a wide range of document formats with a couple of clicks from within Windows Explorer. [Requiring] no technical expertise." So if you have files to update, download Doxillion Document Converting Software to get the converting done quickly and easily.

Something to Talk About

Below is a word cloud generated from our posts here on the NCH Software: Do More with Software blog. There is no real surprise that we talk a great deal about "you" and "software," but is there anything you would like us to write about and cover more in the future?

First NCH Software Android App

Those of you with Android devices won't want to miss our first android app, TempoPerfect, now available as a free app on Google Play. TempoPerfect is a free metronome app for musicians, providing a clear and precise beat that is also available for Windows and iPhone users, making it easy to always have a metronome on hand for reference from practicing your guitar at home to a jam session with your garage band.

This is just the beginning of our Android plans, so stay on the lookout for more apps in the coming months including the long awaited Pocket Dictate and WavePad audio editor which is popular on any platform.

New Business Card Templates for CardWorks

If you are looking for an easy option for creating business cards for yourself or your company, your options just grew. We just added several new free business cards templates that you can download and use with CardWorks Business Card Software, which is also completely free. Combined with the ability to change the color scheme of any template within the CardWorks program, the range of possibilities these templates provide is multiplied, making it easy to find that perfect business card design you've been looking for. Check out all of the additional free business card templates to see what might be right for you.

Music Writing Software Gets MIDI Playback

Calling all musicians and aspiring composers: The newest release of Crescendo Music Notation Software (version 1.06) has a new feature that we are excited to introduce and that will help your musical compositions jump off the page. With the New MIDI Playback Feature, you can flip over to the Playback tab at any time and listen to your score to make sure all the notes are lining up the way you want, which can be a very satisfying feeling when you've been working away at putting down your musical score. You can even choose to Export MIDI to save a music file of your composition to share with others. We hope you will be as excited to take advantage of this new feature as we are, and will download or upgrade Crescendo Music Writing Software today.

5 Star Burning Software for Mac

There are a lot of choices when it comes to burning software these days, which is just one of the reasons that it is wonderful to see strong reviews like this one from BurnWorld.com, calling NCH's Express Burn "a great application, working fast, featuring the most important processes a user would want." Better yet that, while these experts clearly recognize and point out that "the interface is very easy to use," this review was from a previous release, before we made modifications to the interface to make the creation of DVDs and audio or MP3 CDs even easier. Along with other additions, including better DVD authoring with several included menu templates, and the ability to burn not only data to Blu-ray discs, but to burn your high-definition Blu-ray movies too.

You can read the complete review of Express Burn, and we encourage Mac and PC users alike to try all the burning features and see how easy burning software can be.

Real Time Voice Changer Software

One of the newest NCH applications is Voxal - a free voice changing software. You apply a series of effects to change the sound of your voice. You can apply these changes either to a recorded file, or have Voxal set up to intercept the audio coming in from your microphone. Change your voice in real time and send the changed voice into any other application you are using the microphone with. So from chatting with friends, to giving a your avatar a distinctive voice for online game play, you can use Voxal voice changing software to create interesting voice distortion patterns in minutes, without needing to change any configurations or settings in your other programs.

Express Talk is the First Hands Free Softphone

If you use a softphone like Express Talk on a regular basis you've probably noticed how convenient it is to have your phone on your computer. The newest feature added to Express Talk makes it the first and only softphone available with convenient hands-free voice-control, making it even easier to use your softphone on a day-to-day basis.

Version 4.27 of the Express Talk VoIP Softphone released this month added the new Voice Commands feature. With Voice Commands you can use your voice to harness the power of Express Talk while it stays hidden in the background. Not only can you dial any phone number simply by speaking it, you can also call anyone who is listed in your phonebook (home, work or mobile numbers, on any line that you wish to use) by simply speaking their name. In addition to being able to make calls with your voice, you can also answer incoming calls by saying "answer" when the phone rings. Opening the phonebook and dial list are two more things you can now do with your voice, and more features are sure to come.

If you have Windows 7 or Vista, you already have the speech recognition technology on your computer. All you have to do is train it to better recognize your voice and you're ready to go. While the easiest way to use Voice Commands is to let it listen all the time, you can have it only listen for commands when you press the hotkey. You can also configure a system-wide hotkey that uses the key combination of your choice. Express Talk lets you change the words used to perform each command in case you would rather use phrases other than the defaults.

N is for New

NCH Software ABCs Series

With such a broad range of software products there is always something new at NCH. From new features, taking programs to new operating systems and developing new products, there seems to always be something happening. For example, our KeyBlaze typing tutor software had its first release for Mac and has had two typing games added since January—all that for just one of our over 80 software programs. To stay on top of all the new releases and updates, sign up for the NCH newsletter and subscribe to the NCH Software Blog, for not only updates, but tips and user stories too.

<<< Previous: M is for Mobile

Next: O is for Optimization >>>

Remote Desktop Viewing and Control

DesktopNow Remote Computer Access Software was first released back in December, giving you a free and easy way to access files on your home or work computer from remote locations. Recent upgrades have DesktopNow growing into its name, providing remote desktop access and control through a browser, as well as the simple file sharing provided in the first release.

Being able to access your desktop remotely essentially means you can control your computer when you aren�t there. Why might you want to do this? You can start, end, or restart programs that are running. Check a program�s status while you are away. Or maybe you act as your family�s computer support department�DesktopNow will allow you to access their computers without you physically being there. Imagine all the time you can save if you can move Grandma�s mouse to the recycle bin without having to describe how to find it over the phone.

Use the web controls to access your desktop no matter where you are, whether you are on another computer or a mobile device. Log into your computer over the Internet using any web browser for fast, easy, and secure access to all your important files. You never need to worry about not having a file you need with you again.

M is for Mobile

NCH Software ABCs Series

Software On The Go

For those of you on the go, take NCH with you! Many of our software programs have a web access feature allowing you to log in over the Internet, no matter where you are. Learn more about business software web access and on the go dictation solutions. For the home user there are DesktopNow remote desktop software and EyeLine home surveillance software that you can try.

iPhone & iPad

If you have an iPhone or iPad you wouldn't want to miss the pocket edition of WavePad audio editor, which has always been an NCH favorite. Also available for your iPhone are RecordPad audio recorder, PitchPerfect guitar tuner, TempoPerfect metronome software and Pocket Dictate.

Android

NCH Android apps have been a long time in coming, but development has started. In addition to being able to log-in remotely to some of our desktop software from your Android phone, we expect to have our first Android app, TempoPerfect metronome software, available within three months, with more Android apps to follow.

<<< Previous: L is for Live Streaming

Next: N is for New >>>

30 Seconds to Type

As promised, KeyBlaze typing tutor now has a second typing game. In addition to Word Blizzard,which we told you about previously, on the game tab you will now also find 30 Seconds to Type. The name says it all: in this typing game you are racing the clock, typing as many words as you can as they appear on the center of the screen before you run out of time. Type twelve words correctly for a twelve-second bonus, giving you more time to reach a high score and make it to the next level.

So, how fast can you type? Take KeyBlaze typing tutor software out for a test drive, and play not only 30 Seconds to Type, but keep practicing with lessons, exercises and drills to watch your fingers really start to fly.

Easier Than Ever Audio Mixing

When you�re mixing an audio project, you want things to be as simple as possible. Some great new features have been added to the latest version of MixPad recording and mixing software making it easier to use than ever.

To help you quickly make changes to the tracks in your projects - like adjusting the volume of tracks, adding effects, or using a VSTi - we've added a "mixer" view that opens in a separate floating window so you can still see the tracks. You can move the mixer anywhere on your desktop, or minimize or close it when you don�t need to use it. The mixer includes faders for each track along with a Master fader so you can control the volume of your entire project. Along with the faders for each track, the mixer has controls to:

• Pan a track right or left
• Arm a track to record
• Mute or Solo a track
• Open the Effects Chain to add, modify or delete effects
• Adjust the Audio Options
• Add a VSTi for a MIDI track

Another improvement you're sure to like is the ability to change the colors of the waveforms in each track. Use this feature to help organize your project. For example set your drum tracks to blue, your guitar tracks to green, and your vocal tracks to yellow. Now, at a glance, you can see where things are located in your project. It�s simple to change the colors of each track using the controls on the mixer, or just right-click on a track and select "Track Color" from the menu

Other enhancements you�ll find in the new version of MixPad multitrack mixing software include presets for effects, and an easier way to delete fade points. So if you mix audio, you will definitely want to check it out.

Having Fun While Learning to Type

One of the pivotal points in my career came when I attended the 2006 Game Developers Conference and happened to attend a presentation given by Ian Bogost. I had long been interested in developing games, but I also struggled with the idea that video games might be harmful to society. Mr. Bogost's ideas pointed me in a different direction though. Games can teach.

I attended the Serious Games Summit in Washington, D.C. the following fall and became enamored with the thought of using game technology to benefit society. Games, as it turns out, are the perfect training and teaching tools. However, games must be fun if they are to teach.

Every element of gameplay in the KeyBlaze typing game, Word Blizzard, is focused on improving an aspect of typing�while you�re having fun. In Word Blizzard, the emphasis was placed on speed, but things like eye tracking and rhythm were also considered. And fun. We chose real-life words because they matter, but we also included obscure words to challenge the mind and improve finger-key recognition. Then we added more fun.

There will be more games coming to KeyBlaze typing tutor in the future, so I hope you give us your feedback on how our games are helping your typing improve.

Speed Up Your New Computer With Warp Registry Cleaner

Already I'd bet you're asking "Why do I need to clean my PC registry when I just bought it?" The answer is simple: Warp Registry Cleaner is not just a tool to fix errors in your registry. Warp also includes a feature to block programs from starting when you boot up your computer. Again, you might be thinking, "Why would I need to stop programs from running at startup?" The truth is most new computers come with tons of "PC tools" that are not needed at all. Some of these programs may be useful, but you may find many you won't use or trials you don't want that the PC manufacturer got paid to pre-install for you. Too many of these programs can slow down a computer drastically when they are all running. Using Warp PC Speed Up Software to stop these programs from running at startup is a great way to speed up even the fastest and newest of computers.

To see what is running at start up simply leave the "Programs run during startup" box checked when you run the Warp Wizard. The next page will list all of the applications that are currently launching at startup. Uncheck any items you no longer want to be launched. Press Continue and you are done, and those programs will no longer slow down your computer's boot time. So download Warp to speed up your computer no matter how old it is.