Someone reviewed v on Jul 5, 2022

Pros: 555

Cons: 555

Bottom Line: 555

rafael77 reviewed v15.0 on Feb 24, 2014

Always found it buggy with mp4 format. Great software though.

Music4Ever reviewed v15.0 on Feb 24, 2014

Best ripper & converter there is bar none, great program - Unfortunately some things in life aren't free & are worth paying for, this is one of them.

jorgosch reviewed v14.2 on Jul 28, 2011

Granted there are freeware apps that do what this program sets out to do, but you will be hard pressed to find all these powerful features anywhere else joined under a single roof. It's a serious alternative for hardcore CD rippers that use EAC but that's only a small part. The tagging and conversion features are excellent and intelligently arranged in an easy-to-use GUI. It even has the latest, hottest feature: SACD/DSDIFF conversion.

No, I don't get paid by them, and if the author reads this feel free to send a copy my way :)

dono1216 reviewed v13.5 on May 20, 2010

use mediacoder audio edition instead. dbp had its moments i.e. when it was free.

ron_marz reviewed v13.5 on May 20, 2010

Ignore the haters; this program is indispensible.

DudeBoyz reviewed v13.2 on Apr 7, 2009

Buggy and awkward with bad licensing policy changes.

Just use Bonk Encoder - it is free and superior in many ways.

keir reviewed v13 on Aug 8, 2008

in the old version I used to set the minimum and maximum bitrate for vbr - don't seem to be able to do it in the new version - trying xrecode. Looking good so far.

newzat reviewed v13 on Aug 7, 2008

I have used this many years ago, when there were not so many alternatives. Today, we have very good alternative freeware encoders/converters. Lately, I have switched from MediaCoder to AIMP2 Audio Converter, which is a part of AIMP2 player. I highly recommend it.

anya reviewed v13 on Aug 6, 2008

If you want convert only, use this: Xrecorde 2.02.
Great and free.

Ian C. reviewed v12.3 on Aug 30, 2007

This is nice if you do tons of converting, especially if you use unusual formats. But if you stick to just the standards, such as wav/mp3/wma/ogg, then WinLame is much smaller and cleaner, not to mention open source.

DudeBoyz reviewed v12.3 on Aug 30, 2007

The 12.x program is not nearly as efficient as the older 11.5, and given that they have gone back on their "free for life" pledge, it doesn't seem worth using.

BonkEnc is free and under the GPL and does the job very well, without charging for MP3 encoding. It handles FLAC, OGG, AAC and more. Given this, there is really no reason to fork out more money for dbpoweramp at all.

11.x was worth the effort, but 12.x is simply not given all that has changed in the program and the licensing terms.

yokozuna reviewed vR12 on Feb 12, 2007

Hmm, I bought the program and it works very well. Of course, I would prefer to get it free, but I cannot require from the authors of any software to give away the fruits of their hard work. 5/5

PS What is funny - I do not use mp3 at all, so lack of mp3 encoding is not a con in my case. Lack of tagging was an issue, so I decided to buy the full version of the proggie.

flibberyGiveIt reviewed vR12 on Feb 3, 2007

I have some mp3 files that my new thing won't
play. And? Compupic won't play one or more of
'um either.

I used both the batch converter and the music con-
verter to try to get info for a specific file that
played fine so's to get the DarningMySocks thing
to work.

Couldn't.

And so, big sigh, I used a default set of settings
that is in my mind but not in the batch converter
as a default and it did good--the 3 converts I've
checked seemed fine.

I'm rating this as a 1 because the dynamic rename
is greyed out, and things from that.

The Seeker 11 reviewed vR12 on Feb 2, 2007

Buggle,

You'll be interested to know that AAC support will be added in next week's beta.

Source.

Buggle reviewed vR12 on Feb 2, 2007

I agree fully on the post under me.

Besides that; where has the mp4 codec gone? Nero Digital AAC encoding support flew out of the window. And that was my premier reason to use this software in the first place.

Besides that I think the program is fairly ugly and unclear about options (it doesn't even give me any relevant options). I could get over it before because of the functionality, but since that has been reduced to a minimum (I cannot even choose my own codecs; need to go to "codec central" to download some untransparent codec (no notes about used versions ea) where mp4 isn't even available). The previous version was VERY much better than this. Now I take the time to say goodbye to dbpoweramp music converter: Bye!

DudeBoyz reviewed vR12 on Feb 2, 2007

I'm using this release and like much of what I see, but the fact that the Registered License Upgrade link isn't working yet, that not all the codecs are updated and functional and that they are not providing Multi-CPU / Threaded support in the core version is of concern.

The split-off into the new "Reference Version" means you won't get all those features unless you fork out another chunk of money.

This thing was supposed to be Free Lifetime Upgrades, but users who purchased it are getting shafted. I hate it when stuff like this happens. They use some stupid technicality to gut the heart of the Free Lifetime upgrade so they can get more cash. Unbelieveable.

PLUS, why force people to pay extra for a year of AMG if they don't want that service?

So, the value now sucks cause you have to pay for the LAME encoder functionality when it should be free, they shafted loyal users AND the thing isn't actually ready for prime time?

I would think people should hold off on getting this at least until it's bug-fixed and the codecs are working.

Plus, the fee now is $18 instead of $14 - AND the high-end Reference version does NOT include free lifetime upgrades. You pay $28 for the top of the line professional version and you only get "Free minor version upgrades"?

Gotta be a step backwards here...

philosopher_dog reviewed vR12 on Feb 1, 2007

I like it and haven't seen anything better, but some things like converting from rm to mp3 require some setup fiddling not fit for the newbie.

BruddaMan reviewed v11.5 on Nov 3, 2006

Really needs an update. Plus, LAME is free - why charge me $14 to use it?

It is dog slow and doesn't work with dual core yet. I hope release 12 comes out soon.

Can't process sub-folders from the right-click menu. Have to call up the File Selector to do that.

Have to use a separate renaming program to get them named sequentially.

Have to use a separate program to split big MP3's or combine really tiny MP3's. That should be built-in.

digitalking reviewed v11.5 on Feb 23, 2006

This is the greatest transcoder\converter in the world. Why is it listed under recorders? When doing a search on converters or transcoders, this does not come up.

the_lord_almighty reviewed v11.5 on Nov 15, 2005

A small price to pay for the greatest encoder and CD ripper out there. The combination of dBpowerAMP and AccurateRip can't be beat.

ye110mann reviewed vRelease 11.1 Beta 2 on Oct 28, 2005

11.5 is out.
No x64 shell support and you need to pay to use the mp3 encoder!
But other than that, it is an extremely useful little program.

mansa reviewed vRelease 11.1 Beta 2 on Aug 25, 2005

the best and the easiest I think but it's not free
I can suggest you audiograbber

JEdwardP reviewed vRelease 11.1 Beta 2 on Aug 4, 2005

After what seems like (and may have indeed been) years of hearing good things about this, I finally decided to try it.

I can only say I was very disappointed. Of the seven formats I use, only MP3 was included in the package, the rest had to be downloaded as plug-ins---now, I DON'T take a point off for this, since I believe strongly in extensible software with minimal default features, but it makes no sense not to even include Ogg in the base package of a program like this.

Then I find they claim they must charge $14 for MP3 encoding beyond 30 days---even though they use LAME, which is free and open-source---there may be some valid legal reason for this, but I haven't the foggiest notion what that might be; I can think of many LAME-aware programs that are free. And no, I don't encode to MP3 often anymore, preferring other formats, but when I do, I use LAME, and it's free.

Finally, the size of the program when installed is absolutely unwieldy, at least in contrast to the converter/encoder I normally use, Multi-Frontend.

And it's Multi-Frontend I'll be sticking with, after having tried dBpowerAMP, which seems to me a pretty, but overrated program.

Somnambulator reviewed vRelease 11.1 Beta 2 on May 15, 2005

best and simplest audio rippers/converters out there. it doesnt get any easier than this, but it also has some very advanced features that even professionals would enjoy.

oh, and if you rip to ogg vorbis, make sure to get the updated standard and the new A64-optimized codecs. significantly faster ripping with A64s. 0-whole CD in under 2 minutes :O

yokozuna reviewed vRelease 11.1 Beta 2 on May 11, 2005

I give only 5 points because I cannot give 6. It is the one - uses a special (after downloading from the webpage of the project), tweaked version of Ogg encoder (more precisely AoTuV), optimized for higher bitrates (q=6 and above). Forget all mp3s and MPCs. You can try it by yourselves: http://www.dbpoweramp.com/codec-central-ogg.htm

eyv reviewed vRelease 11.1 Beta 2 on May 11, 2005

What spyware? Are you insane?

[deXter] reviewed vRelease 11.1 Beta 2 on May 11, 2005

The BEST audio converter ever! Yes, so the MP3 encoding bit is shareware, and so are a few features, but there are plenty of MP3 converters, optimizers etc out there..

And besides, who uses MP3 these days anyways? All my files are He-AAC/mp4 on my PC and WMA on my PPC..

sQin reviewed vRelease 3 Beta 6 on May 11, 2005

to compete with winamp this player needs better desing.

abrogard reviewed vRelease 11 on Mar 28, 2005

It is a good programme and it is a bit sad that as they say they've 'had to' start charging for part of it. They sound very sad about that.

Makes you wonder what the last version was that they didn't have to charge for.

Dirk Van Hooven reviewed vRelease 11 on Jan 10, 2005

It was ok, but I did not like the facts that it

1) installed spyware

2) is advertized as freeware, still costs $14.

I've already found a better alternative.

brotherS reviewed vRelease 11 on Dec 8, 2004

Still great, but you now have to pay after 30 days to get MP3 encoding...

...ok, I now did pay for it - wow, it's worth the price! The DSP settings for MP3 recording are GREAT!

Brian49 reviewed vRelease 11 on Dec 3, 2004

A first-rate conversion program, fast, reliable and with many nice touches.

christoofar reviewed vRelease 11 on Dec 3, 2004

nice, nice,very nice! Adding MAD for decoding is great. Not sure what "LAME 3.96.1 mp3 encoder added, then later down the list "MP3 encoder now part of Powerpack trial") means. Hopefully not that they are going to charge to use LAME.Still a great & handy app to have on your box!

Yochanan reviewed vRelease 10 on Oct 9, 2004

It does NOT install spyware. Also, 10.1 is the latest version, released in Jan. '04. This is my favourite music converter. It converts practically any type of music file to practically anything you can think of. It hasn't been updated lately, not sure why. Used to be updated more often.

svidud reviewed vRelease 10 on Jul 25, 2004

Installed spyware on my computer. And crashes. Not good. Bad.

mrgrieves reviewed vRelease 10 on Feb 3, 2004

I realised I had accidentally converted all my CDs to WMA instead of MP3 (should have known not to trust Windows Media Player to do the conversion) but this utility fixed them all in one fell swoop. (Unlike GX::Transcoder).

^L^ reviewed vRelease 10 RC1 on Oct 9, 2003

I love this fine Utility ;o)

P.S:
@phill666
hmm...you can buy the CD's
http://www.dbpoweramp.com/dmc-power-register.htm

or donate ;o)

phill666 reviewed vRelease 10 RC1 on Oct 7, 2003

Ive used this program for years and Ive always though it was the best mp3wav/cda converter out there. the quality of the output is great, and the UI is great. The creator could easily make massive amounts of money if they were to sell it. Even I would be willing to buy it.dbpoweramp will always be a fixture on my computer

pitti reviewed vRelease 10 Beta 9 on Sep 14, 2003

It's free, converts almost all formats in use currently, and is simple and quick. What more is there to want?

christoofar reviewed vRelease 10 Beta 9 on Sep 9, 2003

With this program (& Burn4Free), I am able to basically do almost anything in the realm of converting & burning audio & data files. Having it useable via the Explorer context file (right click) makes it seamlessly integrate onto my system. Excellent!

MMPD reviewed vRelease 10 Beta 9 on Sep 8, 2003

Excellent program all around. Best Audio Converter I have seen to date. Especially good with the Powerpack addon

pitti reviewed vRelease 2 on Jul 20, 2003

There are many new players out now competing with winamp. This is one of the best. It lacks some of the frills of other programs. What it does have is quality sound and the ability to play many music formats including ra, shn, flac, and the standard mp3 format.

jimf43 reviewed vRelease 2 Beta 11 on Feb 6, 2003

This program has the best playlist and better sound than anything out there. Skinning.... well, that's another matter ;-).

ye110manz reviewed vRelease 10 Beta 2 on Jan 12, 2003

i found this little utility to be a must-have.

doctordvd reviewed vRelease 10 Beta 2 on Dec 30, 2002

I have been using this program for ages and it is undoubtedly the most indespensible tool for the audio enthusiast...Absolute Must Have!!!!!!MP3 Encoding/decoding is excellent I cannot believe that it is free!!I would willingly pay for software like this!!

SuperRob1 reviewed vRelease 10 Beta 2 on Nov 4, 2002

I have used this program for a long time, early versions and it is amazing when comes to converting MP3 to wave an vice versa, oh did mention it awesome program!

modlodpod reviewed vRelease 2 Beta 7 on Jul 20, 2002

Just keeps on getting better all the time